Ojai Saturday, Pine Mtn. Sunday

From: BH
Activity_Date: 7/14-15
Remote Name: 207.71.212.250

Comments

Escaping June gloom was a priority this weekend and what better places than Ojai and Pine? The Spindoctor, Dan, Sharon, Tom Pitcan, John, Claude, Art, Tom Sorce, Eddie, me and two other pilots flew Chief's on Saturday (after hearing from the hangies later in the day, we obviously errored in expecting excessive wind at Pine).

Art was in the air and clinging to the spine below launch when we arrived in John's new Topamobile. With expected southwest winds, encroaching marine layer and a modest lapse rate, the Doctor and I expected to be home sipping SLO Brews on the porch by early afternoon. Instead, and after uncharacteristic patience, we launched at 12:30 and rode developing thermals to the top of Chief's and beyond.

I landed early at Bucolli's with a caribeener I'd carelessly failed to properly close, but otherwise, my inaugural flight on the Skyline Falcon was a success. Ron, John and Tom P. flew east to upper Ojai for 2.0+ hour flights.

On Sunday, the Doctor, Art and I launched at Pine around noon and quickly found the convergence to 11,500 before heading over the back toward Lockwood. After a thrilling woop-de-doo in the rough edges which probably felt more dramatic than it looked, I found the convergence a second time over Dry Canyon to 10,800 but hit the east wind 3-4 miles west of the Valley. Lured by a tantalizing and quickly developing cumi ahead of me, I blundered on, landing along the highway. (In retrospect, I should have returned to the convergence and waited for the west wind to push further east). Ron and Art landed a few miles west in the shoot. Thanks, as always, to Eddie for your coaching and driving skills.

We are planning to camp at Pine next weekend. Let me and/or Dan keyser know if you can join us from Thursday on.