lookout mountain co

Lookout Mountain CO

Life on the Road, Part 3 – Colorado

avianna

[This is the third installment on my month long trip from San Diego to Massachusetts. It took place in April 2015]

So Utah didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but I had fun. And anyway, what can I expect on such a short visit?

Lookout Mountain Colorado. Notice the Coors Brewery in the background.

Lookout Mountain Colorado. Notice the Coors Brewery in the background.

On the way to Denver via the beautiful I-70, I got a surprise. I thought my flying was over until I reached Lookout Mountain Georgia or even Virginia, but nope. I found out that Zippy and Majo were in Denver and planning to fly a local site. That site happened to be Lookout Mountain…Colorado.

After checking out the launch that evening, enjoying the sunset, grabbing dinner, sampling some local beer, and making our way to a local pilot’s house to crash for the night, we discussed plans for the next morning. Do we fly Lookout? Do we take a gamble and try to fly the legendary Pike’s Peak? In the end there were too many uncertainties with Pike’s Peak (wind, gates, road to launch) and Lookout won out. Pike’s would be incredible, but no complaints on my end. A flight is a flight is a flight, and a new site on top.

Heading east

Heading east

Lookout Mountain’s bowl launch unfortunately is a hike-up site. Between the three of us we were able to make quick work of it. Launch overlooks Golden Colorado, home of the Coors Brewery. Behind launch are the white peaked Rockies and steep sided canyons. Though my flight itself wasn’t the greatest—I was flushed out after 30 minutes—it’ll be a site I definitely add to my itinerary on future trips.

After touchdown, it was back in the car and onward for me. Next stop, after a long, straight drive over the flat lands, the more well known Lookout Mountain, the one in Georgia.

Life on the Road, Part 2 – Idaho and Utah

avianna
On the road to Boise

On the road to Boise

Ok, so I’m already in Massachusetts; I arrived May 2nd. But before I get ahead of myself, there was a long drive in between San Francisco and here.

I planned to stop by the site called Slide near Reno before heading further east, however I chose instead to visit my brother in Boise. Tough choices we pilots have to make. It was a beautiful drive nonetheless, and it was great seeing him.

Point of the Mountain Paragliders

Point of the Mountain’s Gaggle Galore

After a night in Boise, I headed out to Point of the Mountain, Utah. Excited to arrive before sunset, a splattering of airborne paragliders greeted me along with weening conditions. This would not be my chance to fly. Sadly, I think that meant my streak of great flying ended…or did it? The next day Felix and I headed out to fly a place called Inspo or Inspiration Point (though not the one in Bryce). Wow! Inspo! What an amazing and beautiful site. The mountains rise up behind launch and snow capped peaks greet you in every direction. Intimidating in ways, but beckoning me to soar.

The mountains tower above Inspo

The mountains tower above Inspo

Arriving at launch, the wind was stronger than expected, but the cloudbase was tauntingly high and Felix was still optimistic that we’d XC to the point, indicated by the many hand warmers that we broke open. With our gliders preflighted, and hand warmers tucked cozily in our bar  mits, it was time to go. There was quite a crowd gathered to watch us too. See how wonderful our sport is?!

I launched first, and with the wind was able to ridge soar easily and climb a few hundred above launch. Back and forth, back and forth, waiting for a good thermal to blow through. Eventually I caught one decent enough to circle in and climbed a few hundred feet more before either losing it or it dissolving in the wind. The thermals that I encountered were small and disjointed, and very frustrating to deal with. And don’t get me started on the sink. Felix launched a few minutes after me, with the help of some bystanders—the wind had picked up and he had a no-stepper launch.

In the air he found the air difficult too. I slowly began to sink out and head toward the LZ. Slowly Felix did too. Far out front I finally found bits of lift and climbed a little, but again the thermals were not easily cored. A couple times I thought the sink would get the better of me and force me to the bailout LZ. Felix finally caught something decent and climbed out. As I headed to the primary LZ—overcoming the sink, yay!—I watched Felix sky out. Go Felix! A few burbles on the way to land but nothing significant. I guess no XC for me, but one of the best LZs ever with a huge expanse of green, fluffy grass.

On the ground I broke down alone hoping Felix was off to the Point. As I zipped up the bag, unbelievably I spotted him over the LZ. What? Why? He’s supposed to be at 14,000+ feet and on glide. After landing he said the thermal took him to 9,000 or so but then broke up and the strong sink got the better of him too. Oh well. All in all, a great day, but not the flights we were hoping for.

The following day I hoped to try the Point again, but the conditions were weak. What kind of “most flyable site” is this? Maybe my streak really had ended. So I take off for Colorado and leave Utah for another day.