Mid September Pine to Borax / 93 Miles

[sd]

Link to Sundowner's flight log from Saturday 9/14/2013:
http://paraglide.net/log/13/13_09-14/1_pine_to_borax_93_mi.htm
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Saturday Night Short Report:
I'll post more detail tomorrow, but in short, 3 pilots flew from Pine on Saturday. Strong lapse rate without much wind. 14.5K cloud base. Multiple flights over 90 miles. Sunday looks very good also, possibly better if there is a little tailwind.
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Saturday, 7:30 am adjustments:
Strong lapse rate up to 12K, but an inversion kink just above 12. Winds aloft for WJF showing more west, but still mild. Some north wind further west, but Ozena and Rose Valley are still calm. Some wind over the Grapevine and from the NE at La Cumbre Peak, but expect that to subside.
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Saturday pre-dawn update: Still on track for our 9 o'clock meet in Ventura for Pine Mountain. (details posted Friday night)
The local barometric pressure is below average, but relative to our periphery it is mildly high, so the discussion is saying we are under the center of a high pressure ridge. The inland high pressure is reducing the onshore flow. The wind is light and variable trending from the NW toward the west and light SSW over Lancaster. The marine layer is very shallow and confined to the coast. The lapse rate is strong, but not as ballistic as last weekend. Despite the general calm and minimal mass flow, the strong lapse rate will fuel some local draw. Do expect some clouds over the prime zones like Lockwood Valley, with cloud base around 12K. Not nearly as cold at cloud base compared to last weekend's 15K.
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Friday night update: 9 am in Ventura for Pine. We are meeting at the end of Ash Street in the dirt parking lot by the footbridge over the freeway (the bus drops off at the Pier). We currently have 2 pilots and Diablo for crew. If we get more than 2 additional pilots (4 pilots total), we will need a larger vehicle. If anyone wants to carpool from Carpinteria, I'll roll a bit after 8:30. Chis Grantham reports Fly Above All will likely skip the early flight due to the strong lapse rate and opt for a glass off at the end of the day. Sunday looks good also. Diablo reports cloud base today (Friday) looked to be about 12K over Lockwood Valley.
PS: we have racks on the chase vehicle so there is currently room for HGs of PGs.
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Friday Morning Outlook for Saturday 9/14
Looking to fly Pine on Saturday. The forecast is for high pressure, but a good lapse rate with surface temperatures hitting 100 degrees inland for a spread between the surface and 6K approaching 30 degrees. The current forecast for the winds aloft on Saturday is light and variable depending on location. Do expect some surface wind in the desert, but hopefully lighter than the typical summer gusto. Historically, we have less push from the south in September compared to the teeth of summer, so we may be able to head toward Barstow rather than China Lake. Weakening onshore flow beneath upper-level high pressure should also help reduce the need to dogleg north.

Last weekend likely had stronger lift, but stronger lift also equates to stronger sink on glide, so we might be better off with the good but moderated lapse rate forecast for this Saturday.

John Scott predicts some development (but nothing like last weekend) with an inversion at 14K and cloud base down around 12, lifting to 13 later in the day. Might be a stretch getting across I-5 without a tail wind if we only get to 12 at Frazier.

Ojai looks like it will work good also. Chris says he'll get a permit and may run a load or 2. I suspect it will work good late for anyone opting for an evening flight, but you might need to launch north side at Pine after peak heating.

SB will likely be soarable, but it is a bit low and close to the ocean. Ojai and Pine should offer a stronger lapse rate.

Diablo is likely on board to crew. He'll take his truck if the team is less than 4 or 5 pilots, but is willing to drive a suburban if more are looking to play for the desert.

We'll check the weather tonight and Saturday morning before confirming details, but are looking to be on launch by 11, so we'll likely meet in Ventura about 9 and roll through Ojai about 9:30

[Dizzy]

need to launch north side at Pine

North launch at Pine overgrown and not safe to launch for either HG or PG. Take tools and do bush trimming if you plan to use it.

[sd]

North launch at Pine overgrown and not safe to launch for either HG or PG. Take tools and do bush trimming if you plan to use it.

Alex. The current forecast is for light and variable, so I think we'll be able to get off from the south side. Thanks for the heads up on the "parking lot" north launch. Cutting the brush there is likely an excessive task, so if we need to launch north side, we might use the old 5500, which is on a firebreak and a more natural lunch that won't need much work, but it is a 160 yard uphill hike so the SB HG pilots cut the "parking lot" launch to avoid the hike. We also have the option to fall back to Chiefs if necessary.
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Post Inspection Update
Update: We stopped at the old 5500 north launch on Saturday, but didn't hike up to inspect. We also stopped at the 6000 parking lot north launch. I have to concur with Dizzy's perception that the launch is overgrown and not functional for either HGs or PGs. Perhaps if the wind is strong enough, you might be able to make it work.

I don't concur that we can "Take tools and do bush trimming if you plan to use it." It is my perception that the launch will likely never be used again. It would be a massive job to clear the brush because it is shallow. It was a huge expensive project to cut and clear about 10 years ago. The project was undertaken when there were more hang glider pilots flying Pine. It is unlikely we could muster the resources needed to revive the launch.

We still need a north launch. We initially flew from the old 5500 without any improvements. We did make some incremental enhancements over the years. The old 5500 had a number of advantages, but it is an unpleasant hike carrying over a hundred pounds of gear. I used to do 2 trips, one with my HG and a 2nd for the harness.

We sometimes were able to drive up in an assortment of vehicles, but the forest service has put up obstacles a number of times. I would argue that if we put in the effort that was spent on the 6000 foot parking lot launch, we might be able to install a gated road to a small turn around spot with parking at the top of the hill.

Without much maneuvering room, the old 5500 is a bit awkward for PGs, but we are launching over a spine rather than a flat face. The double spines are a lift source, and it's an easier glide out if you don't get up. The launch is also steeper and doesn't require much maintenance.