Flying 9.21.08

It'll never get old...

Went up to Inspo. solo. Sam Cox showed up as I was setting up. He'd already flown. Great to see him.

The colors are on the wane already. For some reason the photo's colors become even more muted when I upload.

Sam stuck around and helped me launch into the 15+ mph winds. It was tough to gain altitude, but eventually I went south to work the faces before Rock Canyon

Utah Lake with BYU in the lower right.

Behind Rock Canyon looking south toward Camels and Hobble Creek Canyon.

After working the cliffs around Rock Canyon, I got high enough to thermal back to Cascade. Went in close to the mountain and rode the ridge lift to the top. Winds aloft were strong up high.

Riding the Cascade ridge heading north over to Timp.

Got to 12,000ft. before crossing Provo Canyon. Only lost 1000ft. during the crossing and slid up close on the shoulder of Timp. The surroundings were... stunning to say the least.

Riding the Timp. ridge looking NE toward Lone Peak and the ski resorts.

I was starting to get cold up high, and pulled in to run along Timpanogos ridge. As I was snapping photos of my shadow near the summit, I hit some strong stuff that tossed me around a bit. Could have taken it up, but my fingertips were already going numb. Continued north.

My shadow with summit hut on left.

Utah Lake from 13k over American Fork Canyon.

Ran to American Fork Canyon along the ridge, then headed out into the valley to loose some altitude.

The Timpanogos massif looking south.

I was daydreaming as I headed out to the valley, when this wreckage caught my eye.

Click on the photo. Can you find the plane?

I circled down closer to the crashed plane, but couldn't see any activity around the wreckage. I learned later that the plane had two people in it and were out for sightseeing flight over the colors. They crashed with practically no injuries. Wonder how they'll get the wreckage down?

Taking a tour over Utah County.

Stucco infestation w/ two mormon churches a block apart. That's what tithing by guilt will get you. More churches in the valley than Starbucks in Seattle.

The fun really began with I thought the flight was over. I hung out on a windward hill 500ft. over the LZ working bubbles. The bubbles turned into a couple of light thermals that I drifted deep with only gaining a few hundred feet. I watched hikers at my level and golfers a couple hundred feet below doing there thing. It was fun to work low on the hills in the light stuff.

As I came back out to the LZ, I spotted my brother-in-law Matt climbing out on his roof to watch me come in. This prompted wingovers and a low pass around his house before zooming up and heading over the trees to the LZ. The wind was south. Had it been west, I could have zoomed straight over the roof. Left the VG on, and the energy took me all the way across the LZ. Did a slider on the wet grass instinctively. Gotta break that habit.

The scenery and experience on the flight is a sensation that will never get old. How lucky to be able to view the terrain in such an unfettered manner. The challenge of having to work to attain the view.

Airtime: 2:10. Flights: 1.