Blown out

Due to the actual meteorogical situation today -once more-it has been 'blown out'; not just here, but pretty much every where within 500km.
So we travelled from Jackson to Park City: first along the Snake river, later we passed Crawford Ridge, where originally it was planned to fly and finally through Echo Canyon.

first signs of autumn

Snake River

Ashton (WY)

Crawford Ridge (Randolph (UT))

Echo Canyon

Mike

In Park City we had to say goodbye to Mike, who had guided us this first week competently. He not only proved to be a knowledgeable guide, but also a good cook, expert pilot, always courteous, helpful and very pleasant companion. MANY thanks again Mike!! 
Now Stacy is taking over for the next week until we reach Richfield.

Jackson (WY): Rendez-Vous Peak (JHMR) / Nelson's

Looking much better today! When we checked in for our flights, we were told that even a little soaring might be possible...

Riding the tram up

Pano looking north: Grand Teton

Grand Teton

...and it was more than a little soarable: I could fly close to an hour :-))

As we had gotten a daypass (at 50% off -thanks Julia!!) we rode up again. Mike launched, but didn't like the flight at all: windy, rough and flying on almost full speed bar just to mantain position, so Hart and I rode the tram down.

Later in the afternoon Mike and I went exploring a sitewh ich we had been told should suit the prevailing conditions (SW) perfectly: Nelson's, just a few miles south of Jackson.

As it is a steep, >30min hike up, I didn't go with Mike; also launch is very steep, but Mike could easily climb above launch and did some nice soaring.

WINDY! > Grand Teton & Yellowstone NP

Again too windy :-((
So we went sightseeing in the nearby National Parks: Grand Teton and Yellowstone..

Moose and calve

Jackson Lake

Old Faithful (Yellowstone NP)

Grand Teton

Philips Ridge, Curtis Canyon

When we woke up this morning in Arco, the sky had  already been overcast. We didn't think a possible sledder off Coyote would be worth 2 hours of drivingg, so we headed east towards Jackson, where we plan to stay the next 3 nights. Crossing into Wyoming, we drove up to Philips Ridge and  I laid out (there's room for only 1 glider at a time). But the wind came in rather gusty and the wind reading at Jackson Hole airport showed 20-25mph, so we packed up and went looking for our accomodation near Wilson.

Philips Ridge looking South

Later we drove to Curtis Canyon for some groundhandling (Mike and I), but also here the wind was too strong at times and also cross from the left. As we didn't expect any improvement, we returned to our accomodation, where Mike grilled some steaks for us :-))

Mike securing my glider

Mike groundhandling; Tetons in the background

Arco: King Mountain

Arco  (ID)

After the sky had been almost overcast the whole day long, in the evening it started to clear up, which gave us hope that the next day might be better...

road leading to launch via Beaverland Pass

Again we drove 'around' the mountain, but this time not to Coyote launch, but to King Mtn (lower) launch, as this one was facing directly into the wind. After having waited for about 30 minutes, some thermal cycles started to come in, so we (Mike and I) prepared and launched. Hart had offered to drive the car back down, as yesterday's hike up to Natural Arch had been too much of a strain on his knee and he wanted it to heal as quickly as possible.

King Mountain (lower) launch -on the ridge above Hart is Coyote launch

At first I feared I might have launched too early as I was getting below launch, but after some scratching I finally found some nice thermals which took me to 2900m. Here it could be clearyl felt that the wind was stronger (but still smooth).

King Mountain (upper) launch with HG ramp:steep, 4x4 required!

looking north towards launch

Mike landing at upper LZ

Mike also landed after about 50 minutes flight time; just atthe right moment, as the winds started to pick up and become gusty :-)

Sun Valley / Mt.Baldy -2; Craters of the Moon; Arco: Coyote, Natural Arch

Contrary to the day before, where the winds aloft had come out of the NW, today they came from SW bringing the smoke/ haze from the wildfires in California. Thus the sun was almost completely blocked and no thermals could be expected. So after the tandems had launched, we waited only a short while and then 'sled' to the LZ. During this time, Mike prepared a nice cup of tea for us on his 'JetBoil'.

Hart getting ready on 'Alabama'

While launching, Hart ripped out a brakeline, be he immediately repaired it after landing.

After packing up we continued towards Arco/ King Mtn, stopping at 'Craters of the Moon' National Monument for some sightseeing.

Craters of the Moon NM

As we'd been told, that the normal access for King Mtn had been washed out and was not passable, we went to find the alternative way (via the backside) to Coyote/ King Mtn launches. Also this track has been washed out in places, but at least it got us to Coyote, where the wind was blowing > 35kmh.

'Coyote' looking NW up the Lost River Valley; King Mtn launches on rh side

On the way back to our motel in Arco some more sightseeing: Natural Arch.

Natural Arch

heading back to Arco

Side trip to Stanley and Redfish lake

As the wind was forecasted to be too strong in the afternoon for a third flight we drove north along the Wood River Valley, across Galena Pass to Stanley, where we had a late breakfast/ lunch. Then Mike took us to the nearby Redfish Lake.

Wood River Valley driving north

Salmon River Valley (near Sawtooth City)

Redfish lake

Redfish lake got his name as the salmon after returning from the Pacific ocean and having swam up Colubia River, Snake River and finally Salmon River turn red before spamming and finally dying.

Unfortunately nowadays due to the (seven) dams on Columbia and Snake river only very few samon make it back to their birthplace.

near Galena Pass looking into the Salmon River valley

Sun Valley (ID) / Mt.Baldy -1

Another early wake up and departure, as we had a 'rendez-vous' with Chuck from Sun Valley Paragliding, at the LZ in Ketchum at 0730. I had met Chuck already in 2016, when I had been here with Stacy and Andy. Again he was very friendly and helpful. After having filled out all the necessary paperwork -Hart was just shaking his head- we rode in his 4x4 up to launch.

Chuck had chosen 'Heaven' for launching with his passengers. After the 3 tandems had taken off, first Thia, then I, Mike and finally Hart launched - all without any problems in the perfect head wind.

(pix by Mike)

Chuck getting ready

LZ and gondola (at 11 o'clock)

For our second flight we rode up in the gondola. Chuck already was on top again, this time in order to retrieve his car. He again gave us good advice about which launch should work best - Thanks!

He sent us to 'Double D'-launch where already some thermal cycles were coming through

'Double D'

Mike getting ready on 'Double D'

All of us got off without problems and quickly climbed to nearly 1000m above launch :-)

Arosa -Webcam 9.9.18 -1240

Webcam

Salt Lake to Hailey (ID); Sky Ridge

Travel Day: Mike picked us up at 0730 for the drive north to Hailey (Sun Valley).

With only one break for fuel and breakfast we drove across the vast lands of Idaho. It's either nothing at all or farmland. Also it was very windy with too much wind forcasted for Sun Valley.
This was confirmed after Mike had called Chuck who operates a tandem company in Sun Valley.
But he also told us that tomorrow morning should allow 1 maybe even 2 flights; so we'll meet him at 0730 for a ride up Mt.Baldy in his truck, for a possible second flight we can then take the gondola.

As we had almost the whole afternoon to spent we went exoploring 'Sky ridge', a site near Hailey.
We didn't drive all the way up to launch as the track  is not in very good shape in different places...

looking at Sky Ridge

Sky Ridge is a rather seldom flown late afternoon soaring site (probably due to ots access)