Soaring a June Low

In summer a low pressure system will often enhance the marine layer and make soaring go from bad to worse at Mount Diablo. However, occasionally, if the low is strong enough, it washes the marine layer out entirely providing rare pre-frontal type soaring. It seem 2010 is the year for atypical weather and today the marine layer began washing out in front of my eyes due to a strong low. I made a mad dash to get off Juniper Launch where I found a good climb over the South-West Bowl Knob.

The marine stratus layer began lifting and turning into a strato-cumulous layer as the air was a mix of ridge and thermic lift.
The best lift was found above the knob and South-West bowl.
I repeatedly went back to launch for a high pass and continually found less lift there. Teri said every time I flew over it became calm and the birds left. Figures. Teri would know as she appears below as the speck standing on launch. Maybe she is taking a picture that will appear as the second one in todays blog posting?
After an hour the sky dried up and the lift died so with a good headwind I put in a steep approach, Sport 2 style, at the 1000 footer. I believe there was an additional hour of good soaring prior to my launch today, but hey, not bad timing this June low.

A Nice Day

After a long awaited change to warm weather, I was getting anxious to fly the mountains. I decided to take the sharpest arrow out of the quiver, an ASW-27B "Juliet-Hotel," up for some cross country soaring. I was rewarded with a very nice day. By no means was it epic, but it certainly didn't suck, like most of spring has, either. Unlimited visibility, warm temperatures, challenging but doable, a few Q's, nature glowing, relatively smooth, light winds, WOW.

Off tow in the blue at Tree Farm for some work climbing out before flying over Lett's Lake towards the only visible Q which were low above Snow Mountain.

The beautiful and aptly named Snow Mountain.
Staying over high ground I head North-West. From this vantage I can see the long glide from Hull to Lake Pillsbury for a hang glider. I use to make it all the time on my custom, duct taped leading edge, Pacific Airwave Pulse.
With a few days of warm weather Mount Saint John is now clear of snow and lying off to the East.
After getting into the blue over no mans land and not wanting to land at Gravely Valley I turn around just past Sheet Iron and head back towards the reliable Q over Snow.
After climbing back up at Snow and then Goat I head South towards the foothills and find big, bumpy lift over Walker Ridge. I climb to 8000' over little Walker Ridge which is nearly as high as I was getting in the mountains. I notice gust lines blowing across Indian Valley Reservoir towards Walker.Leaving Walker I hit sustained 700-800 fpm sink for three miles which completely negates my big climb at Walker. I carefully fly down to Cache Creek and Rumsey Canyon. Now low with contaminated wings I'm forced to make a conservatively slow final glide which allows me time to gaze and reflect at todays spectacular playground lying off in the distance.
A clip from the beginning and end of this very nice day.

The Marine Layer

From late Spring through early Fall, Mount Diablo is impacted by many weather factors, but none so prevelant as the marine layer. Soaring here in summer takes a careful study, a little luck and a lot of trying. Today that infamous marine layer was shallow, poorly defined but well inland due to an onshore pressure gradient. Gerry and I decided to give it ago and Gerry launched first off Juniper. He worked hard out front as fog spilled around the base of Mount Tamalpias in the distance.

After several minutes, Gerry broke through the barrier and climbed above launch bringing hope for the day. Unfortunately, his time above launch was short and after I launched we were both scratching over the lower foothills.

Once over the low hills which were more impacted with that darn marine air we had little hope.
With my awesome ability to sink out first I got to wind dummy the 1000 Footer. It was a handful but I had a nice landing in switching winds. Next Gerry, with a rock and roll approach through a couple of good pops. He handled it as well as he did the days illusive thermals and had a textbook perfect 1000 Footer landing. A short flight with a great ending after testing the marine layer.

Amends

Off Juniper Launch I found conditions eerily similar to those two days prior during this unusual early June at Mount Diablo. It seemed like a repeat until Cirrus showed up as scheduled.
With the arrival of Cirrus the sharp walls of the thermals disappeared and I found myself scratching over North Gate Road in weak lift.
Ironically, my visit wasn't just for thermals. For the last two days I was thinking about how The 1000 Footer let me down. I always felt The 1000 Footer and I, were in this Diablo flying thing together. It was always there for me, when I sunk out, scratched too long or couldn't get up. But, two days ago it got angry and didn't want me around. Today, I was here to make amends. Fortunately with Cirrus as an excellent mediator The 1000 Footer shouldn't be in such a hot headed mood so I headed over.

I called Teri on the the Radio and with her blessing brought it in. With the 1000 Footer in a good mood I had a textbook landing and I am glad to say we are now friends again.