Saturday @ the Nuthouse

[Chris G]

24º spread in Ojai with a light North wind. Should be stellar conditions. USFS won't open the road to Chief's until next week and SB has a high probability of fog so it looks the Nuthouse is the call. At least according to the 24 hr forecast. Crew should be big if everyone who has expressed interest in the nuthouse this weekend shows up.

[Chris G]

We have sunshine in Ojai already. Lost a bit of our spread but it should still be nice. A little N wind up high but should block. Dr. Jack is suggesting a convergence line right over chief's. Calling a 10AM meet at Nordhoff HS for any that are game!

[gary begley]

Chris...you crazed dog...you are all over this forum,weather reports and meeting times...you need some more hobbies
Glad your back in town...hope to fly with you soon!
Cya
Gary

[Chris G]

I'm gettin' my good weather while I can!

[Chris G]

Had a great crew with Art, Andy D, and Brendan. We rolled in to launch around 11 with lots of shade, very light cycles, and a pretty good NE wind component up high. By 12 we were getting sun on the ground, the upper levels were oscillating between SE and NE, and the cycles on launch were really nice. Art was off first and looked like he got to 2700+ before heading Eastbound. Brendan followed and had a crazy low save before getting back in the game. I was third and didn't really hit anything solid but found enough scraps to keep me in the game, just short of 2700. A down-cycle put me back to launch level and decked Brendan and at about the same time Art was heading for a nice green field down 33. After the down cycle the sun broke through again and the whole hillside released for both me and Andy. Up to ridge top level and Eastbound into the shade. Surprisingly EVERYTHING was working. The lift was lovely, smooth, and went all the way to cloudbase which was unfortunately only at 4200. The shade didn't seem to make any difference and the usual spots worked like a champ. Andy skipped down to the Pyramid and was working his way out against the south wind, probably a result of all the cloud suck. I was crossing to the Pyramid at cloudbase when Andy committed to the HS so I diverted as well. It was a foolish mistake in hindsight. I started south mid-canyon while Andy left above a peak. While I fought canyon-suck he got a stellar glide and arrived well above the HS. I slid in with a few hundred to spare. Packed up on the football field.

Beautiful day in Ojai in conditions that I've been eager to try for a long time. Surreal low cloudbase with lots of shade. It was like one of those magical boaty days in SB. The climbs from the NH when the sun was getting through were a bit spiky at times. I saw sharp 1000fpm climbs a few times but if you stayed with them they got you where you wanted to go in a hurry. The NE wind never materialized at the top of the ridge.

We'll be on again for tomorrow if SB is suffering from low cloudbase but it sounds like SB might be the call. Deano has already committed to downrange action so pack some powerbars and drink a few RedBull.

[gary begley]

Damn...need a redbull and powerbar after that novella(short novel,in case youre not familiar)
Love
G

[Chris G]

Back in the day everyone posted flight reports. The Truax Chronicles were always a good read. http://paraglide.net/log/index.htm
I think the art of the flight report has been lost.

[Robb]

We still post flight reports, it's just that when you're in Atlanta, we don't fly...

[Chris G]

That makes 2 of us.

[Simon]

Thanks for the phone call Chris. I had to put aside paragliding for a weekend to do some snowboarding, hope you can forgive me.

Who is this Truax guy? I hear stories about him, but i have never really met him. I heard someone call me Tom Truax Jr. once but they may have just been in my head seeing as i am the best damn P2 pilot i have ever met. As soon as i get a chance to fly with Nitrous from Oat to Ojai, I'll let you all know. Have no desire to stop in Ojai, though, as long as i do not have to.