Plowshares Hike

From: Lee Anne
Activity_Date: 5/20/01
Remote Name: 12.44.115.28

Comments

Beware the river!

Thank you to the many people who have contacted me to make sure I survived my hike out in Plowshare.

Actually the hike was gorgeous! Almost as good as the flight. I didn't have a lot of water, but I stayed near a creek and regularly soaked my clothes so I wouldn't become overheated or drink the water I had too fast. I also had an orange, which was a delightful treat.

The only truly annoying part was trying to cross the river at the end of my hike. I came out at a point where it was about 10 feet wide but only a few inches deep. I looked forward to strolling through that cool clean water and hopping into my patient chase car. Many Thanks to Kevin Dumaine and Jim Maddox for keeping tabs on my progress and being there when I walked out.

When I reached the river, I took off my boots, stepped about six inches off the bank and sank into mud above my knees. I had the definite feeling that I would have gone deeper if I hadn't immediately turned around and pulled myself back onto the bank. Beware the river! It is like quicksand!

Overall, despite landing out, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I had an incredible flight and learned a lot. I had the chance to pick a safe landing into the wind over a landing that would have given me a shorter walk. During my flight I went farther, and thermalled better than I ever have. Spiralling up is fun! Unfortunately, my understanding of how convergence (not just a thermal site) works at Plowshare, leaving a huge sink zone between the ridge and the river bed, came too late for that flight, but next time I will know better.

Feeling well and rehydrated, Lee Anne