Utah -Day 10 -Day-5 of the RRN: task #2 (Monroe Peak)

Flower at 3400m

After 3 days without a task due to the wx, Task #2 was set today: race to goal: 68.5km.


Task #2


Looking SW-W-NW

At first, when launch opened, it looked kind of weak in front of launch, so I delayed my TO by about 30mins. By then the thermals in front and right of launch had nicely develloped and pilots were getting high. So I figured it might by time to give it a try...


Circling over launch, looking South


The gaggle waiting for start (looking North towards Cove)

It was rather easy getting high, though top of climb was about 1000m lower than on Sunday.
By sheer luck I was only about 200m from the edge of the start cylinder by the time the race started. I took a line above the foothills and arrived on Cove not much after the first pilots (which had taken a line further in), but much lower. So it took a while for me to get high again. I moved rather slowly northwards.


Sevier Valley, looking North

Looking backwards, I didn't much like what I saw, so I decided to land near a village with a nice road, in order to avoid any hiking.


Glenwood, where I landed

Unfortunately (or luckily), the clouds didn't OD (overdevellop), so I could have tried to continue for some more kms. But better safe than sorry...
I was picked up rather quickly and driven back to HQ. Thx Jeff! By looking at the SPOT-tracks of Nicole and Arnie, they seem to have made goal - congrats!

Utah -Day 9 -Day-4 of the RRN:RA, xxRA at times

Still no luck with the wx: RA, xxRA at times.
For a short while it looked as there might be a task, but then on Monroe the clouds just got darker...


...while we were still hoping...(Ken)

And the road down from the mountain also got worse by the minute!

Utah -Day 8 -Day-3 of the RRN:-update

CB N of Richfield, after the rain had passed


Chicken dinner at Monroe City
Many thanks for having us for dinner!

Utah -Day 8 -Day-3 of the RRN: 50% chance of TS

"50% chance of TS" - that's all there is to say.
Tonight chicken-dinner and free beer, offered by the town of Monroe; many thanks!

Utah -Day 7 -Day-2 of the RRN: 30% chance of TS

Today's forcast gave a "30% change of tunderstorm" in the afternoon, so no task was set.

After a rather long (and repetitive) talk about the pros and cons of serial class vs open class gliders: we were finally given 5 options of how to spend the day:
1) Bryce Canyon NP with a hike of 4-5hrs; 2) Capitol Reef NP; 3) a mining tour;
4) fly of Monroe Peak; 5) do whatever you like.
With about 14 other pilots I went for option 4).
Good conditions on launch; but it could be clearly seen that something was brewing...
So when I got a nice altitude above Cove I started gliding towards Monroe.


on glide towards Richfield

For a very long time it looked rather good, but abeam the airport the headwind got stronger and I had to land at the south edge of town. 300m more height gain on Cove would have been probably sufficient to make it.


looking back towards Cove with CB's brewing above

But as I write this entry, there is a thunderstorm with rain outside...

Utah -Day 6 - Harness

I had mentioned that I've had a problem with my harness: when I tried to get into it, I ripped apart the Velcro shown in the picture, so the 'foot plate' got detatched from the pod... In the evening I sewed everything together!

Utah -Day 6 -Day-1 of the RRN

Task #1

Sunday - first day of the RRN: a 121km race to goal.


Windtecs taking off


looking North towards Cove

As luck would have it, I had again problems with my pod. I had thought, that all the problems would have been ironed out by now, but...
I first thought about landing at the bail-out LZ below launch, but decided against it, as this would not have solved the problem - I wouldn't have been able to fix the pod at launch.



So I just hung in there, flew over to Cove, where I got just above 5000m and then glided to Richfield in order to land at the HQ-LZ.


Sevier Valley Center & High School

>> At the time of writing this entry, I don't have any information about the comp.

Utah -Day 5 -Monroe / registration / Cove

Again a beautiful day with good conditions. We could launch off Mobroe Peak around noon. I scratched down the whole 6000+ft -taking 45 minutes before landing at Monroe...


Kari, Taggi


Monroe



In the afternoon, first the registration for the RedRockNartionals 2011 (RRN) and the first pilots briefing took place.


Briefing at the 'Sevier Valley Center'

At 1800 we left for Cove: excellent conditions (though on TO a bit switchy). I got about 500m over launch.


Cove

I saw a pilot descending on his reserve right behind Cove Mtn. I flew over him to get his GPS coordinates and then toplanded to give this information to Zac, the safety director. Luckily nothing had happend to him; he was able to pack up and hike out; shortly after midnight he was picked up...

Utah -Day 4 -Cove

At 1900 we were supposed to leave for 'Cove' for an evening soarimg flight; but, as was almost to be expectet, we didn't leave before 1925...
I parked my car at the LZ, in order to have some flexibility after flying.
We finally arrived at launch at 2015 an I got off at 2045. The winds were a little cross, but nothing too bad.


Cove -West launch

The sun was already setting, but still it was great soaring in to the dusk; I was able to get about 200m over; landing after 39 minutes.





After I had laid down my glider, I've heard that there has been an accident: apparently a girl crashed halfway up the mountain.
As the rescue was already been organised and I couldn't be of any help, I left for the hotel in order to be out of the way.
At the time of writing this blog entry, I don't have any more informtion - I just hope it's nothing too serious.

Utah -Day 4 -Monroe: windier

Today already many more people showed up for a ride to Monroe Peak. Also the port-a-pottis had to be driven to launch. Therefore some creative loading was required.



But it was a little too much for the "UPV" (ultimate paragliding vehicule), which overheated on the way up...



On Monroe the winds were a little stronger, gustier and more cross, so our group of 5 decided not to fly.



We then tried our luck on Cove, but it was even gustier there - which seems to be normal in the afternoon according to what Stacy told us later.

Utah -Day 3 -Monroe

With Jochen, Arnie, and Jeff we drove to Monroe Peak. The road is in excellent condition! (2WD)
At a lower launch )Monroe-9) I saw some Sego lilies (Utah's state flower).


Sego Lily

Excellent visibility and not too much wind to launch from the top.
After a low safe I found a good thermal up tp 4600m.
Above Cove then I had trouble finding something going UP, going DOWN there was plenty...






I landed a '12-minutes', where Stacy picked me up.


'12-Minutes'


Jochen met about the same. But Arnie got high quickly and flew North. He finally landed at xxx, from where I picked him up - this was a 120km.
COOL man!


Arnie launching


Manti Temple
on the way back

Utah -Day 2 -Inspo and Francis

strange, strange...
the wind flow at PotM was out of the North (very unusual for mornings) - so no early morning soaring :-(

Today I refilled the car for the first time: regular unleaded: 3.32USD/ USG, that's approx 0.85CHF/l or: more than a USD less than in Switzerland.

We met later at Ken's place (Ken is the head meet organizer for the RRN (Red Rock Nationals in Richfield).
Here I was allowed to sit-in in a planning meeting with Ken, Janet, Stacy, Jochen, Neill, Ann (?).
It was very interesting to see how dedicated these guys and gals went about this business and how many things they need to plan and consider: very impressive!
I could also fill my oxygen bottle for the first time.


planning meeting at Ken's

In the early afternoon we went to Inspo, where I could set up everything for the first time.
Jochen got off well and after scrating around in front he found a nice thermal which took him up high.
I found not much and after a scratin around low had to land...


Jochen



We then drove North for an evening flight off Francis, but unfortunately the road was closed :-((



On the way down to Richfield Jochen and I stopped for a Sushi-dinner - Stacy 'declined' our invitation...

Just before getting to Richfield, we got stopped by 'your local, friendly police officer'. Jochen was driving at that time and we were a little over the limit of 46mph. But after seeing we were foreigners and a hefty reprimand, he let us go; we arrived in Richfield shortly befor midnight,

Utah -Day 1 PotM and West Mtn

At 0700 I was picked up by Stacy and we drove to the South side of the Point of the Mountain (PotM), where we also met Jochen. Jochen was flying a very small glider, so he was able to take-off and land on top in the rather strong winds.
Stacy and I (with 'normal' gliders) drove to the LZ and hiked about halfway up the hill from where we could safely launch.


Jochen


Stacy


looking South: Utah lake; on right side: Lake Mtn

Nice flying and it's certainly the best way to beat jetlag...

Later we took care of the flat tire and then we drove to West Mountain, on the South shores of Utah lake.


Taggi


Jochen




looking North: Utah lake

The Easterly wind permitted a relatively easy TO in the otherwise rather demanding terrain.
But it proved treacherous, as out in front of the mountain in the mean time the wind situation had changed: now coming from the South, > 30kmh and increasing. So Jochen and I landed after a short flight safely, while Stacy drove the car back down.
For dinner I was invited by Karl and his family in SLC: many thanks to you!


heading to my hotel in Lehi after dinner at Karl's place

finally - underway...

Finally! Waking up at 0400, getting to the airport (ZRH) shortly before 0600 for checking-in my 3 bags; departure with BA to LHR; arrival on-time. Almost 4 hours to ‚kill‘ before departure with BA to ORD, arrival on-time. The food and service on the flight has been excellent, as was to be expected in FCl.

LHR-ORD

Very speedy clearing of immigration and customs (less than 30 mins). Transfer from Terminal 5 to Terminal 2 (United). While going through security there and being screened/ x-rayed, I saw Fabio (a good friend of mine and a LH captain) pass outside. I called on him and we had just enough time for a short chat before he was due to depart for DUS. While awaiting my flight to SLC in the lounge, a departure delay of almost 2 (!) hours was announced, but fortunately in the end we arrived in SLC only about 10mins late

CB somewhere over the Mid-west

SLC

– for which I was rather grateful, as by now I had been on the road for more than 24 hrs. All 3 bags arrived within 20mins. Now there was only the car pick-up and drive to Lehi for a (short) nights rest at the Days Inn left… At least that’s what I had hoped for, but 7 mins out of the airport I had a flat tire ...

:-((

So total travel time in the end (bed to bed): 27hrs. In the morning, Stacy will pick me up for flying at the Point of the Mountain‘ (PotM) and having the tire fixed.