Catching Up, Ditch Suck, etc.

So, finally found that pesky camera cable. Sandia Peak launch pics didn't do it justice, let's move on to the LZ.
Not sure why, but enough of my 'local' sites seem to have small ditches or creekbeds or some such in/near the LZ that we recognize a phenomenon called ditch suck-- way more pilots seem to land (or better, whack) into these features than the relatively small area justifies. The main Sandia LZ is a long skinny field oriented to the prevailing wind. I say long, but the downwind half is pretty rough- cactus, rocks, etc--not really a good place to put down, but good to set up your approach--no powerlines. The second half is pretty clean. But crossing it, right in the middle....the mother of all ditches. This sucker is a concrete lined culvert 15 or 20 feet wide and 8' deep-- the mind boggles at the possibilities. The photo was taken standing in the bottom, you can see the sock in the distance. If you suffer object fixation, do not land here!

Also drove out to La Bajada, a ridge-soaring mesa 45 minutes north of Albuquerque. Rugged, volcanic, long ridge- reminded me a bit of Hat Creek. Good-looking spot, though the edge was very sharp and rotor-y-- could feel it even 300 or 400 meters downwind. Of course that was with 40 mph steady and higher gusts. I exercised my razor sharp judgement and elected not to set up.

La Bajada from below.


The view from launch.

After getting blown out in New Mexico, I headed up to Denver to visit my sister to get snowed in.









Of course, it could have been worse.


After a few days I braved more blizzardy conditions across Wyoming to Salt Lake to see Heather and Adrian. (Heavy winds and falling/blowing snow made an already lunar landscape seriously surreal.) It cleared getting into the flats. They've got a great place 3 minutes from Point of the Mountain launch. Lots of pilots congregate in the neighborhood, even on a wintery weekend it was a lot of fun... summer sounds like flying/party central. Imagine Funston with a golf-green launch/top land area, pilots living walking distance all round, and consistent warm weather. The hardcores fly all day and then bbq while the working types fly/land/provide entertainment in the evening.

Last stop was Reno for a couple of days, visited with Bruce and Sarah—their new kitchen is starting to take shape. Flew Duck. After watching an H2 on his first high-altitude flight just about sky out flying a straight line, we watched the cycles promptly weaken then die. Scratched hard to get a slightly extended sledder; of course Bruce extended his just long enough to make me land first—damn locals. Shouldn’t whine though, it provided the sum total of my flying time for a 3k (driving) miles trip. Still, got to see lots of family and friends, generally had a good time, so I’ll stop my (non)whining.