Flying 8.29.08

A four hour tour of the valley...

Mt. Timpanogos, 11,749ft.

Five of us went to Inspo. for a fly. It felt good to be back in the company of friends flying local. After three PG's launched and were working light lift above launch, Bruce was the first HG to take off. It looked like a tough day with broken lift. As Bruce got lower in the hills, I took off under a PG.

Bruce, me, and Greg setting up.

It was tough working up over launch, but I was able to climb out a bit. The higher you got, the easier it was, and I headed south toward Rock Canyon thermalling with a couple of the paragliders. I hung out on "Y" mountain for a while and heard Greg on the radio working hard low. Bruce had landed in the bailout, and soon Greg joined him. Ryan Voight and Dave Gibson were able to get up, and soon I joined Ryan near Rock Canyon.

Ryan and I going round and round.

After topping out, I motioned to Ryan to follow me south. We flew together leisurely toward Springville. I'd lead out and try to find a thermal for Ryan, or if he'd find lift first, I'd join him after he was a few hundred feet above me. On the last peak before Camels, there were two huge golden eagles playing on the peak. One landed in a large dead tree, and I thermalled just over the top of him. When I swooped down, one of the eagles lumbered out of the tree and flew away.

Thermalling with friends.

We continued on to Camels getting a buoyant line, and turned back after reaching launch. The run back north was fun as we were pretty low running the hillsides and cliff faces. On the way back, one of the eagles was perched atop a cliff face. He watched with interest as I flew by.

Dave caught up with us at this time, and we all leisurely made our way back to Rock Canyon. The cliffs were emitting heat, and we rode the bubbles not worrying about sinking out. The mountain dictates whether it will let you in close or not, and the light winds aloft coupled with the light lift on the faces made it possible to weave in and out of the cliffs and wander over ridges without fear.

Looking over Rock Canyon toward Utah Lake.

We played and took photos for a long time near Rock Canyon, and late in the day Dave and I slid back on Cascade to work light lift up the face. After maybe 20 minutes of cliffside flying, we gained the summit ridge and went north over Bridal Veil falls. We crossed Provo Canyon and began to work the cliff faces on Timpanogos. We continued to weave in and out of the cliffs deep on the mountain. The lift was just enough to maintain altitude and boat back and forth. Dave eventually left to head out over the valley and I stayed to enjoy the scenery a bit more. The mountain was still breathing heavy now and then, but mostly it was gentle and inviting.

Working the flank of Cascade looking toward Timpanogos.

I saw Ryan land, and Dave came in maybe 20 minutes later. I took a glide out to Utah Lake and left myself with a long, shallow final glide back to the LZ. Arrived with just less than 1000ft. and wanged down. Since my brother and sister in law live a block away from the LZ, I've been doing final approaches over their house. I come in over their rooftop, below the trees, then balloon up over the treeline before the park. I was paying attention to the trees, not my VG, so I used up most of the LZ before landing with the VG on. The winds were almost nil, but I still couldn't figure out why I was floating so far :)

Working the flank of Cascade looking south.

I haven't had a 4 hour free fly at Inspo. in years. Flying with friends and the nature of the day kept me entertained and the afternoon "flew" by in enjoyment. I did fly the Camels / Baldy circuit, so I'm counting the miles.

Airtime: 4:00. Flights: 1. Miles: 28.