The AHGA's XC Contest 2009

Like everyone else I ran from cloud suck Saturday, left the hill at 14,601' to smooth air clear air out front just a glide to the treatment plant again.

Got off the hill just a little late at one o'clock , But the lift at the hill was smooth fat thermals , caught one from nine thousand to thirteen five. Ended up under a diminishing cumulus about a mile across. Some sort of irony in getting flushed at the treatment plant in Sedona. The shade made nice landing conditions tho.

1st climb at Mingus was to 14k with Bill. We left together with a glide to Perkinsville Rd and the Monastery, but Bill strayed too far to the west and the safety of the flats and had to land at Hal’s hanger. I had enough to make Drake. Around 15 miles south of Ash Fork hit major sink over the pines and picked out a meadow to land in. At 6600’ I stumbled into the strongest and smoothest thermal of the day to 15.5K that allowed me to take a more NW track toward Seligman (it was OD east of Williams)

The next 2 hours were agonizingly slow because of the light headwind, but stayed high until over the Seligman airport down to 8,000’ I worked everything I could find, (the town and the Aubreys were shaded by big flat cummies) I glided over the big golf ball at Chino Point at 500’ and hit strong lift back to 12,000’ and also back over the airport. I had had enough for the day went on glide toward the NW along Rt 66 landing 12 miles from the Grand Canyon Caverns.

JBJ

Mingus was a hot spot today my flytec only records to 1600' ft per min. lift was off the scale for minutes a realistic guess 1800' 2o00' per min easy. Rough air,the potential was there for tail slides and tucks , got winged over 90' more than once The Mingus monster is back. I love this mountain !

short easy flight