Plowshares

From: Chris
Activity_Date: 5/20//01
Remote Name: 12.44.115.28

Comments

Plowshare was happening on Sunday for both HG pilots and PG pilots. Launching occurred between 12 and 1, and it was bit of struggle at first. Then the convergence came in and a bag gaggle must have gotten to 6000 or so just to the west of launch. For a while, Skippy was the highest pilot out there, over the Oaks, but then the good stuff came thru launch and Craig, Tony, Dave and I headed towards Timber. Tony ended up bailing and landing a mile or 2 past the gap, while Craig, Dave and I flew toward McPherson.

We all got below the ridge top at some point, but the foothills were working and always brought us back up. Most of the way to McPherson was between 5000 and 8000. I reached McPherson a little early and had to hang out in light dribblers before the well marked (with nice cu's) convergence came down the valley. That's when the fun began! Craig and I decided to head across the valley to Caliente Peak, but the lift was so big we changed our minds after getting well above 10,000. There was a PG pilot (I think it was Chad, but unsure) with us. Dave finally topped out at 10600, I made it to 11400, and Craig reached 11700 just west of New Cuyama.

We were spread out in quite a wide area, but all headed toward Foothill and points East. Dave landed near the river crossing on Foothill, about 30 miles out, I landed a couple of miles into Santa Barbara Canyon for 33 miles and 4 hours, and Craig made it close to Ozena, something like 40 miles. This was a good warm up for Owens Valley next weekend!

Chris