Christmas @ the Nuthouse!

[Chris G]

Every year we find some place to get our fly on. This year the weather looks considerably more stellar than some so we're going to the Nuthouse! They're predicting a 27º spread! If the launch doesn't blow your socks off, the first few climbs should! Meet time is 10:00 sharp at Nordhoff HS! Let's see some Topa Crew turnout!

[Chris G]

Best Christmas flight EVER and definitely an epic day on the Nordhoff range. Andy D and I headed up at 10, with nice cycles on launch at 11:00. Andy was confident enough in the cycles by 11:30 to have a go and quickly hit ridge top level in consistent but edgy lift. I followed and we bounced along low until just short of pyramid we started hitting 4600. Climbs were strong, with peaks to 1000fpm and winds aloft out of the NE. We had set our goal at top landing Chief's and deciding where to go from there. Nordhoff range worked well but still stuck under 4600. Glides were into a headwind but the usual points worked perfectly and with 4600 at Stooges it was easy to make Twin Peaks. Bonehead climb up the Chief's spine to just over launch level where we both set down on the hairpin. Hung out for an hour, enjoyed the silence of the valley and stellar conditions, and the fact that we just rocked Christmas. I think we were both a bit beat up after the flight over and we weren't that stoked on the prospect of going back to Nordhoff ridge but Fillmore seemed like more effort than it was worth so we voted to head back to the HS. Easy launch cycles, back to 5500 at the hairpin and a silly glide with a tailwind to stooges where we hooked the most spectacularly smooth thermal at 4200 and took it back to 5k, wingtip to wingtip, laughing like idiots the whole way up. Easy glide to Bruce's with another stellar climb to 5500. With that altitude we skipped Nordhoff entirely and took the glide to the HS, arriving with more than enough to screw around for a bit. Below 1500 we started finding lift again and were able to boat around for another 15-20 minutes right over the HS. Stellar day, beautiful conditions despite the raggedness of the lift on the way to Chief's, and a perfect way to spend Christmas.

[andy dainsberg]

Twas the morning of Xmas and all thru my house, not a creature was stirring- not even my computer mouse.
-“Bing!” goes the phone and what should appear? A text from Grantham… I put down my beer… (jk)
-One thing at the nuthouse- your thirst you must quench. Up at launch, a bear had attacked Brendan’s Bench!
-Streamers were hung from the branches with care, in hopes that Saint Thermalas soon would be there.

-Xmas over Ojai beats Minnesota’s ice. Top-landing Chiefs with your bro will suffice!
-Up there in nature, we visited Bruce’s plaque. But Lo and Behold, it was time to head back...
-Re-lauched and went straight up to 6 K... something--something-- something--; “sleigh.”
-A blissfully sweet and high return flight, merry Xmas to all and to all a good-- get yo asses out to the nuthouse!

[Dizzy]

Merry Christmas! Good flight! Are flying tomorrow?

[Chris G]

I have some chores to do tomorrow but I bet Marty and Andy could be talked into a run at the Nuthouse!