Fishin For Thermals

My friends at Oakland send a ballon into the sky, bright and early each morning, just so us bay area hang glider pilots can get an idea how lucky we might be on any given day.

With little exception, the data doesn't change much during the summer as it indicates a well established, persistent marine layer sitting about 1500'. This tends to drive all the big trophy thermals into the mountains of the Sierras and Mendocinos. However, the weak, little and slow thermals still hide in the local hills. They're illusive and hard to catch, but still fun. I launch Juniper on Diablo and if there is one here, I'm going to find it, so I try to sneak up on them from behind on the upper ridges.
No luck with the upper mountain. Burma Ridge is home to many a thermal, so I'll fish here.

All the way down the mountain without a bite. Then, right over the 1000 Footer LZ I get a nibble.

It's a little guy, but today I'm a poacher and I'm climbing.
North Gate Road and those ridge lines might have something bigger but I'm not letting this guy go.
Well, I slaughter the devil out of that little guy and buy myself a couple minutes on the sled ride, realizing one thing. The only thermal trigger on the mountain is over the LZ, it's midday summer and it's going to be poppy coming in. I get the speed on and slide it through the oak trees, nice and low.
I still get a good pop, but fortunately I'm on a Sport 2 and get it down before the hilltop, on two feet even, cool.

Drive to O.D.

Two consecutive days provide monsoonal moisture and instability over Northern California. No sense in trying to pick the best one, I'll just try them both. Off tow in the blue on day two, at Goat Mountain where I struggle to get up. I have motivation as clouds are beginning to pop over Snow Mountain, just to my North. Further, at 55 miles, I can see the beginning of overdevelopment.

Over Snow Mountain I spin it up. Late July and there is still snow.
I work North as the sky starts to develop nicely by mid-afternoon. A fun hop from cloud to cloud with lift right to their bases.

Following my stepping stones North, I'm getting closer to that O.D.

Black Butte off my left wing with Covelo over the far ridge, as I drive towards Anthony Peak.
I come to a blue hole and just beyond, BAM. Maybe this a good turn point for my return.
I work South and notice my clouds are starting to dry up. Then, GULP, I come to a 25 mile blue hole all the way to Snow Mountain, with WSC an additional 35 miles beyond. Oh, did I mention I had a 10 Kt tailwind on my out leg, now a 10 Kt headwind.
Needless to say I struggle, but keep an airport in glide, get to that cloud at Snow pretty low, climb to it's 10K foot base and have a fun, fast, 35 mile final glide, all the way home. Day two was well worth the effort with a fun three hour drive North and struggle home to the edge of Monsoonal O.D.

Almost Epic Monsoonal Air

High hopes of epic soaring over the Mendos were not to be. The monsoonal moisture and instability were "blowing up" over the Sierras but provided only a slight boost, despite high hopes, over the Mendos. I took "JH" up for a 3.7 hour spin over Goat, Snow, St. John, Sheet Iron, Hull, Walker and Rumsey. Due to camera failure, only words can describe the beauty of the mountains today. The highlight of today, was a flyby over Hull Mountain, high above several hang gliders scratching low over Broadman Ridge. I saw only one pilot even with the peak and noticed gust lines from the West on Lake Pillsbury. Suspecting Hull was influence with marine air, my visit was short, as I retreated to Snow. A fun, pictureless flight on an almost epic day.

Roughing it at Lake Almanor

Murphy invites some of the fire crew up to his Lake Almanor cabin for a "four day." Humm, sounds rough but, maybe I'll get some airtime.
A hard way to start each day, with a session of "morning glass."
As the day warms up, the lake gets rollers and I switch to the wake board. Man this is miserable.
Back to the hot tub for breakfast, before sailing. Very stressful.
The afternoon hits and I finally get a break. I go to Keddie Ridge, slap the glider together and climb out from launch.
It's a tough way to spend a four day but, I'm hanging in there with Mountain Meadows Reservoir in the background.
Up high, I find a nice view of the Sierras with Cummies and their shadows speckled on the forest below.
As the evening approaches the lift begins to die, so I head out to Indian Valley.
And bring it in for landing.
Back to Murphy's shack for more suffering, as I repeat the cycle.
And manage to tough through it for four days.