Logan Walters
Monday, 10/7/2019

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

Chiefs Launch in Ojai to the Topa Bluffs, back to Chiefs Peak, then...
OTB to Frazier Park and back to landing in Grade Valley

Article Submitted by Logan Walters

Vol BIV 10/7/2019

I love flying with my camping gear, I love flying new terrain, I love flying alone, especially in the backcountry.

I was able to spend the night out Monday night and knew I wanted to go OTB somewhere to do it.  My initial thought was Nuthouse to East Divide and over the back but on my way to meet Peter at Nordoff, my friend Devin offered to drive us up to Chiefs.  I took that opportunity right away as I had just hiked the Nut House that week and did not want to do it again with my 65lbs vol biv kit.

It was coming in really nice at Chiefs and Peter was off first.  He has the M7 and climbed out to the peak right away.  I took off after him and was a bit heavier than normal on the IP6.  I played around at launch and the peak for a while testing the altitude, looking back at Thorn Point thinking it was already doable to stretch across the valley.  Having no expectations of the day and hoping for higher altitude I went over and met Peter at the Topa Bluffs.  Even had I landed there I would have felt it was a successful day.  I came back to Chiefs and considered my options, figured what the hell and went OTB across Lions Camp to the ridge in front of Thorne. It was rowdy climbing up the west ridge to peak height.  The wing was dancing all over which makes me so happy and present as I climbed over 8k.  OTB again to Grade Valley.

I came into Grade lower than I would like but I did like the idea of landing there and camping but found a nice smooth climb drawing me towards Lockwood Valley.  It was slow going but so smooth.  I topped it out and pushed towards the valley.  Found a climb there that let me cross the valley towards Pinos.  On the low hills of Pinos I chased around broken climbs that pulled me towards the peak.  Topped at 13k with a nice tail wind towards Frazier. I have found that a convergence often sets up on Pinos that dog legs to Frazier and sure enough it was the same this day.  But Lockwood Valley was drawing hard and I was hitting a good headwind at Frazier Park that would have meant landing near Interstate 5.  I did not want to camp on the 5 so opted to turn tail back to Lockwood.  Found another great climb and a bit of a tail wind to take me back towards Pine.  If I could make it back over that ridge with the glass off I thought Ojai or at least Rose Valley would be great.

Climbed at Guillermo and went to try and clear the ridge, unfortunately the Lockwood valley draw was too much to overcome yet again.  One of my favorite parts about flying an old wing is that I don't really care if I fuck it up, that lets me get low in places that don't have good LZs.  I was looking at which tree I would not mind landing in when I decided it was not quiet worth it and turned back to Grade Valley.  Barely cleared the ridge turned and landed on the road.  So happy to have a tour of Lockwood and Thorne.

Hiked along the road for about 3.3 miles when I found a nice spot to lay my sleeping pad.  The stars and moon were epic and it was so nice to be alone back there and take it in.  Hiked out in the morning and made it to work with 5 min to spare.

Notes: Thorne works well and has good landings below it, therefore going OTB from Ojai seems much more doable now on even more marginal days.

The IP is fantastic in rotor and strong climbs, it really doesn't collapse (this is a lie I tell myself but it helps my mindset, I am very willing to stall the wing, spin the wing, or throw the reserve at any point because the reality is its a paraglider and they all collapse and can cascade if the conditions force it).

Lockwood is high and draws hard from the feeding valleys.  The clockwise rotation of airflow was fun to play in but might mean the end of many flights in the future.

Vol Biv is pretty easy, it does not take much gear,. I brought a stove but didn't end up using it, next time i will likely leave it behind.  I took the back foam out of the GTO Woody Valley Harness and there is plenty of room for a sleeping bag, pad and extra jacket.  I wish I had that jacket on at 13k but I might not have reached 13k had I had it on ha!

/ Logan

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