Friday 5/3, Smokin

[sd]

Link to Sundowner's archive for Friday
http://paraglide.net/log/13/13_05-03/2_weather.htm

Thursday night tea leaves for Friday. Hoping to launch at 11, get high (7 to 10K), go westbound toward Santa Barbara, round a turn point, and fly back toward Fillmore.

The Friday morning meet time at NHS is 9:30 to load on Chris Grantham's Fly Above All Suburban. Chris plans to bring his truck down from launch himself. I'm carpooling with Ron Faoro (The Spin Doctor) from Carpinteria at 8:50. If anyone else is coming from SB, Ron and I would prefer to hitch a ride so we don't have to leave a vehicle in Ojai. My cell number is 680-7727

The lapse rate is strong down low, and average up higher. Expect to get into the 7s on raw thermals, and hopefully higher in convergence over the high peaks. The temperature in Ojai hit 92 today (Thursday) around 2 pm, and is forecasted to be similar or slightly warmer on Friday (the 100 degree predictions from earlier in the week have been downgraded). The 6K temperature is forecasted to be about 60 degrees F, and 50 degrees at 9K. The dry adiabatic lapse rate (cooling rate) of a rising and expanding thermal is 5.5 degrees F per thousand feet, so a 30 degree atmospheric spread from the valley floor at 1K to 6K is stronger than the thermal cooling rate.

Fly Above All took some students up today (Thursday), but it was blown out from the NE. The forecast is for the Santa Anna event (wind) to back off tomorrow and switch from offshore to onshore. Today, it blew hard down the Santa Clara River and out to sea in the morning, but then switched onshore in the afternoon. Oxnard reported switching about 1:30, Camarillo about 3 PM, and Santa Paula about 5:30. As of 7 PM, Fillmore was still blowing stiff down river (offshore). I expect the onshore flow to draw in earlier and push further up river on Friday. There may be a sea breeze convergence somewhere enabling us to bridge across the river.

Ojai was SE on Thursday until about mid afternoon when the west came in with gusto. Some of the gusto was likely attributed to the draw from a strong lapse rate. Rose Valley was east all day. The coast from Carpinteria past Goleta was SW all day. La Cumbre Peak was NE in the morning, but switched onshore from the SW in the afternoon. Friday's forecast is for NW at altitude in SB and NE in Ojai. The wind should clock around more to the north with altitude, but the forecast is for the wind at altitude to be light.

We may have trouble going XC because it will likely be NE up high and SW down lower. The plan is to stay high on the westbound leg and stay lower on the return leg eastbound. We will need to get high in a few places on the eastbound leg, but the east wind hopefully will be backing off later in the day. If we do make it back to the east end of Ojai, we will want web reports from Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru before venturing out into the river flow.
___________________________
Wednesday morning perception. / Heat Alert
I bit early to call turn points, but the onshore flow and associated thick marine layer is switching to a high pressure offshore Santa Anna event. Peak temperature is currently forecasted to occur Friday with Ojai approaching 100 degrees. The local flow on Thursday is forecasted to be from the SE, perhaps a bit stiff for PGs in the mountains. I expect the wind on Friday to be less before the flow switches back onshore with associated cooling for the weekend. Santa Barbara may work on Friday, but will be 10 degrees cooler behind the Riviera compared to Ojai. Sometimes the soaring in SB is better early before the ocean air pulls in. Ojai should work late into the afternoon, but I’d recommend hiking early to avoid heat stroke. Note that my assessment is based on the forecasted surface temperature without evaluating the 6K temperature. Perhaps Southside could offer his insight.

Highlights from Wednesday's Forecast Discussion
http://paraglide.net/log/13/13_05-03/forecast_discussion.htm#wednesday

[Southside]

NAM is calling for 6k+ in Ojai. Winds fan from SE on the surface to NE at 10k. If the forecast holds you should be able to get off Chief's (I believe the road is now open) as the north influence doesn't kick in until around 6k. Winds return onshore Saturday.

[sd]

Chris Grantham is planning to run a truck to Chiefs of Friday. Meet time projected to be 9:30. Perhaps slightly early, but the day promises to be epic, so better early than late. The high school will be in session, so park across the street at the church? Chris will post updated meet instructions on his web site at http://flyaboveall.com

The road opened for the season today (Wednesday 5/1). Chris has a permit and may also head up on Thursday.

If you have a hang glider and want to take your own truck to launch, call the Ojai Ranger Station at 646-4348 to reserve a road permit, or check with Chris to see if he can carry hang gliders on his suburban. We expect to be able to fly back to Santa Barbara.

[DeVietti_Marty]

I hope it's a good one on Friday. I'm still in limbo on the use/insurance issues on the field across the street from the High School and the Church. Please land to the west of the high school in the mean time until I have a green light (fingers crossed). Of course land anywhere you need to, in an emergency. Be extra nice to all land owners please.

Cheers

Marty

[Chris G]

I suspect were likely to get a lot of heat for landing in the Ojai Preserve. I would suggest landing in our usual spot, right next to the church, which is owned by someone else and shouldn't cause issues with the current negotiations.

[DeVietti_Marty]

Fair enough. If a woman comes out mad (land owner of the piece you mention, Chris) then pour on the "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were on the insurance already as a released party?" Then feel free to give her my name and number and I will see where we get with her. As long as you land close to the street and not beyond the tree, it should be her land and not the land we are negotiating. The closer one lands to the pavement and sidewalk (safely), the less weeds in your socks and the sooner you can bunch up and be packing in the shade, READ: Out of sight, and out of mind. Hope you all have a great day.

Marty

(8 oh 5) 8 three 2- Three oh 88. for my cell.

[Faoro_Ron]

I used to land at the Ojai Preserve all the time ten years ago and no one seemed to mind. Have things changed?

[Chris G]

They've done a bunch of wetland restoration work on it and people are requested to stay on the trails.

[Faoro_Ron]

Fly Above All took a dozen pilots (thanks to Matt for riding in the back with gear) up to the aerial rodeo grounds in Ojai to harness the high pressure and ride the bronco 30 degree spread. We had a hot spring day with moderate haze, scuds to the west and south and a view of the big fire burning from Newbury Park to the coast near Point Mugu. Sundowner and I rode up top on the packs from the gate in Rose Valley to launch, a good place to get a feel for the day. The howling NE wind of the day before had disappeared and it was blowing in fairly stiff at Chief Peak when we pulled up at 10:30 AM. We had a lot of newer pilots with some old Topas including Tom Pipkin and Tom Truax.

We were in the air starting at 11. No day for picture taking; the thermals got all your attention. It was a lot smoother above 6K; I rode the first big lift up to 7,700 feet southwest of the Chief and did the back ridge glide to Nordhoff Peak. As he would do all day, Tom Pipkin floated past me low out front and then the next time I looked, he was higher than me a mile ahead. Left Nordhoff westbound with 6,600 and pulled a good glide with the 10 mph east tailwind straight across to Bump One, arriving with 5K. Nothing there. Slid into Bump Two just below the top and there was still nothing moving. Meanwhile, Tom Pipkin is calmly sliding by me even lower out front. I turned down the ridge and finally located lift at 3,200 feet, the last knob on the Bump Two spine. Got back up over the top and started my erratic way across the back behind White Ledge. Everyone else got up into the 7K range, but I consistently topped out at 6,400 and had to creep to the next peak. I have my sink alarm set at 1,000, so it seldom goes off. It went off nine times on Friday - for long periods each time. I hate that sound.

Tom Pipkin did far better out front. He was a thousand higher and I watched him score a big one at the powerlines while I struggled from Divide Peak to the top of Noon Peak in the developing west wind. I crossed the powerlines low enough to make my ass tingle from electron juice. Suddenly, all the lift and fun disappeared and I whipped back and forth in small thermals and a 10 mph headwind on the next two ridges. Tom P. was a couple of miles ahead. After struggling for twenty minutes, I radioed that I was heading out to the beach. Sundowner (and Travis) had caught up right behind the powerlines and Tom suggested we turn around. Right then, while I was only 50 feet above the terrain, my wing tilted back 30 degrees and I started to be pulled straight backwards in an easterly direction. It was the biggest thermal draw I have ever experienced. It was flat on the ground; I could see the bushes thrashing wildly. Cleared the first ridge with only 20 feet to spare. Going backwards directly toward electrical mayhem only 200 yards away had me rethinking my attraction to the sport and my insufficient expertise. Finally, we got to the lift part of all that draw. I shot up and over the towers and continued in the same thermal back toward Noon, where Tom Truax and Travis were skying out. The decision on which way to go became much clearer.

While Tom Pipkin left Romero to land on the beach, the other three of us had an easy cruise back to Ojai with the 10 mph west tailwind. Rocketed up the front of White Ledge and had a glide to the Nuthouse in the bag. Things were even dicier now in the valley. Ballistic missile lift and massive sink side by side with lots of wind to make it even spicier. Thankfully, my wing flew better than I did. I had my hat handed to me behind the Pyramid and then almost got pinned between Nordhoff Peak and the front ridge. I was done. Three hours of being tense was enough. Sundowner continued eastbound. I drifted out over the valley only to find thermals of 600-1,000 fpm up. It was going off everywhere. After flying 20 minutes - even hands off - I was 700 feet higher than when I arrived over the LZ. Any other day, this abundant lift might have been considered a miracle.

Had some pizza in Ojai with Mark, Pierre, Travis, Chris Grantham and Tom Pipkin. Then the call came in to go pick up Sundowner in Fillmore.

Three hours forty minutes.

[Pipkin_Tom]

Seems like this year we’ve had more east wind in Ojai producing trashier air and turb. Friday was no exception. When heading west, I usually take the high back route behind White Ledge to stay above the midday onshore winds. The last couple of flights I’ve witnessed Andy and Marty work around the front of bump 2 past White Ledge for an easier flight through the Pass with much less drama. This route has greater terrain clearance as well as much better land out options. The deal breaker for the front route is the building onshore winds later in the day. We needed to get on course westbound early.

I was 4th off launch at Chiefs and westbound with 6k. I had my heart set on landing at East Beach. Caught Ron F. at bump 2 and transitioned out front. Watching Ron getting worked over the back ridge confirmed that I took a good line. West from WL with 7k.

The west headwind became a factor as I dropped through 5k just past Noon Pk. Ron, Sundowner and an out of towner (Travis) were a couple of miles behind and talking about turning around at Noon. I was on a mission to East Beach until the plan began to unravel at the Powerlines. Trapped for a time on the east side of the lines until a boomer shot me to 5.2 k. Headwind and turbulence only increased all the way to Romero when, as OJ used to say, “the fun meter was pegged”. At 3.5k turning back was an option but a beach landing sounded so much better.

The glide to Padaro Grill with a quartering tail wind was icing on the cake. Flying over the ocean with tons of altitude followed by a soft sandy beach landing was a mellow ending to the day. I hitched a ride back to Ojai from an employee coming back from Santa Barbara. The timing was perfect as I was back in time to see Ron land at Nordhoff.

Congrats to the new pilot, (Travis) for tagging Noon Pk. and flying back to Nordhoff HS. for his first flight from Chiefs. Also to SD for having the intestinal fortitude for another spectacular flight to Fillmore.

[DeVietti_Marty]

WOW! Wish I could have played with you all, but the detailed posts made it bearable to miss such a great big day.

The pilot named TAVIS (Sounds like "Davis") has been trying to get the right day to see the Nuthouse for a while now, so anytime you can look DOWN on the Nut, that is a nice way to see it for the first time in my book. Nice out and return, flight to the beach, NHS and to Fillmore. It was cooking hot in Ojai that day, so you gotta love a good lapse rate.

Bravo Gents, and thanks for the posts,

Marty