Eagles in The Owens Valley

[SA]

The forecast looked really good as we pulled out of Santa Barbara on Thursday afternoon for Eagle Paragliding’s semi annual Owens Valley Thermal and Cross Country Clinic. We had Tim Barker’s truck maxed out. Tim, Ben, Aaron, Ty, and I loaded the bed with a motorcycle, and all our paragliding gear, then we slapped two hang gliders on top. Tim’s truck looked like a low rider, and we got some funny looks on the 395 as we migrated north to meet up with the 11 participants in this Springs clinic.

We met up with Kari Castle on Friday morning, and went over the game plan. We headed for Flynn’s and found more wind at the LZ than we had seen in the forecast. We hung out a bit to see if it was just draining down the valley, but it started to increase. Aaron blasted off on his moto to check things at the Paiute LZ, and unfortunately found the north there as well. We decided to do some ground school on flying in the Owens Valley, a reserve clinic, and got everybody’s equipment dialed as we waited hoped for things to change as we monitored conditions.

We finished our ground schooling and had some lunch, but the conditions at the airport were still showing strong north. We decided to get the convoy headed south for the north facing Alabama Hills. We arrived to find it coming straight in at 9mph, with peak cycles at 18mph. It wasn’t gusty but it would build and hit 18 mph occasionally. We watched conditions for almost 30 minutes, and decided it was getting better.

Vic took off and climbed up nicely a few hundred feet over. We watched Vic work the ridge then push out front and huck some 360’s. After about 15 minutes of watching Vic fly we saw the cycles at launch start to increase in velocity to 22mph so Vic wisely pushed out front. He found a nice thermal and ended up climbing about 2000 feet. We gave him the report that it had been increase a little bit on launch. Vic flew for another 10 minutes before choosing to push out and land well in front of the ridge.

The rest of the crew hung out and waited for things to mellow a bit. After about another 45 minutes of waiting around conditions decided to get really nice, and we got everybody up in the air for a beautiful glass of session on the Alabama Hills. The light was beautiful and the conditions were perfect as the entire group worked the buoyant air. It was just about dark when we pulled out of the LZ at the Alabama’s with hopes of lighter winds for our Saturday flying hopes.

Once again the forecast looked good as we readied ourselves Saturday morning, but we had our doubts after seeing such a good forecast for Friday turn into a breezy north day. We headed for Flynn’s to find nice cycles with just a bit off north in them. After the pilots meeting everyone began to ready themselves for what would turn out to be a fantastic day of flying.

Everyone got off and up. It was working well at Flynn’s and the flats were very buoyant as well. Norm ended up getting a boomer out in the Valley which took him over 10,000 feet. Jeff Dalton, Brad Bass, Mike D, and Chris Nash all worked the abundant lift at Flynn’s, and most had nice climb outs which took them over 10 grand with minimal drift. Others got high out front and practiced finding the cores and maximizing their climbs.

Ben Haug launched his Falcon and had a nice climb out from launch. Kort Flinchbaugh, Greg Hummel, Tim Barker, Vic Enright, Heidi Chu, and Arnie Frankenberger all decided to take advantage of the Cross Country opportunities the Owens Valley provides.

Arnie Frankenberger led out on course and ended breaking last years Eagle clinic record of 62 miles by half a mile. He ended up just south of Lone Pine clocking a 62.5 miler. Tim Barker fought hard to find some thermals after getting low on his way toward Black Mountain. He managed to hang tough and huck some turns in some tight cores to get established again before getting up at Black and heading south himself. Aaron stepped up after thermaling around Flynn’s for a while, by landing and getting on chase. Thanks A dog!

Vic Enright and Greg Hummel also pushed south to Black Mountain after getting up high where the air was a bit chilly. They ended up landing just north of Black, and Heidi Chu also ended up in that area after her XC adventure. Kort Flinchbaugh flew down towards Black Mountain as did Ben Haug. They ended up opting for the out and return. Both of these guys made it back to the Flynn’s LZ and were setting up to land when they found a boomer which took them back to 12 grand. Nice work boys!

We rounded up the troops and headed back up to Flynn’s for the late afternoon session. Some pilots were already coming back up to launch for their third flights. We had wonderful conditions and the whole posse was enjoying a sweet session at Flynn’s which was a mix of thermals and ridge lift. We were getting 300 over, and the conditions were really nice. It was good to see Wayne and Paula show up at launch and fly with us as well.

I was flying tandem with Patti, and Kari was on her UP Edge race ship. Kari and I found a ripper and had a sweet climb out to 10,500. It was a beautiful time of day. Patti let me know she liked it when I banked up my turn’s up steep. So I stayed in the core on the tandem, and happily obliged her. Kari ended up get a nice lift line and landed very close to her house on West Line Street. I landed at the Flynn’s LZ and we headed back to the meet spot for the evening debrief. It was a great day, but we weren't finished with the Owens, and Sundays forecast looked even better.

After a good night’s sleep we woke up to find an amazing forecast for Sunday. The winds were light an variable up to 12 grand, and the wind didn’t get any stronger than 6mph until you were above 39,000 feet. The lapse rate was almost of the chart, and we were ready to head for the higher ground at the Paiute Launch with some thermal hungry pilots.

The conditions on launch were 3-10 out of the south west as we pulled up to launch. During the pilots meeting we looked at the map and talked about flying north along the White Mountain Range 22 miles to Boundary Peak. We looked at the map and talked about the route and the best places to land and find cold beer if you flushed. However, there would be no flushing on this booming day.

Jeff Dalton took off first and pushed out front to find a sweet climb which drifted him up an over the Paiute Launch. The rest of the crew all hucked themselves, and had no problem finding lift which took them well above launch. Norm, JD, and Chris were showing us there was no lack of lift out front as they climbed high in the valley working the huge cores getting amazing climbs.

Meanwhile at 12,500 feet a gaggle had come together behind the Paiute launch. Arnie again led out as Tim, Ty, and Vic followed north towards White Mountain. These guys stayed high and pushed along the range towards White Mountain which reaches to 14,000 feet. These guys all took different lines but did a great job identifying triggers and getting climbs as they continued ridge and peak hoping toward Boundary Peak.

Aaron took Tim Barkers dad Rob for a tandem flight on the hang glider. Tim’s parents Rob and Sue were nice enough to let a few of us stay at their wonderful home in Rocking K Ranch. Thanks a million to them for making us feel so at home. Ben and Aaron (with Rob) climbed out right away in a nice thermal in front of Paiute, and got high right away.

Kari and I were now airborne, and were in hot pursuit of our flock. Kari was working the front points, and actually got out into the flats to find some sweet climbs. I was getting to 11,000, then leaving climbs trying to catch up. Kort reported he was at 14,000 just north of White Mountain. I came on the radio in a stern voice and reminded him not to break rule number one anytime during his flying. Don’t ever get higher than your instructor’s. He was doing great getting super high on his second day of big thermal flying in the Owens Valley.

Meanwhile, Arnie and was leading the charge towards Boundary Peak with Tim and Ty in hot pursuit. Ben, Vic, and Kort were holding the high ground heading north as Kari was in the flats starting to get a nice climb, as I was racing along the White’s trying to catch the Posse. Arnie, Ben, Tim, and Ty all eventually arrived at Boundary Peak. The White’s were so beautiful. They were covered with snow from the storm that hit the Owens the week before. The Sierra’s were crazy beautiful as well. What an amazing setting on an ideal day.

Vic had managed to work out to the flats and join Kari, and they were getting a nice climb. I managed to get a little low racing along the range trying to catch everybody and was forced to fly out towards the highway. I found a nice climb 800 of the deck which took me back to 10 grand. Kort was still pushing down range, and Ty was now leaving Boundary heading towards Benton. Arnie & Ben eventually topped it out to 16,000 at Boundary Peak and headed further north. Tim was working it to 13,500 at Boundary and loving the view.

I landed at the park in Benton first. Ty, Kari, Vic, Kort, and Tim all landed at the park in Benton as well. We were all smiles, and listened in on the radio as Arnie and Ben pushed along Highway 6 toward Basalt and Tonopah. They ended up landing just over 40 miles from Paiute. Nice flying Arnie & Ben.

We’ve had our karma working for us with both of our Thermal and Cross Country Clinics in both Santa Barbara and the Owens Valley this year, and we wish to thank the weather gods for helping us have fun and learn along the way by blessing us with epic conditions. I also want to thank Kari Castle for making these clinics organized and the best they can be. She has so much experience in the Owens Valley, and we are lucky to get to fly with this living legend. Max you were an awesome driver and videographer, and we thank you. Thanks to Eagle instructors Ben Haug and Ty Sporrer for their input and help during the clinic as well. Aaron LaPlante has been to the Owens over 30 times, and he filled in the gaps with some great local knowledge. Thanks for being such a great team player Cracka! A final thanks to the Barker’s for taking such good care of us. I’m sure we will have some return visitor’s when we converge in the Owens again for our Fall Thermal and XC Clinic there October 9, 10, 11. We should have some images and video together in a few weeks, and promise to share it when we do. Here is a link to the video of the Clinic we had there in 2008 if you haven’t seen that yet http://eagleparagliding.com/?q=node/198 .

[Ben H]

"Eagles and a Falcon in The Owens Valley"

I think Rob summed up our awesome weekend pretty well. I don't think we could have picked a better weekend for our mission at giving some unfamiliar pilots (including me), a taste of what the Owens Valley has to offer.

My first flight on Saturday from Flynn's was a fun start. I launched last and played around for awhile getting a feel for the air. Arnie and Tim were already long gone past Black Mtn when I decided to head south. I made my way down to Black Mtn and got up to 12.5k over it. I wanted to chase Arnie so I started on glide over the gap but was getting drilled so I turned around at hwy 168 and made it back to Black Mtn. I figured I should go ahead and do one of these out and return things that everyone talks about but I never try. So, I made it back to launch no problem and tried to glide out to town but I left to low and wasn't going to make it over the airport so I returned to the LZ. Unzipped to land and sure enough the valley started to breath and I took that thermal to 12k over launch and now I knew I had Bishop. I actually wanted to land in front of the Barker's house a bit west of town but my stinkin Falcon said I don't think so. I was hungry so I put it down at the high school soccer field. Packed up, left the glider and headed for an overdue lunch at the bakery. The out and return and glide to town turned out to be about 33 miles.

Sunday topped off the weekend for sure. I launched Piute last and went after Arnie once again who was already specked over White Mtn. I cruised north between 9k-12k until I got to the last spine before it wraps around. I was able to tank up to 15k then over to Boundary peak where I cleared 16k. The 360 degree view was spectacular and I could have stayed there all afternoon. However, Arnie was getting away from me as he went on glide down the north east spine. I finally caught him and we made some turns together but it was the first time I flew with someone all day and it turned out being pretty distracting at that point as we were low and I needed to hydrate a tumble weed. I ended up landing just north of the Basalt LZ where hwy 6 and 360 meet for a 36 mile flight. Arnie hung in there and went a few miles down the hwy. I wish I had hooked up a way to mount my camera- oh well next time. Thanks Rob and Kari for an incredible weekend and the Barker’s for the first class hospitality!

Good times looking back at Boundary Peak.

[gary begley]

Bishop is a playground.People should go more often, it's just 5 hrs away .

[Tony de Groot]

Nice flying everyone!! Nice job Ben!!! Owens can be sweet at times and with your crew you picked a perfect time. Way to go!!

[Aaron]

got some thermallin in on the pg, tandem on the hg, climbin in the buttermilks, and broadies galore on the dirtbike,,, bishop is mecca! thanks to the eagle crew and the barkers..uhhhhhh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyHTfwLySqY

[timobarker]

April 20, 2009

Today is Monday and I feel like a stranger to my old life. On Friday I was a different man than the one I am today. What happened, you might ask? I was transported to a new life, with new meaning and values. The trip was only 40 miles or so. It took two flights and about 6 hours. Those flights seem tangibly small, but my spirit went on a much longer journey. It visited the Inyo, which in Paiute means “The dwelling place of the great spirit.”
The Great Spirit, residing within the Inyo, spoke to me in a language all but foreign to the average man, yet always understood by the birds and mammals that reside within its soaring cliff walls. It speaks with high, flying thermals, the howl of the wind, the heat of the day and the myriad of colors reflected to our eye by the sun.
This spirit made me focus and transcend time as I journeyed within myself, finding the strength and endurance to deal with the great spirit's beautiful, indifferent, presence. The 6 or so hours I played and tempted fate within the Owen's Valley seemed like an eternity. Yet, now when I look back, it was simply a glimpse.
Here are the details:
We arrived on Thursday night. I was jittery and nervous all night, not getting much sleep; all the while Aaron's Owen's stories rattled around my head. Friday morning was a little rough, but I was excited to experience something new. We headed out and, unfortunately, had an unfortunate North wind that was unrelenting.
I took the next few hours in the park, with the rest of the crew to dial my equipment in. Thanks for the help Ty. I also learned and committed to memory a slew of information that Rob and Kari discussed.
After a few hours the clinic crew decided to head to the Alabama Hills for some ridge soaring.
Aaron, Ben, Ty, Heidi and I went back to my parents place. We jumped on the four wheelers and Rhino and looked for some flying sites in the Tungsten Hills. After about an hour of searching, exploring and laughing we found what we thought to be a decent launch. The wind was blowing out of the North at about 3 miles an hour.
I started setting up my glider to launch and was slapped in the face by an impressive wind, well over 20 miles an hour. I couldn't believe how fast it came on and how it didn't stop. This was a serious eye opener. You've got to respect the Owen's Valley. So, we decided to pack up and head for the Buttermilks to get a short, yet productive climbing session in.
The next day I awoke, from a great sleep, to an amazing day. Much of the nerves I was facing the day before had disappeared. I had a nice hike up to launch with Ben, Arnie, Kari, Court and a couple others. Then, the magic happened. We flew. I launched Flynn's (500 – 800 ft over) and almost immediately found myself at 8 grand. It was an awesome and exciting feeling heading South, chasing Arnie. At one point, before I tried to cross the pass South of Black Mountain, I made 12,000ft. The views of the Palisades in the Sierras were absolutely breathtaking. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the cross and I found a nice soft landing right outside of Big Pine.
Aaron was there 10 minutes later to pick me up and head south for Arnie's 62+ mile flight. A few beers and a pizza later we were directing Arnie to a nice soft and safe landing. It was awesome.
Sunday morning I was a serious blend of emotions. I was excited to get off the ground again, I was nervous because I'd heard rumor that the day was going to be “bigger” and better than the day before when I flew 15 miles, an all time best, and I was flat out scared of the unknown.
When we got to launch at Piaute, these feelings lessoned a bit, but were replaced with the strange feeling that this was the first time my parents had seen me fly. Of all places, this was probably the last place they should see me fly. Fortunately the professionalism of Rob, Kari, Ben, Ty and Aaron were unparalleled and they felt that this was just another day of flying.
I launched and immediately hooked a thermal to 12000 feet. It was amazing. Arnie and I decided to head North down range. I headed down the middle of the range, while Arnie decided to head deeper into the range, toward the ridges. I got to the next point, hooked another thermal and continued down the range. All the while, I could see Arnie scratching around deep. When I got to the next point and had found the next thermal, I looked over to see Arnie and was shocked to see him well above 14,000 soaring toward White Mountain. I was stoked.
The rest of the flight was a magic journey into the unknown. It was filled with thrills, moments of intense concentration and pits of fear. I ended the flight at a little over 14k on Boundary Peak and was breathless at the beauty. Mono Lakes, Easter Shore, was visible in the distance, as was Crowly Lake the Minarets, Banner and Ritter, Dana Peak and Eastern skyline of Tuolomne. What a beautiful day.
I soared out into the valley toward the park in Benton. It was nice getting down to lower elevations. My fingers finally stopped aching and I had a great landing in the middle of the park. I was surrounded with smiling faces, hugs and high fives. Oh what a magical life and experience it was.
After packing up, we headed back toward Bishop. We ended up finding Aaron and his passenger, my Dad, having beer with some locals. They had a great flight too. What a great fucking life this is and I was so happy to share it with those around me. Thanks A-Dog for getting my pops up in the air. Thanks Rob for being such a patient and inspiring instructor, Ty, Ben and Kari thanks for all the help and words of encouragement this weekend.
I am truly a changed man. Thank you Owen's Valley, the great Inyo and its residing spirit.