Flight Articles from Friday, 3/15/2002 [Weather Archive] [Craig Warren] [Sundowner] [Diablo]
[Chris Grantham] [Chris Paul] [Kristy Becchtold] [Ron Faoro] [Casey Rodgers] [Tom Beidler] [Tom Sorce] [Tom Pipkin] [Brendan] [Mike]

Chris Paul
Friday, 3/15/2002

Skyport to the Nuthouse

Friday Fun

I had a lot of fun on Friday, probably because I took off near the front of the gaggle and didn't feel any pressure to keep up.  After seeing SD, Ron Faoro and SA sky out, I launched into a good cycle, lost it, and ended up leaving for the thermal factory with less than launch altitude.  At that point I wasn't sure I could even clear the power lines, and began setting up for a road landing.  Along the way, however, the air was buoyant and I made it to the TF with enough altitude to play around with.  After figure eighting in front of the hill for a few minutes, a boomer came through that took me straight to 6k.  When it maxed out, I turned east, hoping to make it to Santa Claus Lane.

The rest of the flight was fairly easy compared getting up for the first time.  Up high the thermals were wide, smooth, and and going up fast.  My impression of the day was that the south facing spines were the best triggers, especially where they connected with the back ridge.  In the early part of the flight I was doing a consistent 21mph on glide and couldn't detect any significant wind.  Although I was really just planning to go to Carp, the lift was so consistent that I kept going.  I got low a couple of times, around 2800, but the south spines were very dependable in getting back up.

By the time I crossed the power lines I had 5500, a 33mph glide, and there appeared to be several triggers before White Ledge.  It looked like I could almost make it to Ojai on glide.  I didn't want to chance it going through the gap behind White Ledge - with possible rotor, etc. , so I swung out away from the back and crossed in front of it.  In front I hit some strong turbulence.  I only had one frontal collapse, but the wing felt like it wanted to twist and turn in every direction at once.  My vario was beeping fast, but I only could think about dampening surges, getting pointed back on course, and not looking at the rocks below.

After White Ledge I hit a lot of sink in the canyon to the east.  Midway through, though, I saw a bird circling and headed for it.  It was a rough ride up, but gave me enough to get back over high ground.  From there, SD coached me back up to the main spine and out to highway 33, just as Tom P. and Brendan were launching from the Nuthouse.

By now the sky was getting dark, and I could barely penetrate when turned west, so I decided to land.  The lift was strong still, even out in front of the Nuthouse, and I pulled big ears to get down.

All in all it was a great day.  Thanks SD for the early Thursday forecast, and Brendan for the ride back to SB.  It was the perfect way to celebrate one year anniversary of my first paragliding lesson.

Sundowner Comment:

For clarification. Our Radio Gaggle had 2 pilots named Chris, a Kristi, and a Christian.

There was clearly some confusion about who was talking to whom. I do remember suggesting Chris Paul run in for the Nut House, but didn’t direct him along White Ledge Ridge.  I thought he did an impressive job of making his way down range.

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