Chiefs

From: Benson
Activity_Date: 9/30/01
Remote Name: 208.3.185.18

Comments

I wanted to get in the air as soon as possible as we were late on the day getting to launch. There was a cloud street from Chiefs directly to SB. The wind was drifting the entire mass north. I soared to the top of the ridge, made one 360 and flew back over launch with 300 in no time. It was an easy transition to Chief's face and 6300.

I figured the wind had picked up at launch since only Dan was in the air fishing for lift. I had my GPS in my pocket, and while extracting it I was drifted to the W in the direction of Nordhoff peak. Since I was drifted that way and was at 63 I decided to go with it. Geting no penetration, 8 to 10 mph ground speed, I turned back to the main ridge. I quickly found I was in the same situation.

The closest place for lift was Three Stooges so I headed in that direction, angleing to the E in case of a canyon landing which seemed very possible. As I got lower in the canyon the wind increased and I was standing on the SB by the time I popped out in front of TS with about 200 AGL. I made a couple of attempts to get up but I ran out of room. I landed in a dust field by some earth moving equip just as I heard Dan say how bouyant the air was over the valley, and he was going for the glide to NHS!

As I finished packing up I got a ride to NHS and arrived just in time to see DK land.