BruceB
03-31-2009, 01:03 AM
Very crisp day (as in cold) and a nice East wind, but Dr Jack said low ceilings, so I didn't like the idea of Slide, niether did Alex, so we decided to give Rainbow a try along with Paul.
It was blowing good and strong when we arrived at the lower launch (PG'ers leaving as we arrived). 40 minutes later we were ready to launch only to find the wind had backed off quite a bit. Alex went first and fairly quickly sank out. Hmmm. I sat through a lull, a few gusts, then finally got what seemed like a cycle and launched. I went up :-) and heading North I found more thermals and kept going up. Unfortunately Paul didn't find anything and sank out.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3400164051_385e62e5c4_o.jpg
After reaching the peak just north of launch the thermals got quite strong and I was soon at 8000'. I headed up North, dropping back onto the Peterson Ridge proper and found very good lift over the main ridge. I topped out at 9000' and enjoyed the views for almost an hour.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3400164283_13878c137e_o.jpg
I could see Mt Rose behind Peavine
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3400970310_45efe090b4_o.jpg
And even a bit of Pyramid Lake
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3400164569_88a7f9b8ac_o.jpg
I headed back to launch (no driver, so no XC) and saw Bill launching. He sank out, and I quickly found myself following. Darn - should have stayed North.
Fun day, it'll be fun trying some XC flights from Rainbow once the season really gets going.
Bruce.
It was blowing good and strong when we arrived at the lower launch (PG'ers leaving as we arrived). 40 minutes later we were ready to launch only to find the wind had backed off quite a bit. Alex went first and fairly quickly sank out. Hmmm. I sat through a lull, a few gusts, then finally got what seemed like a cycle and launched. I went up :-) and heading North I found more thermals and kept going up. Unfortunately Paul didn't find anything and sank out.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3400164051_385e62e5c4_o.jpg
After reaching the peak just north of launch the thermals got quite strong and I was soon at 8000'. I headed up North, dropping back onto the Peterson Ridge proper and found very good lift over the main ridge. I topped out at 9000' and enjoyed the views for almost an hour.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3400164283_13878c137e_o.jpg
I could see Mt Rose behind Peavine
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3400970310_45efe090b4_o.jpg
And even a bit of Pyramid Lake
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3400164569_88a7f9b8ac_o.jpg
I headed back to launch (no driver, so no XC) and saw Bill launching. He sank out, and I quickly found myself following. Darn - should have stayed North.
Fun day, it'll be fun trying some XC flights from Rainbow once the season really gets going.
Bruce.