Day 10

Day 3 of the competition.

Route 1 was called today. This is many people's favorite route as it goes North up the mountain range, through some great geography. The route goes through Mackay, up to Chalis, and on to May and finally up to Salmon for 100 miles.

I didn't get anywhere near 100 miles. I ended the day with a modest 13 mile flight, but it was a ton of fun.

The first task is to get high. I couldn't find a thermal close to the hill, but I kept my eye on a glider that had gone out to land. Just over the LZ he hooked a big one and was climbing fast. I pulled on some vg, and darted over to him. 3 of us climbed for a long time in that thermal until we were well above the peek. My max altitude was 13,000 feet.

There was a bit of a northern component to the wind (meaning it was FROM the north), so it was slow going. Thermals would drift me south and then I would have to make up ground gliding north, until I had to climb in a thermal again which would drift me south.

The first big hurdle is Rams Horn Canyon. Rams Horn is a large gap in the mountain range. A powerful venturi sets up here as the wind gets funneled through the gap. It can be very dangerous to get low in such a gap, and more than one pilot has found himself trapped in very strong winds in Rams Horn after letting himself get low in it. My plan was to give it lots of height, and to pass out in front of it.


The gap in the mountain above my head is Rams Horn. Further North, where the range bends to the West is Elbow Canyon (another tricky spot to pass, with a potential venturi)


Once passed Rams Horn I continued to work my way North. Thermalling up and going on glide. At the edge of Elbow Canyon, I began to get low. So low in fact, that I was setting up to land. 300 feet off the ground I managed to find a small thermal that eventually took me back up to 12,000'

The un-irrigated corner of the pitch to the left of my head is where I got very low and was planning on landing. Above and to the right is Elbow Canyon

Back in the game! Thermalling up at 12,000'!

From 12,000' I decided to cross Elbow Canyon. It was a long glide, but I wanted to make it before an approaching cloud cast it's shadow on the hillside I was flying (The shadow can stop the ground from heating, and shut down the thermals). My hope was that if I stayed over the edge of the shadow I would find some lift as I made the crossing.

Starting to cross the pass, with a big shadow approaching.

My plan did not work. I made it across the pass, but I was low and the foothills I was sure would provide some lift did not. I hoped for another low save, but this one did not come and I found myself setting up for a landing. I picked a clear spot near a road, scanned for power lines and fences, and made my approach.

In my left hand, you can see a streamer I dropped to show me the wind direction on the ground.

I had a good landing. 13 miles was not as far as I had wanted, but it was a tough day and I was very happy with the flight.

My glider with Kind Mountain off in the distance.

Chris and Wendy picked me up, and we set off to chase our good friend and hang gliding legend KM. KM flew over my head at 15,000 feet while I was breaking down my glider, and continued on for another 31 miles before landing to avoid an approaching storm.

We drove back to town through rain and gust fronts and got ready for another day.