X/C FINALE ?
Last week brought probably the Crystal Squadron's final cross-country attempts of the 2019 season. Below are the pilots' debriefs from those flights Bradley's report from Friday, September 13:Dr. Jack’s forecasts leading up to Friday predicted challeng- ing cross country soaring conditions. Getting across the Mojave Desert was likely going to be a low slow crawl. The Northern route seemed the most promising.I launched at noon, taking a high tow to the second ridge. There were solid thermals on tow which buoyed my spirits. The usual house thermals in the mountains rose only as high as a haze layer at 9.5k. The best lift, after a two hour struggle, was over Baden Powell where I climbed to 11.3k.Finally I sent my crew on his way, calling Rosamond Dry Lake as my first alternate. After a smooth glide over the desert I’d covered enough ground to call Backus as my next alternate. I arrived over Silver Queen at 5900’. Here again I spent too much time looking for lift above the usual thermal sources and didn’t find much.I managed to gain enough altitude to call Mojave Airport as my next alternate. There had to be a thermal over the airport with all that black asphalt. At 5500’ over Mojave Airport the jet boneyard below sure looked impressive. The ceiling of Mojave Class D airspace begins at 4800’ and I wasn’t gaining much altitude. I was still above Class D when a heavy, six miles out, called Mojave ATC with intentions to land. The tower radioed back that there was an aircraft circling above the airport. Guess my transponder was squawking as it should. I radioed my intentions, gained just enough altitude to send my crew on to Cal City. Talk about motivation.With my 33rd wedding anniversary on Saturday I decided to call it a day and radioed my crew that I was landing at Cal City. Lame excuse I know but it’s true. We had ES in her box and we were headed home by 4:00.I want to thank the Crystal Squadron for their mentorship this season. Peter, Sean, Dave, Karl, Gus, Richard and Michael you guys are truly amazing. It’s hard to imagine that I won’t have the privilege of being in sky with these gifted pilots until next summer. Karl’s report from Saturday, September 14:After studying the Blipmap, we decided to give it a try even though it did not look promising for a 500k. I was planning to call it an “end of season try” .My takeoff was 11:30, landing in Gabbs at 18:34 for a 7:04-hour blue thermal day. Thanks to PK’s reports, who started after me, I finally reached the lofty height of 12.4k at Mt. Lewis. At 12:13 I left the mountains chasing after him, found his thermal and passed Silver Queen. Got to 8k, then on the ridge 9.6k, Cache Pk 11.9k let’s go. Meantime PK’s bad stick side shoulder acted up, therefore his decision to land at Cal City.Found myself 7.2k Walker Pass looking to get up on Boomer ridge, about 16 min later 12.8k with a what may have been a golden eagle (had a good birdseye view of a few seconds, Don’t ask how I got on top, must have found the “Sweet Spot”). Got below the ridge short of Haiwee reservoir, then back up, Olancha Pk 13.3k. Can I make Bishop? A few small plumes of smoke to the west, TFR no issue.At 3:30 my 50 year old Libelle connected with the Inyos 11.7k. Still no clouds all the way to Boundary Pk. Just as I aimed for a gap to get off the plateau towards Zurich we gained 3000’, at Schulman grove 14k, passing 13.2k W of the intimidating White Mtn Pk Rockface in the hope finding a thermal to 17k... Nothing. Never thought it possible.Decision time 17:00 kind of late, thermals turning soft, some cumulus way N, Yerington but predicted wind at the nose, more favorable wind veering E. Getting close to the rocks, computer indicates Mina just in reach, falling off the white mountains to the E sinking into the “shady side”, computer Mina negative, NE of 360 intersection a thermal to 11.2k, Mina here I come. Had enough to get in the foothills E of Lunning Dry Lk where I found my elusive thermals, arrived at 7.7k, up some, down again 7.4k, ok going to Mina, ran into lift again, by 18:06 I topped 10.1k.“Rose, I have Gabbs made” what a feeling. I “yodeled” the rest of the way, (don’t know how, but nobody heard me anyhow). Nice final glide with 5kts on the tail, sun just above the horizon. Landed to the E. Just got out of my trusty H301 smiling ear to ear, and Rose showed up super happy too.We got it in the Box just in time, the last items we had to use lights. Setting up camp, soon the full moon rose, we had our dinner enjoying a few drinks. Can’t get much better, nobody around, wide open space, good food and drinks under a full moon and all the stars. What a way to finish the day and 2019 soaring season.Sunday, after fresh Coffee and pancakes we drove from Benton to the June Lake Loop with the idea to get some early Lunch at the Gull lake Café. Bad idea, too crowded, but we did see a deer. Lots of lennie’s along the Sierras even good looking ones near Crystal.Peter’s report:Unfortunately I did throw in the towel at Cal City. I thought my recent cortisone shot would carry me through, but by time I got to the Three Sisters it was not fun anymore. Now for an upcoming date with the orthopedic surgeon to have him fix a thorn rotating cuff in time for recovery for the 2020 season.Hope to see you all next year.