Skyport Sunday Dec 4th

[Marty DeVietti]

The usual suspects in the van, but less so, it seemed today at Skyport.

Nonetheless, Andy punched off first and skied out over launch with Brendan in his wake heading Eastward shortly after. Cort was off in front of me and we managed to circle together high enough to make the East transition to Thermal factory where it was spotty but soarable. Cort took a line out front and got rather high, and several made it to East Beach today with a nice tailwind I imagine.

Chris Paul showed up over the Thermal Factory and wasted little time before he headed East after Andy who was several climbs away. Brendan and I circled and sniffed around a while, unsure if the North wind component would be kind to us if we headed toward Padaro. It seemed that 4200 was the top of the lift so I pointed Eastward to Brendan and his body language was worth a thousand words. His shrug of acceptance to go down range was less than enthusiastic to put it lightly, but it was laugh out loud worthy and we headed after Chris, who was quite a ways behind Andy now.

The lift was there, but not everywhere, and we cruised along in reasonable air until we finally saw Andy declare his Padaro destination and with good altitude from somewhere before the power lines, he headed out and ultimately waited us to land there too.

Here is the view on the way to Padaro with Brendan
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9kVqJ9q4zrY/Ttv7-McE4pI/AAAAAAAAAFY/rNsMsRkKtCs/s576/photo.JPG

Chris, on the other hand, forged ahead and had good altitude at the power lines when we headed back to SB to retrieve cars. I am looking forward to hearing his tale, or Andy's for that matter, as he headed after him in chase.

Maybe an hour in the air, 4200 max, most climbs 4-500fpm up at best.

Nice to leave the nest and have a ride waiting. Thanks Andy and Brendan for dropping cars!

Chris? Do tell!

Marty

[ChrisP]

After Andy skied out and headed down range, it looked like it would be a stellar day. I got on course from the TF soon as possible, but didn't get any big climbs at Montecito, Ramero or Castle Ridge. Marty and Brendan soon caught up, and headed out to Padaro. Even though there were no big climbs, the ridges were consistently working and I was prepared to walk, so decided to keep going. Crossed the power lines 400' above the ridge, then got to 5000' on the nob in front of of Noon. I had to scratch for a while to get up West Divide, but was rewarded with a solid climb to 5700' once over the top. There was a quite a bit of NW up high, requiring a 45 degree crab angle to get to White Ledge. Got back to 4600 in front of WL. There was a lot of sink in the lee of WL, so I swung wide and didn't get back onto the ridge until near Bump 2. Came into the top of the Nuthouse spine shivering (could have used another layer). From there, the flying through Ojai was as easy as I have seen - smooth and consistent climbs with good glides between the front points. Didn't make much of an effort to top out since the front points had smooth climbs and it was cold and North above the altitude of the back ridge. Even Santa Paula ridge was smooth and didn't require any scratching. Took the glide from SP peak out to the Fillmore Vons where Andy was waiting. 4 hrs total. Thanks to Andy, for going way out of his way with the retrieve!

[andy dainsberg]

the 3 of us that chose to land padaro were quite content with that result; i think all of us feeling we got a lucky last climb to get there. but from the sand we could see chris had decent alt as he disappeared into the great beyond past the power lines. "i'm gonna take a shot at the pass..." / when i caught up to chris on chase he was cruising high over the ojai valley on a pine-style glide that gave me that double edged sweet!/dammit! feeling... the sky did not have that xc possible look at all, and the north component was a fine reason for not pushing. but waiting for "ideal" is often a losing concept on the search for adventure! inspiring flight chris p

[Marty DeVietti]

Well done, Chris. Kudos to you as well, Andy for retrieve. No good deed goes unpunished!

[BobA]

Way to charge Chris! "attitude determines altitude!"