The AHGA's XC Contest 2009

After that wild rotor ride, I guess this is the silver lining

Plenty of lift to ceiling but strong SE made the only two routes off Sth Mtn nie impossible.

Hit the wall going W and then tried S only to sink into rotor.

Still, a great day's flying with the PG and HG flock

Mike A.Frank Domokos & I Driving up to Mingus and thinking how nice it was to have such a World Class Flying site.Got up there to se only a small crowd,five pilot's in all.Again launched last at 12:35pm.But not with out the help of Marcy B. pulled my clothing down from the inside of my harness.It got buckeled up when putting on the C.G.1000 and was uncomfortable.Greg B. helped launch everyone,thank you both.Flew out front and to the right,now 200' below.Headed N.along the ridge,hooked a good one 600'-900'all the way to 14,100'M.S.L.It was a warm 53 degrees.Mike A. was gaining fast and Frank D.was on chase,I love it!This day would turn out to be the strongest between thermal sink day of the whole year.Avg.of 400'-800'F.P.M. Over the back S.W. of the A.P.S.transfer station,down to 8,500'.It took some time to lock into this one.This would be the best thermal of the day,topping at 15,100',its getting cold.Mike and I would seperate for good at this juncture,a good challenge for Frank.Headed for the S. end of Chino Valley.Back up to 10,600' glided towards Talking Rock Ranch Golf Course.Down to 8,100'about 2,600'A.G.L. The thermals down low were badly broken & scattered with very little drift.Anyway topped out at 13,600'directly above the Golf course.Took some pictures,cruised on.In a -head wind of 4-12 M.P.H.with heavey sink,my V.G. had a twist in the line and couldn't pull it all the way on,just over 1/2,a real bummer.Came in over Mud Tank Wash, 3,200'A.G.L. Desided to bring her down and land.Dropped a smoke bomb,a nice 5-10 S.E.then about 50'-70'A.G.L.the smoke just stopped.So flaired a little high come down on my feet & base tube.Then about 5 min. later this young Ranch hand Cowboy drives over & says, your on private lands.He ask me how much the glider wayed.He sympathized with me and said I've still got to lock up the gate when I leave.After talking with him for awhile,I was able to convince him to dummy lock the gate,so Frank & Mike could drive down and get me.About 4th's of a mile,and he did.Thank you Matt.A difficult 36 miles.Mike landed just passed Paulden.Speical thanks to Frank D.Happy Landing's Andy Rockhold

Nice Lite East day at Mingus.Bad Randy and I went west.Lift was everwhere. Ask Randy why we went back east and landed.

On Aug.9 Paul W. Dale M. Bruce ?,Carol,Linny & I desided to give Elden a try.The road up to the top is really bad,it just plain sucks.Never seen it so bad.Dale & Paul launched first.After about 10-15 min.they hooked a good one and topped out around 13,000'M.S.L. It took one full hour to get up to 12,900'.It just seemed like Bruce & I got stuck there,from 9,500' to 11,000'.Headed N. down to around 9,500' found a boomer to 14,500', the time was 3:45pm.Took pictures of Sunset Crater,then cruised on.With a nice 7-10 M.P.H. tail wind,it didn't take long to fly over Dale & Paul.They landed just S.of Secret Mt.for a nice flight.The tail wind ended around Wupatki,& Linny was right under me.Tryed to extend the glide,as far as possible.Getting low,dropped a smoke bomb between 89 & the power lines,1/4 mile apart.I was expecting the wind to be out of the south,it was East,big time.Didn't want anything to do with the power lines,so glided over them to the W.Now 3-4 tenths of a mile from 89,at the last sec.deployed my drag chute,and had a good landing to the S.E. I desided to split the differance.Hey I didn't drop my nose,so I was happy.It was a long walk back to 89,sweating like crazy.Had a safe landing,thats the most important thing of all.Drank a cold beer with Linny,as passer bys honked there horns.We all met at Silver Saddle Tavern for a cold one,then all went out to dinner.A good day in deed.Happy landings,Andy Rockhold