Santa Ynez Peak???

Past, present, and future flights, meeting times & places, theory.

Moderator: Moderation Team

Santa Ynez Peak???

Postby timobarker » Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:47 pm

Hey y'all!
Today sounded like an epic day with multiple pilots crossing through the pass. Tomorrow sounds like it could be just as good if not better. I've been in contact pretty steadily with Aileron and Flychild about attempting a possible "boutique flight" tomorrow from Santa Ynez peak. If anybody wants to join, please let us know. Lot's of strong reasons to try tomorrow and a few logistical hurtles we're trying to overcome.

First, the pros: great lapse rate, unstable air and nice conditions to head as far east as possible. If we can connect the first dots to VOR, it seems that we are in the game for a big flight.

Cons: The drive and retrieve. The drive is probably close to an hour to launch from Refugio exit. The launch that we used last time is fairly challenging: small, barbed wire, bushes etc…

Post if you're interested! I've texted a few friends in town that don't fly that might drive. Haven't heard back yet.
timobarker
 
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:22 pm

Re: Santa Ynez Peak???

Postby flychild » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:07 pm

I'm in if we can put the pieces together. Worth a try at flying the length of the range.
flychild
 
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:18 pm

Re: 2 cents

Postby sd » Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:42 am

timobarker wrote:... flight tomorrow from Santa Ynez. Are you interested? Any sage advise or wisdom if you can't make it?

I like the idea of flying the full length of the range from Santa Ynez Peak. It’s the highest location on the west end, even higher than La Cumber Peak. I've got a lot less experience on the west side of 154 compared to a dozen or more local pilots. I've flown over Santa Ynez Peak a number of times, but have only launched there once. Not actually right at the Peak due to the communications antennas, but from one of the clearings near the road to the west. The ridge line is pretty accessible via 2WD vehicle from Refugio. My recollection is that the road is mostly paved, but narrow, winding, and slow.

Despite the obvious appeal, I haven't made the trek a reoccurring pilgrimage for a number of reasons. As Tim noted, the ride to launch is long. You can likely get there just as fast by flying to Santa Ynez Peak from the Skyport. The range on the west side of Hwy 154 is shallow compared to the mountains behind Santa Barbara, so the glides out can be long. Being toward the west end of the range with a large valley to the north, it has little protection from north wind, and if you invest an hour and a half driving up to ridgeline from Santa Barbara an it's wafting from the north, you don't really have an option to go lower from protection.

If Santa Ynez Peak was the only option around, I'd consider the mountain to be a Mecca, but compared to our more quickly accessible mountains offering multiple launches off the road, it is problematic. That said, I still like the challenge of starting from there and running the range to Fillmore, but I'm not convinced today (Wednesday, 1/28) is the day to do it. If you drag a bunch of pilots up there for mediocre flights, they will be disinclined to repeat. The key to scoring is to pick your day. Yesterday (Tuesday) seemed like a colorful day to fly with inviting numbers, but today seems to be "mostly cloudy" / overcast on the satellite images. The heating will be less and the lapse rate weaker, plus it is a bit prefrontal with some flow from the SE, so not really downwind back to SB early.
User avatar
sd
 
Posts: 449
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:30 pm

Re: Santa Ynez Peak???

Postby timobarker » Wed Jan 28, 2015 3:49 pm

I checked the weather early this morning and quickly realized this wasn't the day. The dream is there and hopefully we'll be gunning for it again soon.
timobarker
 
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:22 pm


Return to Flight Discussion



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests

cron