Sat @ Chief

[Chris G]

Looked like a great spread with minimal wind aloft in Ojai so we called a 10:00 meet, including 2 tandems and a student. We packed OJs Suburban to the seams! Launch conditions were primo with easy cycles and Ron F was off first, followed by Dave B, Stan, Kevin, Magic, Matt H, Jeff, and I. I was last off with my tandem and most had already headed for the LZ or were specking out at Nordhoff ridge. We had to grovel for a few minutes but found a beautiful climb to just over 6 to join Matt in his tandem. Passenger was stoked so we decided on a little XC to the HS. Easy transition to Bruce's with a 10:1 glide on the new Magnum II making it's second debut. Blew over Bruce's and continued on to the first spine. Got a spectacular climb to 4500 from halfway down the ridge face just as Andy D and Marty were making the transition over from the Nuthouse. Simple and beautifully smooth glide out to the HS from there for a landing on the 50yd mark.

That little milk run from Chief to Nordhoff is such a great way to get started with XC. There are LZs available all the way across, it takes a little skill to make it work but nothing a solid P3 wouldn't be able to handle, and you don't have to commit to an epic day just to try it out. Always an enjoyable run!