Red Rocks Fall Fly In -5: windy!! > Sightseeing: Capitol Reef NP

Unfortunately today looked rather windy. Hart & I elected to do some sightseeing in the nearby Fish Lake National Forest and Capitol Reef National Park. Enjoy the views!

Fish Lake National Forest

Capitol Reef National Park

Gooseneck Canyon

Grand Wash

This has been our last day here in the Sevier Valley. Tonight we'll have dinner with our friends Stacy & Judy and Mike & Brina at Steve's Steakhouse here in Richfield.
Tomorrow we'll be driving to Las Vegas with a stop-over at Bryce National Park, as Hart is flying out of LAS early on Sunday morning.

Red Rocks Fall Fly In -5: Mt.Edna - a 'private' trip

Today we made a 'private' trip up to Mt.Edna, Utah's highest drive upsite (11,730ft/3358m).
The reason we had to make it 'private' (meaning outside the Red Rocks Fly-in) was, that the logistics of getting so many pilots up this mountain is simply to big to handle. But I could Stacy convince to 'surrender' the key to the gate, which blocks the last part of the road to launch, to Mike -thanks Stacy!
So we left at 0800 for the almost 2 hours long drive: Mike & Brina, Hart, Joe (who would drive the car down -thanks!) and I.

Pano looking N-NE

Cove (center of Pix), Monroe Peak (right)

Almost no wind on launch, so we set up quickly and launched: Hart, I, Brina and finally Mike -all landing at the 'official' LZ in Marysvale.
Luckily I found some thermals and could extend this great flight to almost an hour :-))

After this morning's 'adventure' Hart and I elected not to make an afternoon flight off Cove.

Red Rocks Fall Fly In -4: more of the same

Up to Monroe again. Everbody was hoping for slightly better conditions today, but not only I was a little disappointed in the end... But anyway, again the views have been well worth the drive.

Monroe: looking south (from south launch)

parawaiting...

...until finally the first pilots made it over launch.

Hart

After a quick lunch we got a ride up to Cove, where it now was looking really good. Not waiting too long and Hart was off. I followed a few minutes later and we both had a great evening flight.

Hart

Only big smiles all around  :-))

Red Rocks Fall Fly In -3: it's getting better

Another very beautiful and promising day here in the Sevier Valley!
After a dusty ride in Shelly's car up to Monroe Peak we could enjoy great views.

Pano looking west: Mt.Edna

Soon the first pilots launched for an extended sledder (so did I). Others elected to wait for the conditions to turn on. Hart made a flight using his follow cam to make a video.
Riding up for a second flight, pilots could be seen soaring...

...but for what ever reasons the condition didn't live up to my expectations, so I landed after only 45mins ;-) 

The third flight of the day was then off Cove. And it made more than up for the two previous flights - gentle conditions, nice climbs, great views!

Pano looking east towards Fish Lake Plateau

Pano lookong north: Cove

packing up while the sun was setting

Red Rocks Fall Fly In -2 : first flights

Already yesterday (SUN) evening registration for the Fly-in took place.
Today we woke up to a good looking day.

After briefing we rode up to Cove launch. As the winds were blowing south, only the small 'single lane' South launch could be used, so a bit of patience was required...

South launch

Monroe: LZ at Rodeo Ground

As predicted at the morning briefing, the strong, gusty W-winds started blowing shortly after 1300. I (anong others) had underestimated this danger, but I was lucky enough to have landed shortly before it stared to blow too hard.
At 1630 we rode again up to Cove, but had to wait until afer 1800 before we could launch for a great evening flight.

Cove Mountaun

...driving day / Red Rocks Fall Fly In -1

Driving 720km from Villa Grove (CO) in the San Luis Valley to Richfield (UT) in the Sevier Valley: across high passes with 'Indian Summer', ranch country and through dessert. Leaving at 0700, we made good progress and arrived in Stacy's hometown at 1600. Checking-in at the Quality Inn, where we'll be staying the next 6 nights, while we'll be attending the annual 'Red Rocks Fall Fly In' held by the local club 'CUASA'.

up Monarch Pass (CO)

near Gunnison (CO)

Black Dragon Canyon (UT)

across UT desert on I-70 West

Before we we went to do our registration for the Fly-in, Hart treated me to dinner: Prime Rib -Thanks!!

Registration / Briefing (Stacy, Jim, Brina, Mike, Hart...)

(Whale Hill), Villa Grove

Shortly after 0800, 14 persons gathered at the LZ of Whale Hill. They all cramped into 2 cars: 2 drivers, 12 pilots and their gear in  order to ride up the the ugly road to launch.

looking towards Whale Hill

Unfortunately, the wind was blowing over the the back and we spent some time enjoying the great views.
 

looking East

Mt.Princeton, where we had flown the day before

Some took out their wings and started a kiting session. Guess who has been the first...

Stacy (right)

As the situation didn't improve, it was decided to change to Villa Grove. On the way down one of the cars blew a tire which had to be changed in steep terrain.

While most elected to go directly to Villa Grove, Stacy, Hart and I returned to our AirB&B place for a short nap. At 1630 we also drove out to Villa, where the last of these pilots were just landing.

LZ Villa Grove

Stacy drove me to launch, where I quickly prepared and could launch for an absolutely magnificent evening flight! That's exactly what we had been hoping for these 3 days here in the San Luis Valley.

13'000ft/ 4'000m looking south

Stacy also launched, but even after several attempts he didn't manage to get out of the lift band for a safe toplanding, so he had to side land on a hill further down and hike back up. Meanwhile I was enjoying the stunning views from around 4'000m...

...and landing into an already catabatic wind after the sun had already set behind Whale Hill.

folding up in an (almost) full moon