Re: The Grade

From: Tom Sorce
Activity_Date: 6/11/01
Remote Name: 12.22.76.19

Comments

Forger,

We have discussed some of these issues previously but allow me to stress, in this forum, my concern about flying downwind from The Grade.

On one occasion, I was caught in rapidly accelerating winds while at the top of The Grade. As you are aware, there are very tall power lines behind the mountain on the South side. Even with the speed bar and Big Ears, I was being pushed backwards. The choice was to climb as high as possible and jump over the power lines, past the rotor and land on the other side of the new construction. The air on the back side of The Grade was very active, even a 2800'.

For those of us who fly The Grade on an allmost weekly basis, we are aware of the dangers of the venturi through the 101 notch as well as being very low-key about where we choose to land. We do not want to risk losing this flying site and hope you concur.

The jump from Southern Sister to the Grade is a good challenge and I would suggest you begin with that task.

Ojai or Plowshare are much better choices for longer cross-country flights.

Fly safe and fly with friends.

Tom Sorce