Skyport Dec 8th

[Chris G]

Heaps of people at Skyport today. Those who launched early went to the deck pretty quickly or struggled at the roundhouse for a long time. A few of us still had confidence that some XC was possible and the day wasn't to disappoint. We had some of the old TOPA crew out and we were hungry for mileage. Brendan, Faoro, OJ, and I had a truck at Padaro and had dreams of Whiteledge so Brendan headed out first and got caught early, doing the Round House 5000 for 45 minutes. Faoro got suckered in too and joined him. Kabir and Farmer launched somewhat later and had good success over launch. Brendan and Faoro were starting to get up over the TF so I joined and had no problem getting well over launch. 4200 at TF and a relatively easy glide to Montecito to join Farmer, Faoro, Brendan, and Kabir. Brendan and I were bringing up the rear with Farmer pushing out front fast. Deleo started with me but quickly disappeared over the horizon. Easy flying with a few weird spots along the way. Never really had to stop and scratch much but the lift was in strange places. Most of us were topping between 4 and 4500 which is just barely enough to be "safe" for pushing beyond the powerlines. The dream started to come apart for me when I realized that there was a significant drift from the NNE. At one point I had Ron, Kabir and Brendan in front of me and all of us were crabbing INTO the ridge at 45º just to stay on course. I didn't really want any part of Whiteledge at 4500 feet in the lee. Fortunately Brendan decided to split for Padaro and I happily followed, eager to warm my numb fingers. The glide out was rougher than the air on the ridge. I was clearly in rotor, with a 10mph tailwind. Put it down on the beach next to Brendan. Benson retrieved OJ at the college and we met up again at Parma. We lost track of Kabir, Ron and Farmer. Apparently Ron thought Kabir was me and so kept pushing on after Kabir whom nobody had told about Whiteledge or the trials and tribulations of East Divide. What you don't know can't hurt you, so Kabir, on his first adventure through Whiteledge, on a very marginal day, made it to Nordhoff HS. Welcome to Club Whiteledge! Ron followed and also made the HS, noting that Whiteledge was the nicest lift of the flight. We have no idea what happened to Farmer but at last rumor he was in Fillmore. Way to fire one downrange on a day where most were contemplating sledders! Never surrender!

[Tony Deleo]

From Castle Ridge on I was flying with a paraglider who sure looked like he knew his stuff. At the east end of Castle Points he was blown off and thought that he might be done. The next thing I know he is one spine in front and above me. I would catch him and then he would go on glide for the next spine. I was really amazed by his flying skills and the lines he took and the areas of lift that he worked-reminded me of the Sundowner. At the Nuthouse visiting pilot Pat, sorry forgot your last name, was again one spine ahead of me. From that point on I never saw him again. A paraglider landed at Nordhoff High, I thought this was Pat, and continued I eastward. Arriving at Fillmore at the dishes with 3200' I was going to go on, what I thought was an "ecstasy" glide to Piru, instead I turned around and landed at Fillmore. I had had equipment problems the whole flight where my flaps would not stay in position which would cause the glider to dive and pickup speed. I wanted a large landing area in the event they came off while landing. While breaking down my glider we(Little John, Hammer and I, received a phone call that Pat was in our area-he had landed 4 miles short of Highway 5. Congratulations!

[Kabir]

Or what is the same
If you dont know... just go!

I really launched thnking that Parma was about it, maybe float around by the Round house... I dont know.
But Ojai!
Dang.. I still cant believe it (but 2 of my fingers still are kinda numb, so it kind of brings it home)

It was just such an amazing flight.
Not so much how far and all that, but the place that I found in my head.
NO more analyzing or wondering what to do where to go, am I too low?
Should I turn around? fly to the beach???

It was all kinda making sense without giving it much though.
And I just loved that!!

It was so amazing to see Farmer pushing ahead so freaking fast!
After landing I was asked who that guy was.
Well.. That is Farmer!
Man, if anyone can chase Diablo and keep up with him.... MAN!
crazy skills!!!!

Anyways
I wont bother you with altitudes and winds.
It was so great to finally make this trip.
Whiteledge is gorgeous, Divide under snow is amazing
The view of the islands from an angle I've never seen before... and the light.. beautifull!

I took only a handful of pictures because I was so focused on the flying, I wish I could have taken more...

Thanks Kev for the guidance and encouragment.
"you are at 4700 at the powerlines .. GOOO!!!!'

But I think that the main motivator was seeing Ron pushing over and over no matter how low he would get.

I was stoked when I heard that you also needed a ride!
(sorry for the wait at Payagonia)

I came the closes that I ever want to be to a middair with a plane.
Somewhere around Divide
The plane had to bank hard kinda last minute to avoid hitting me.
It was a bit close.
And then while crossing to Whiteledge a freaking c-130 crossed in front of me. But no too close
What is up with all this planes?!?

I wonder what it would be like to keep on going?

Farmer where did you go????

Thanks!

And then

[NMERider]

removed by author

[faoro]

After nearly landing on the Round House a couple of times (sorry about the violations - I was desperate; didn't look like anyone was home), I finally caught one there that allowed me to start my three and a half hour trip through a magical Winter Wonderland. Kabir's pictures tell the whole story, especially with me being fifty feet off the deck. Kind of a stressful flight as I was not only the lowest pilot all day, but every single paraglider and hang glider passed me after I was the first to top out at Montecito Peak. It took me considerable time to get established at each of the usual trigger points. Much of the lift was out front on this day, with the thermals trailing off to the east and north significantly. I still don't understand what happened; it might be genetic. But I was doubtful about a trip through the Pass, since I really couldn't get higher than a little over four thousand all morning. It was a bit chilly for long overnight camping. When Brendan and Chris peeled off for Padaro, it got even worse. I felt I should follow them. But I was still in the game until the Pass, and others were skying out ahead of me. I was left staring at the familiar dilemma: "Man or mouse?"

So I held off on a decision until the powerlines. Got up to 4,400 and would have bolted for no man's land, but Kabir was 300 feet above me and I assumed I'd leave then. Two minutes later, I'm below ridgeline, doing S-turns like a whirling dervish in ratty air - just like the rest of the day. Ten minutes later I crossed the powerlines with 4,375, looking at a front point on Noon Peak that Little John - the last of the crew to pass me - was using. Naturally, I didn't get as high as he did there, failed to transition up to the peak and started over low at the front point. But the backcountry was so beautiful, decked out in white splendor, I just had to keep pushing. Finally, over the exact location of Dan Keyser's accident five years ago on West Divide, I caught a thermal up to 4,400 feet and knew I had it made. A lonely, meditative flight through the quiet majesty of White Ledge, pulling up to 4,800 feet for the long glide to the Nuthouse in Ojai. Still, one last blow to my ego as I came in several hundred feet below the launch and turned tightly in windy conditions and no lift. Fifteen minutes later, I found it off to the north in the bowl and snaked my way to the Pyramid. At 2:30 PM, I thought the day was tiring out. Then a huge thermal yanked me up by the seat of my pants; I was at 4,500 feet in less than a minute. Cold, tired and hungry, I stared at the Topa Topa Bluffs, completely covered in snow. That's where a Topa Pilot should be, I thought, on the front of those 6,000 foot cliffs, face to face with the snow.

So I turned for the high school; a disappointment added to a challenging day. There's a wimpy old guy in my future. Standing and shivering from the long, cold day after landing, I was grateful for the Christmas present and my first flight down range since last year's accident. Thanks to Chris Grantham and Kabir's family for shuttling this weary traveler home from Ojai.

[Tony de Groot]

Great reports and nice pictures Kabir. I had told myself last year that when snow was on the ground I was going to be in the air. I said that to myself many days since. But when my boss said, "I have special work for you tomorrow!" I was hosed. Really? Tomorrow? Of all days for the first time I have special work tomorrow? The gods have spoken. The planets are not in alignment for you. I had a very nice time with the family out taking Christmas pictures on the harbor jetty and watched the show from everyone flying. I really think that so much of your success has to do with your mental outlook. You can really talk yourself out of things and find all kinds of reasons not to try something. Kabirs thoughts seemed clear of the negatives that day. SWEET Kabir, very sweet. I think the NE would have spooked me off this day. There will be other days. I have a lot of free time coming up. Hopefully, I'll see the same cast and more out there challenging themselves. I hope I can free my mind on another beautiful day just like Kabir did and just GOOOOOO. Happy Holidays!

Tony dg

[Ben H]

Congrats Ron & Kabir! Also, thanks Diablo for posting the outlook the night before so some of us working folks could get the day off. The back country scenery was amazing as you climbed up through 4k. Aaron and I hopped down range and eventually glided out to get a Surf Dog. Thanks for the retrieve Marge!

[BobA]

Great flying everyone, & great shots kabir !

[Tony Deleo]

For those of you over 50, you will understand, the name Matt and not Pat! Congratulations again!

[farmer]

A few people have asked me for the track log from this flight so I thought I would post it here. What a beautiful day, flying in snow covered mountains with a view of the ocean, a very unique flight. This was my third day in town and I now realize how lucky I was to stumble into such a nice flying day this time of year. Big thanks to the local legends, Diablo, Hammer and Little John for the retrieve, it was very nice to meet you guys!

It has been great to meet the pilot community here in SB, genuinely nice people, looking forward to meeting more of you.

Ty downloaded the flight and posted it on the Eagle site, it is available for download here….. Thanks Ty.

http://www.eagleparagliding.com/Ty/farmer.kmz

happy holidays,
Farmer