US'22 (4.9.) - Aspen / Glenwood

 SUN: leaving Salida very early (0530), as we had to be in Aspen at 0800.

Our route has taken us across Independence Pass (12'096ft/ 3687m)...

Lake on top of Independece Pass

..., and we have arrived in Aspen just in time for the 0815 shuttle to the East launch.

This launch is in so far 'tricky', as the window for launching normally is quite small: after the tadem pilots have launched one cannot wait for too long, as the wind might start blowing over the back...

All 3 of us could fly for almost an hour before the NW-wind set in and made the thermals too rough.

East launch

Andy approaching the LZ

launch is on the 'brown' slope above the windsock

Another thing here: there is absolutely NO landing to the west of the river flowing by the LZ (left side of river on pix of LZ): this is a nature preserve and landing there would close the LZ!!

Furthermore: no flying closer to the gondola than 1000ft/ 300m as well as flying further North than the North-LZ (due to the proximity of Aspen airport). XC towards Snowmass/ Glenwood is still possible, but if you sink out, you cannot glide out to the valley floor for landing, but have to land somewhere in the hills,...

After this nice flight we continued to Glenwood (our stay for the next 3 nights). At 1600 we left for Lookout Mountain (the local evening site) where we (unexpectely) encountered excellent soaring conditions, permiting climbs to almost 1000m above launch :-))

Lookout Mtn (Glenwood)

Pano looking SE towards Aspen

Colorado River Gorge

Pano looking West

So a very intense day has come to a great end :-)