OTB to Matilija

From: Tom Beidler
Activity_Date: Activity
Remote Name: 68.6.48.3

Comments

Interesting day.

I was second to last to launch at Nordoff which I've found to be not such a good thing. Luckily everyone, including Chris behind me who was the last one off, launched before it started blowing over the back... too hard.

Thermals were rowdy/ratty down low. I managed to get up to 6300 at launch before White Ledge/33. I definitely needed another fatty before trying to cross 33. Got friendly with the bushes before finding the right thermal. Climbed up and left with 5400.

The glide across 33 was good. Looking at the mountains and ridges across the highway that led to White Ledge, I could easily see the trail of ridges that I thought I should take. There was a point on the beginning of the trail that I aimed for but came up a little low. I followed the spine up to that point and found some lift but I was creeping at 5 mph and watching the bushes below being whipped up in something a little less then what I would call a frenzy. I made one attempt to turn in the lift but the downwind leg pushed me behind the ridge into sink.

I continued up the ridge and saw another point a about the same height but slightly behind and went for it. This was the top of the spine which separated front from back. I couldn't make it and quickly decided that going downwind through a gap into the backside, Matlijah Canyon, rather then fight the upwind leg glide out where I was sure I would topland and have a nasty hike out.

On the backside I encountered 1,200 ft/min down but very little turbulence. I tried to stay as high as possible, choosing troughs instead of the ridges. I landed in a wide, dry, boulder/rock strewn river bed with enough altitude to let the trees show me which way the wind was venturing through the canyon. Ended up spending the last 100' going staight down, no forward movement. Had to pick my wing out of a few dried branches, packed up in 10 minutes, hiked for 1/2 mile before being picked up by the first car that drove by who dropped me off at the high school. Yeah!

Forgot to add, once I landed, I did get on the radio to let everyone know I was safe. Unfortunately I couldn't reach everyone but I did get Chris who was shanghai'd into the Benson rescure. See my other post about "Checking in once we're down." I should have called Eddie once I got out of Matlijah.