Owens September 09

I went up to the Owens again this September, with hopes of another smooth, high and long flight. Last year, my first experience with the Owens was overwhelmingly positive. I got my first XC flight for 61 miles landing just on the south end of Bishop, my goal.

This year conditions were much more challenging. No one was skying out to 13,500 like last year, but no one was really sinking out either. I launched next to last and had to scratch hard before finally getting up to 11,000. Conditions above 11,000 were less than pleasant thanks to the western winds starting to push through.

The lift was not the strongest but it was consistent. Every spine was going off just as I needed it. After what felt like almost an hour in the air I passed Mt. Whitney.



A few more miles to the north is a beautiful place called Onion Valley



Beautiful in looks, but not beautiful to flying things. The valley is like a tunnel through to Fresno and funnels the west wind. Everyone that made it this far got pounded in sink and turbulence. This prompted me to leave the Sierras and head out across the valley. Luckily I was about to get back up to 12,000 before making the crossing.

I opted to fly up the middle of the valley, over the highway, instead of going all the way across to mountains on the other side. There was a substantial tail wind and I was able to cover some serious ground.

A few low saves over the flats and I eventually worked my way up to "Big Ears" and onto Black mountain. There I hit a boomer, 1400 fpm up to 10,000 ft and back in the game. Unfortunately that would be all she wrote and I failed to find any more lift after that and set it down in the best clearing I could find. Turns out the best looking LZ from the air was and LZ, the "Flynns LZ."

Total distance was 64 miles, beating my previous best last year by 3 miles. Airtime was 3 hours 40 minutes, also to new personal best.

In flight pictures here

And other pictures from the weekend here