in the beginning...

I've started to scan some old pictures, showing the beginning of my "PG career" in March 1988.
You can find the pictures here.
Time permitting, I'll continue to look over my old albums and to scan more "oldies".

winter flying

Finally, 2 flights: just (extended) sled rides: but...
As my "normal" harness is (still!!) in Italy for modifications, I had to use my very first harness: 23 years old, no protector, no speed system, no reserve, worn stiching...

Vortrag "X-Alps 2009" von Chrigel und Thomas

Hatte zufällig auf der Homepage des GKG entdeckt, dass heute in Wetzikon ein Vortrag von Chrigel Maurer und seinem Supporter Thomas Theurillat stattfindet:
2 mega-spannende und unterhaltende Stunden zum Thema "X-Alps 2009": tolle Bilder und Clips, professionell präsentiert und kommentiert von Chrigel und Thomas: Chapeau!!

Tessin / Ticino

TO Alpe di Gana

Nicht umsonst wird der Tessin die "Sonnenstube" der Schweiz genannt. Während 2 Tagen hatte ich die Möglichkeit dem "Grau" der Alpennordseite zu entfliehen und im Tessin etwas Sonne und Wärme zu tanken.
Am Donnerstag (11.11.): Alpe di Gana: tolle, ruhige Hersbstthermik.
Am Freitag (12.11.): Mornera: immer noch sonnig und warm, doch die Thermik machte sich bereits rar...

For 2 days I've been to the "Tessin" (or "Ticino") on the Southern side of the Swiss Alps: nice and warm sunny weather and on the first day excellent thermals.

Rush Hour Dream

Magnificent idea; very nicely realized; just in time for the upcoming "non-flying" season ;-)




or for viewing in full size/ HD: click here

Saône - a river cruise

The last 8 days, Ruth and I have spent cruising the river Saône (Burgundy/ France) in a houseboat. We had been very lucky weatherwise: mostly sunny, not too cold, fog/ haze only twice in the morning, no rain at all.
Atumn was still in full swing, slowly coming to an end, thus making for some very nice views. (>> check out more pics on Flickr.)
Already in 1991 and 1996 we cruised this river (from a different starting point a little further to the N). It is always a very relaxing experience, as the boat makes only about 12 kmh (a little less than 8 mph). Beside the river/ canal there is normally a small road/ track, where Ruth would cylce sometimes.
Of course the food is excellent (being in France...)

a birds view -the fastest birds on earth (a BBC video)

Absolutely amazing!!!



for full size or HD: click here

Winter has come with a vengeance

Am vergangenen Mittwoch (14.10.09) war ich in Arosa, resp Medergen um das dortige Ferienhaus "einzuwintern". Die Strassenverhältnisse liessen eine Fahrt (trotz 4x4) nur bis knapp über die Waldgrenze zu, dann war Schluss -zu wenig Bodenfreiheit... Es folgte ein Aufstieg von noch gut 20min. In der vorangegangen Nacht waren gut 20cm Neuschnee gefallen. Schnell war das Haus winterbereit: Wasser entleeren, Tisch versorgen und Fenster- und Fensterläden schliessen.

Am Donnerstag hoffte ich noch eine Flug vom Weisshorn zu machen: soweit fast windstill, jedoch gut 40cm Pulverschnee am Start: eingesunken bis zu den Knie.
Jedoch Superaussicht und bizarre Motive...

Some statistics

Duration of trip: 36 days; flying days: 29
Number of Flights: 36
Average Flt time: 1hr 04min, longest: 3hr 58min (just short of 100km)
Highest Alt: 17'500ft (ca 5030m)

Sites flown on this trip: 24 (whereof 13 new!):
Marshall (CA)
Honeymoon (UT)
Mollies Nipple (UT)
St.George -the 'Usual' (UT)
Cedar City (UT)
Mt.Edna (UT)
Golde Gulch (UT)
Monroe Peak (UT)
Cove (UT)
Hancock (UT)
Snowbird (UT)
Inspo (UT)
Point of the Mountain (UT)
Pajute (CA)
Mammoth Mtn (CA)
McGee (CA)
Lee Vining (CA)
Flynn's (CA)
Walts Point (CA)
Black Eagle (CA)
Bria Dog Ridge (CA)
Gunther (CA)
Torrey Pines (CA

...und wer genug der Zahlen hat, kann sich hier etwas entspannen:
(Sorry, there is no translation into English possible)

"final" flight (Marshall)

One "last" flight at Marshall (nice thermals) and now it's the end of my trip.
I'm awaiting here in the lounge at LAX the departure of my flight to LHR and ZRH.
I'd like to thank all who have contributed to this trip beeing so succesfull and such a great experience.
Thanks especially go to Stacy in Richfield (UT) and Kari in Bishop (CA): both went out of their way to show me new sites, guide me around and also organize permission to fly in "restricted" places like Snowbird or Mammoth.


Point of the Mountain (South side)

Marshall - last full day

Rapidly my trip to the US is coming to its end.
Today I was up on Marshall for a nice thermalling flight.
As nobody was in the LZ when I was there, I had driven up with my own car and was therefore "forced" to top land.
For dinner a last "prime rib" meal...

Torrey Pines

I don't know, if Leonarodo really said this, as he hasn't flown at all as far a I know.

Torrey Pines is almost as I remember: well not allmost: the paperwork has gotten even worse. Now it's about 8 pages one must initial and sign. I think 1993 it were only 5 or 6 pages...
But the air is still as smooth and laminar as ever and permits hourlong flights/ toplandings and kiting as you please.
So I stayed 2 days (MON, TUE) before heading up the coast towards LA (or "smell-A", as Kari used to say).

Transfer

Today was a travel day. I had stayed one more night in Bishop, partly also because I was expecting a(nother) nice sunset.



Then it was a 4+ hr drive to LA. At least here they are using part of nature's power to generate electricity, even though I saw very few solar panels on houses.
But if nor here where the sun shines 300+ days, then where else???



I stopped at Sylmar/ Kagel, but was discouraged from flying. So I continued to Marshall, but it was too windy here.

Pajute and wind

'Early' (0900) this morning we (Kari, Kim & Jay) drove up to Pajute. The forecast called for strong winds and we wanted to make at least one flight before it became unflyable. Everybody got off nicely; there were even a few thermals, but I didn't climb above 9000ft.


We then changed to Flynns, hoping that beeing it a much lower launch, we could still make a flight. Kim & Jay did so, I didn't as windspeeds were steadily increasing.
This proved to bee a good decision...


After landing we checked Bishop airport weather: wind 14 gusting 29kts! But everyone made it safely back to the ground...

This morning I had also called Ron Pecks in LAS about towing/ flying at Jean on Sunday: they had had an outstanding "full moon fly-in" on Friday evening: towing and skydiving. But he told me, the forecast for Sat avternoon and Sun called for 'stormy winds' and that therefore it wasn't worth driving over. But there is a chance I'll get to meet him next year, when he's coming over to Europe.

a very nice evening

Friday evening turned out to be very nice: beautiful sunset, full moon and an excellent prime rib at 'Whiskey Creek'...

Gunther (& Chuck Bluffs)

Another fine fall day here in the Valley.
I had had to fix another tire, so we were rather late in getting up the mountain: this day: Gunther.
While I was setting up, Kari was "enjoing" here ration of "rabbit food" as part of her 500kcal/ day diet.



The winds were blowing S, almost SE, and the thermals were small and sharp...

Later we tried Chuck Bluffs, but with winds 14-18mph, this was too strong for me to handle safely with my XL glider...

Mazurka Peak - Paboose Flats

Even though the day promised to be a good flying day, we (Kari & I) choose to go 'exploring'. She knew that in the 70's/ 80's of the last century Mazurka Peak was used by HG pilots as a launch, but she never had been up there. As there are some radio transmitters on top of this mountain, there is quite a good road up.

For a NW-/ N- wind direction this would be a perfect launch: big, no big rocks or bushes to catch ones lines. Probably one of the best launches in the whole valley... But we couldn't find anything for W- or SW- winds.

Our map showed a track leading to the 'Paboose Flats', which Kari had overflown a couple of times and always wanted to visit.
Among the 'bad' roads I have travelled on this trip, this sure is the worst: REAL 4WD with high clearance.



But the trip was really worth it, as we passed some amazing trees and landscape.


That the flight in the evening at Flynn's then just was a short sledder didn't mattter at all.

Bria Dog Ridge (Parawaiting -3)

Tuesday's winds have cleared away all the dust/ haze and we (Kari, Richard + Devin ("Observer") had a fine day out near Crawley Lake. It took a while until the sun had heated uo the ridge enough for the cycles to come in straight. The thermals remained weak so Richard and I had to land rather too soon...
Flynn's later: winds too strong and cross.
Sushi for dinner (> Hi Stacy!)

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

As per forecast it was too windy today. So we (Kari, Richard+Jessie) went sightseeing: up Silver canyon to the top of the Whites range (ca 3500m). There another flat; but with Richard's help the tire was changed really quick. On the way back we passed through the 'ancient bristlecone pine forest'. Some of the trees are said to be abouit 4000 years old; anyway: pretty impressive...

It's getting windy (Black Eagle)

Finally the weather is changing and it's getting windy...


Lenticularis clouds over the Sierras

Kari, Doug, Richard, Arnie and Sam (Driver) was todays 'gang'. We departed late (1015) and decided to try out "Black Eagle", an East facing launch in the Inyo Mtns. The drive up there is quite spectacular and one wonders who put up the effort to build a road up there...
The flying was (right from the beginning) not really very nice, as the winds were coming out of the S (or even SE). I headed right out to land at the foothills in winds (10-20+ mph). Arnie was the only other pilot to put up with these conditions.

3rd time lucky (again) -Walt's Point

Finally even I was able to make a 'decent' flight, though it took 4 tries until I could launch of Walt's Point. Then it was rather slow going for me in the beginning, but as the day wore on, I was able to get higher und further.

But the honors today go undoutably to Arnie:


he was very fast and by Bishop he crossed the Valley and flew on to NE of Benton. At this time I'm not really sure how far he got, but I think at least 100mi!!!

Walt's Point (again) - not my day...

Everybody was heading out to Walt's Point today. Our group has changed a bit: we "lost" Richard (but he'll be back next week) and we were joined by Alvin and Arnie. So it was a bit a tight squeeze in the car for the ride up to Horseshoe. There already was a group of hangies and later some more PG-pilots joined.
I had to abort my first take-off. In doing this my stirrup/ accelerator got tangeled around my cockpit, but I didn't realize this until I became airborne on my 2nd try. It took me a while to figure out what had happened and some more time until I saw a way to fix this problem. I knew that I had to use both of my hand to do this, so I headed out towards the Valley to find a calm enough spot where I could let loose both brakes. I had to unhook the left side of my cockpit to get the stirrup released. Until then it wouldn't even have been possible to throw my reserve... All this took a lot of time while I sank lower and lower. I could catch one nice thermal but that was it :-((
Arnie had an excellent flight (5mi N of Bishop), also the rest of the group is quite happy with their flights.
Tomorrow there will be (probably) another chance...

Om the way back we saw a huge group of wild deer (?), which take advantage of the grassy meadows in the valley. They seem to be left alone...

McGee & Flynns

Pelicans migrating near Crawley lake

Same forecast as yesterday, but we choose McGee instead of Walts Point.
McGee is a 2000ft vert site just South of Mammoth airport. Also with us at the site were 3 HG pilots: Robin + Dan, Helmut. After a couple of tries, Kari launched first. She got high - as usual. I was able to hang out for about 30+ mins.
Later we moved to Flynns: same story there...

Walt's Point (aka Horseshoe)

The forecast predicted light winds from SE, so we headed out to Walt's Point.
This is one of the "strangest" PG-launches I've ever been to.
One has to lay out its glider almost perpendicular to the general wind direction; then the side further away from the edge is pulled up first, the wing vanes (turnes) into the wind and off you go...


But it's well worth the effort, and with help from Kari and Richard I was able to launch on my 4th try -once I understood what actually is going on.
The views along the Sierras are just spectacular!

Owens "lake"

Why would anyone call this a "lake"? I guess because many years ago it really was a lake; many years ago before L.A. started using up all of its water.
One must know that most of the land and allmost all of its water (rights) in the Owens Valley belong now to the DWP (Departement of Water and Power). It is said that many years ago those who have been unwilling to sell their rights to the DWP "misteriously disappeared"...

Mammoth Mountain & Mono Lake (Lee Vining)

Sam, Kari, Doug, Richard

The winds are still light from N, NE - which is rather unusal. So Kari took us to Mammoth Lake. After having done some paperwork, we were guided up the mountain (!). I think the reason for this was that they were blowing up 'dudes' (?), explosive charges used in the winter time to release avalanches, which haden't blown up at that time.
The view from the top is really great. Everyone got off just fine.
Beside nice lift I found right next to it huge sink (> 1000fpm) - this didn't really invite me to go far...

As we were already up North from Bishop, Kari then took us to a site overlooking Mono Lake (Lee Vining is the small town below launch). Again a great view!

Pajute

Today for the first time our group for the coming days got together:
Kari (our guide), Sam (Driver), Doug, Richard and I (as pilots).
We went to Pajute, the northermost launch on the East side of the valley. Everybody got off fine, but due to the high pressure, the thermals weren't so organized and we never got about 10'500. Doug started with a cool flight to Big Pine...

Change of Tire in Death Valley NP

After having continously lost air over the last days (which I refilled), the rear right tire finally "blew" today.
This of all places on my way 10 miles from the Eureka Sand Dunes in Death Valley NP...
Luckily Stacy had showed me how to change tire on this car (- he had to do it on the way back from Gold Gulch), so it took me only about 25 minutes (- temperature probably close to 100F/ 35C).
In Bishop at Symon's Tyre I was told it was unreparable, so I had to buy a new one. I must say, that this garage had me very impressed: impeccably clean, speedy service (- all in all less than 1 hour! -) at a reasonable price.
Then I went shopping and got myself installed in Kari's cabin.

Transfer

The morning started with some early rain, so I didn't drive to "the Point" for some kiting. It was a "driving day": via SLC West to Wendover (NV) and then South to Ely.
What impressed me most is the immense vastness of this country - impossible to picture.
I was driving for almost 2 hours straight West - one could have almost fixed the steering wheel. I was wondering how the early explorers/ settlers found their way or more: how they found water to make it across.
Shortly before Wendover I stopped at the Bonneville Speedway.


A team from the Ohio State University is testeing their Hydrogen vehicule: max speed so far: > 286mph (almost 500kmh).

In Ely later I was lucky to found the steam engine of the local railroad museum fired up.

Parawaiting -3

Yesterday evening I made a "short" stop at the Sushi bar near the hotel -the same one I had Stacy taken to last week...

Today I got up early, in order to be at the South side of "the Point" before sunrise.

Unfortunately the wind was just a little too strong for me to feel comfortable, so after waiting quite a while, I tried to kite up from the bottom of the hill, but by then the winds had become cross and the slope was very "bushy".

For the afternoon I drove out to Provo; at the LZ there was another pilot (Tom from Florida), also looking for a ride to launch. Se we carpooled up.


But we didn't much like the big cloud over Utah lake, wich continued growing, so no flight.
Again the wind at the South side of the Point came out of the south in the evening - so there went my (last) chance to fly the North side :-((

Mt.Edna & Point of The Mountain

As usual, Stacy tried his best to get me airborne also today. But halfway up Mt.Edna, we realized, that it was shadowing over very fast, so we returned to Richfield.
I drove up to Lehi, where I had reserved a room at a Days Inn. Heading out for the Point (the North side), I saw a couple of PG wings flying on the South side! So I headed up there and for a while I kited my Cobra. A thunderstorm was brewing behind the mountains and all of a sudden the winds started to veer to E and picked up speed. I made it just in time back to my car and to throw in the glider...





@Stacy: MANY THANKS again! I highly appreciate you taking time off and showing me the best of Utah's flying sites. I hope, that one day (soon), I'll be able to show you some Swiss sites!

Inspo & Francis

Inspo: launch; then Provo/ Orem; Utah Lake; Lake Mountain (back)

Yesterday we travelled North to Salt Lake City again.
In Provo/ Orem Stacy showed me the LZ's for Inspiration Point (aka Inspo). At 1330 we (Stacy, Johann, Dennis, ++) drove up to launch: a paved road right to the parking behind launch - great! Stacy got off first and with a great low save off the foothills got high.
Unfortunately retreiving Dennis took much (!) longer than anticipated, so we could leave the LZ only at 1700, instead at 1630, as we had originally planned. This made us arrive at Francis Peak rather late. Only Johann and Todd were able to launch before the winds turned catabatic too bad :-((
We arrived back in Richfield at 0030.


Stacy trying to launch off Francis Peak at sunset

Parawaiting -2

Unfortunately. yeterday the actual winds didn't behave at all to the forecast: they were supposed to be light out of the N on Mt.Edna, but actually they were SW/ 15-30 :-((
So in the morning instead we choose Elsinore, a site that is normally used only NOV - MAR with NE winds: Stacy made a sledder, I didn't fly.
In the early afternoon we drove up Cove (actual winds reading W), but once we got there they came out of the N. In addition it started to overdevellop fast. So no flight again.
In the late afternoon we tried Cove again: just a sledder, as the clouds had shaded off the area for too long...

third time lucky: Cedar City

Today for the third time on my visits here in Southern Utah I was finally able to launch of Cedar Mountain - the other times the winds were either too strong or the direction was wrong. The first flight was a bit too early - the thermals allowed just to hold TO altitude. One hour later, the conditions had a bit improved and it was possible to get about 700ft over, but it was impossible to get really away.
We picked up Robert (Stacy's son) and drove down to St.George to fly "the Usual".
Probably due to the N-Winds, the thermals stopped unusually fast and everybody (we were joined by Thomas, Berit and Marc) sunk out... Thanks Robert for driving!


Stacy ready to launch