Carter Crowe
Wednesday, 6/10/2020

EJ to the Topa Bluffs and Return to Randall Road (Montecito)

Reference: [IGC Text Data File] and [Google Earth KMZ File] or [Ayvri Web Animation] and [JPG Overview]

Leg 1 ~ 34.6 miles / EJ to the Topa Bluffs
Leg 2 ~ 30.2 miles / Top Bluffs to Montecito
64.8 miles total SLOFD around 1 Turn Pt / 2 legs

Max Altitude 7,090 Ft MSL
5 hours 26 minutes 31 seconds / Takeoff at 10:41:53 / Land at 4:08:24 PDT

Article Copied from SBSA Telegram Chat
Posted by Carter Crowe on Saturday, 6/13/2020 at 7:26 am
with a few minor clarification edits by Tom Truax

Topatopa Bluff Turnaround – June 10, 2020

Wingman – Marty DeVietti

I messaged Marty early in the morning suggesting that we fly out and back to the Topa Topas.  The lapse rate looked passable along the front range and quite good in Ojai, winds were generally S/SW low and SE above 5k.  Perhaps my view was clouded by ambition, but it seemed to me that it would work well enough along the front range to get over Casitas Pass and into taller climbs in Ojai.  Marty must’ve thought I was off my rocker but showed up.

After a quick pitstop at Skyport we headed up to EJ – above the inversion – where it was blowing in nicely out of the SSE.  We discussed the need to stay high during the early part of the flight and prepared our kits, checked radios, and headed off.

As expected, it was a slow start to the day, we crept along one ridge at a time to Romero, Marty maintaining a couple hundred feet above me.  Thermal tops were falling as we headed East between 2500-3800 feet.  As we reached the OHV Bumps the day started to turn on.  We reached 4600 feet and sped up, recognizing that we had much flying to do.

I hit 5400 at West Divide and got a little higher in a climb before White Ledge (over the short truncated spine along the back ridge between East Divide and White Ledge).  On glide into Ojai we couldn’t help but notice a fire in Oxnard.  Luckily a quick call to Jeff Longcor let us know that there was no TFR (Te,[praru F;ogjt Restricition)

Not blinded by ambition,  Marty suggested we might want to turn back, but I kept pushing East.  I was slightly concerned that the forecast might not pan out, and my efforts to gather information meant I hadn’t been focused on gliding well, arriving above the Nuthouse spine at 2700 feet felt quite low.  We needed altitude to pick up speed in Ojai.

There was well-defined flow from the West out on the front points and a strong South draw in the deeper sections of the range.  We could occasionally feel an E/SE spilling down from the upper layer into the 4000’s.  I took a deep line into the West side of Chief’s while Marty headed to the front points.  I reasoned that it was a high probability move into protected air with plentiful triggers, the gamble paid off and I hooked into a nice climb, gaining just over 4200 feet (from 41ish to 83+, my highest altitude of the day) and headed toward the Topa Topa Bluffs.

Marty dove back from the front points and climbed up above me (to 88+ over the Repeater) while I glided to the Bluffs.  He radioed suggesting that I not wait for him to tag the Topa Topas.  It was time to head West.  It was cool to hear the chatter from Los Angeles over the radio – Willy was high and headed West from Blackhawk (flying about 95 miles to land near the Fairmont Butte in the Antelope Valley as per his Spot Satellite Tracker).

We made good time back out of Ojai, using up our altitude to push West quickly.  I arrived across Hwy 33 (Bump 1, bottom east end of White Ledge Ridge) lower than Marty (duh), but we both hooked into nice climbs at Bump 3 and worked our way up towards the high point of the pass.

This was the first time it occurred to me we were running out of time.  I tried in vain to bank some good altitude at Divide Peak (just under 55 at West Divide) and headed off on glide towards Santa Barbara.  Tom Truax came in over the radio reporting conditions for us as we entered the last phase of our flight.

As we cruised past Powerlines into Carpinteria a wash of relief came over me, I felt we had it made, my out and back goal was about to become a reality.  We surfed the range towards Santa Barbara, dolphining in the light lift.  In the anxiety of realizing the day was turning off, I made my fatal mistake: expecting a climb on the SW face of Castle, I got nothing and dove into the lee of Romero hoping to get a final climb for the day.  Nothing.  I continued to glide out to the front points, turning in light, unconsolidated lift, watching Marty poke along to Montecito Peak and get a light climb that I figured was all he needed to reach Parma.  I landed in the San Ysidro flood plain (my second time this year, small tight LZ, but a nice bailout near East Valley Road) and looked back to the mountains to see Marty gliding towards Parkers.

I was disappointed not to have made it to Parma, but happy to have played a part in Marty arriving at the declared goal.  It was the second of a pair of HUGE days for me, blasting away my previous bests and seeing what was possible in our range.  Yes, I landed a bit short, but my teammate made goal, and that is what really matters – I played a part in Marty setting a new out and back PG record from Santa Barbara.

It was awesome to fly with Marty, who I first met driving retrieve for the Eagle Owens Valley Clinic in fall 2018, just weeks after getting tossed over the back at EJ Bowl.  It is always a challenge to fly with someone whose piloting you idolize.  Imposter syndrome strikes hard.  Marty kept the mood light, treated me with respect, and I couldn’t have asked for a better wingman on the day.

Last thoughts:

The support from the community throughout the flight means a lot to me, especially as a new pilot.  It was a workday and I am grateful to all for the generous support even on a day when most don’t get to fly.

This flight was a great learning moment for me.  Yes, dogged determination can get you quite far, but my inexperience is even more apparent now.  I focused on reaching my goals while Marty took photos, video, and enjoyed his time in the air.  It’s a reminder that there is still so much to learn!  I flew in competition mode through most of the flight, comparing my skills to Marty’s (silly, I know).  It was only on the return trip that I really relaxed and allowed myself to be a beginner again.  My flying improved dramatically, and I started appreciating what we were trying to pull off.

My take: being the new pilot is a privilege, enjoy it, take the pressure off, learn as you go, be proud of what you’ve achieved and strive for more!

I hope these flights help inspire others to fly out and back more often

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