Theres No Place Like Cloudbase

Dreaming Awake

2011-12-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

David Aldrich is producing a movie about hang gliding. Here's the URL for the teaser. http://vimeo.com/20775072

Flying Whale at Villa Grove

2011-09-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

We've had spectacular flights all though July at Villa Grove. I finally got my first ride at Whale, an east facing launch at 12,200 ft agl. Larry and I both launched in the morning as this was his last flight prior to his neck surgery. The road up is rough to say the least but the scenery is spectacular.

First Flight in my New CG-1000

2011-07-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

Nice harness. I laid in it at Mark Windsheimer's Airtime Above Hang Gliding sail loft and found it to be really comfortable. My first flight, I launched off Villa, zipped up and climbed up through smooth lift to 12,400ft agl. The harness was comfortable and the back plate slider mechanism was very smooth and easy to use. All is good. I turned NW to head toward Whale Mtn and felt some cold air making it's way into my legs at the top of the harness boot. I pulled the zipper cord again and the zipper slider split into two pieces and opened up completely. I climbed above and away from the Sangre De Cristos, let go of the glider and started fumbling with the zipper to see if I could fix it, but after several minutes it was clear the boot zipper experienced a total failure and the harness would remain open with no support for my legs for the rest of my flight. I turnd back toward Villa Grove and decided to prepare to land.

After landing it was clear the zipper slider broke in two at the junction of the upper and lower pieces. Mark examined the broken slider and will replace it and make a small modification to pull cord that will make the whole mechanism smoother. These changes will be incorporated into new CG-1000 harness as they are developed.

The failed zipper slider was frustrating, but much like a broken zipper on a winter jacket, was easily replaced and not indicative of the harness itself. The workmanship, attention to detail, fit and finish of the CG-1000 is top notch and I highly recommend this harness to any recreational XC pilot wanting a single dangle harness.

Catching Up

2011-07-06T20:05:00.001-07:00

This year has been great at Villa. There have been a few times I've driven up to launch and didn't fly. But everytime I ran off that rock this year I've soared. It's been a great spring and early summer and Villa has delivered BIG!

Did a short XC almost to Crestone but couldn't get around the corner at MT Gibson to the Crestone Bowl. After flying back several miles it was clear I wasn't going to make it back to Villa and comitted to landing out. I came out over the San Luis Valley to what looked like a road from above but turned out to be two tire tracks through the desert. Landing conditions were good and I landed and parked my glider on a nice flat spot near the "road." The sun had set and I couldn't raise anyone on the radio and started to prepare a camp site under my glider when Grant F. saved the day. He responded to my radio transmissions and relayed my landing position to Larry at Villa who came and saved me from a long night in the desert. Sweeeeet!!

Villa Opener March 18 2011

2011-04-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

First flights of 2011 at Villa - Matt, Dean and myself. The road was mostly dry with a short section of snow near the top. Launch was dry. Perfect! Especially for March. Conditions were good although it got pretty strong after we were up. Wind velocity picked up and large areas of moderate lift made for a fun but sometimes "exciting" day. Two F-16 fighters flew by us. Don't know who was more surprised, us or them. Dean took some video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niJA5MXN7bc

My Time Is My Own - NOT

2011-03-17T20:15:00.000-07:00

After 30 years with NOAA I finally left and moved to So Central Colorado. Larry Smith (Villa Grove - http://www.rmhpa.org/site_guide/villa.htm) is keeping me busy. We gotta get his rigid back together so he can get back into flying... and get ME back into flying ;-)

Benching Up at Williams

2011-02-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

Catching up on video editing. Here's one from Williams last summer.
http://vimeo.com/13140207

Still hungry for more

2010-10-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

Got some nice rides this summer but not enough. Lookout, Williams, Steamboat, Willow and Crawfords all delivered on the occasions that I was there. Villa, not so. And I spent a lot of time at Villa. Hopefully October will be big. ;-)

Williams June 2010

2010-07-03T17:44:00.001-07:00

Nice day at Williams - Little over 2 hours between 11,000ft - 14,200ft. Matt, Steve, Rick, and Alex on his new T2. Matt got to over 17,000ft. I think he's one of the best mountain hang glider pilots around. Short Video

First flight at Williams 2010

2010-06-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

It was a great day. First flight on my new to me U2-145 and was real happy with it's performance. I would have had some great video if I had remembered to turn the camera on :-(

Trashy air right after take off turned me into the Aspen trees near launch. Almost needed a new pair of underwear for the ride home. Had trouble zipping up my harness - probably had tree branches stuck in the zipper. Air was smooth from 11,000ft and above. Steve F, Rick M, John C, Tim S, Leif and myself all had great flights. I think Tim made it to 16,000ft and Leif stayed up the longest. A fun day :-)

Hang Gliding Video of King Mountain by PBS

2010-04-08T17:06:00.001-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1085337546075

March 2010 First Lookout Flights of the Year

2010-04-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Finally!! Lookout has been giving it up all winter. I finally took time off two afternoons in a row as a weak cold front came down from Wyoming. It was nice meeting up with Ken G. at the LZ. We had flown together all through the 80's, this was our first time back at Lookout exchanging vortices. After launching we played around in front of Lookout before catching the next elevator up. Got close to 10K over near the hog back. Nice.

Next day was almost the same. Timm Rubel and I drove up to launch but missed the first push earlier in the day but got the second one. Up for a while by my lonesome before BJ, Mike Jobin and others joined in . Smooth lift with occasional hang on tight.