Tom Mayer Flight Article
Owens Valley
Saturday & Sunday, 9/9/6&7
Copied from: http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1555&p=4676#p4676

Well, last Sat/Sun was my re-introduction to Owens having last flown there in 1977.  My last flight was at Gunter, where I spent a few thousand feet sitting in the sail of my upside down glider, thinking, "this ain't coastal flyin'".  Things went much better this time around!  I was almost last to launch at about 1:30.  Despite sporting a harness weighted down with H2O, Electrolite recovery liquid, peanuts, a flashlight, survival tool, radio, and oxygen system, I was rewarded with a nice climb out and on my way North.  Climbed out to +13,000 and headed towards Whitney, pretty smooth, with killer views.  Then on to Onion Valley where I made the mistake of venturing too far back into the Kearsarge Pass over Heart and Sapphire lakes.  I looked down and saw white caps on the water coming from the West!  Seconds later after turning away, the control bar got ripped out of my hands and I was wedged into my A-frame for a 1,000 foot loss of altitude!.  The recovery was uneventful and gain it all back in a few minutes.  On my way to Aberdeen near Tenehama Resevoir, I decided that it was best to get closer to a beer and headed back to 395 to land.

Thanks to the SB crew for a great time flying and camping in the Alabamas, sippin' wine that was cheaper than water, telling war stories under a full moon.