2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Summary

Duration: 15 days touring with 12 days of flying

Sites visited, Chelan, Pine Mountain, Mt Shaster, Woodrat, Tiger Mountain, Seattle
Pilots on tour
Lindsay Wootten - Gradient XC2

Paul Underwood - Advance Sigma 7
Phil Lyng - Gradient Golden

Toni Skerrit - Advance Omega 6
Rod Harris - Nova Mamboo
Personal bests for all pilots

Distance: Lindsay 164km, Paul 149km, Toni 99km, Phil 63km
Out and Return: Lindsay 101km, Paul 88km
Triangle, Rod 80km, Brian 120km
Height: Lindsay 4,200m, Paul 4,700m, Toni 4,110m, Phil 4,545m
Duration: Paul 5 hr, Phil 4hrs

2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Day 15

The last day of the tour, we elect to cruise the day in Seattle and at Tiger to avoid a long day at Chelan, 4 hours driving each way.

A lie in until 8:00 followed by voluntary eskimo roll training from Rod in Conrad's back yard - Lake Washington .

Great instructing from Rod then we leave for Tiger. Conrad, Paul, Lindsay and Phil hike up, Toni and I take the shuttle for $17.

Tiger is pretty stable with top of lift capped at 1300m leaving us only 300m to play with above launch. We still mange to thermal for 90 minutes before bailing to shop at Fry's, a huge electronics store.

Rod has stood host for a farewell dinner at the Seattle tower restaraunt. This coincides with Conrad's birthday and a major celebration.

The restaraunt was excellent and we had amazing views of Seattle as the sun set; could not see Meg Ryan anywhere but.

2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Day 14

A sunny day at Woodrat but the threat of increased wind. We elect to drive back to Seattle to position ourselves close by Chelan or Tiger. A leisurely camp pack and drive back to Seattle with the group discussing theory on XC and comps whilst we drive. Just when is the best time to take off and how can we improve our concentration during flight.

A lunch stop at Eugene beside the river then an overnight at Conrad's ready for the last day of tour tomorrow

2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Day 13

An average forecast at Woodrat indicated 2100m base and winds from the SW again.

This time we stay at Woodrat where locals Rick and Hayden Glatte join us for the day.

We were not going to fly 100km here but today was definitely going to be technical and a test of our skills. I have been trying to get to Grants Pass and never yet made it, this might be the day.

Lindsay - 48km out and return

Paul - 42km out and return

Phil - 32km height 4110m

Toni - 17km

Rod - 15km

Conrad - 51km out and return

Brian - 51km out and return

Weather

NE followed by W/SW, 15-25kmh

Base 2100, blue

As expected a technical day, Grants Pass and back for most of us. Excellent flying in what was originally a meagre looking day.

Goal is the Longswords LZ, a winery that give a free glass of wine id you land at their shop. Paul and Conrad enjoy the free fare then Barb and Phil bought a couple of bottles and start a session which needs a cold swim to settle down

Joy and Conrad prepare lasagne for supper and we enjoy a balmy summer evening at Murdochville

2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Day 12

Rick sees some potential in the day for Herd Peak, overlooked by Mt Shaster, It is an hour south and not flown very often but might be good in the SW forecast. Base is estimated at 4000m provided we get the trigger temperature.

Sounds like a great plan as we have not been down to the Shaster before so we plan for a drive across the border into Norther California.

Mt Herd belongs to a pilot who has done some serious work providing a good, clean paraglider launch.

The view to Shaster is amazing and after 20km picking through some trees over the back there is flatlands as far as the eye can see.

Lindsay - 10km

Paul - 31km

Phil - 8km

Toni - LZ

Rod - LZ

Conrad - 12km

Brian - 68km

Weather

Light SW changing W then NW, Southerly higher, 15-35kmh

Base 3200m, blue

A hard day working to get away from launch in a strong inversion which eventually broke 2 hours after launching. The trigger temperature was slow to be reached.

A site definitely worth spending more time at

2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Day 11

A long but successful three days at Pine Mtn. Today we have to figure if we stay longer or move on to Woodrat. The decider is whether we can fly Mt Batchelor, a special event if it's possible. Steve Roti checks out the winds and confirms it's too strong so we pack to head for Ruch, Woodrat.

A beautiful 3 hour drive across the Oregonian mountains puts us on the west side and a totally different climate. The wind is on the strong side here as well so we take an early lunch at the Magnolia grill.

We catch up with Rick and Paul Murdoch. Paul invites us to camp over at his place, a generous offer which we quickly accept - Murdochville is very good

Paul takes us up to the lower launch of Woodrat for the evening glass off. Sometimes you can get 2000m in the convergence and fly back to Paul's place but not tonight however 2 hours soaring until dusk is a great intro for the guys to Woodrat

2ToFly.com - US Tour 2009 - Day 10

You know how some days test your metal, perhaps I am a little rusty

The only key we have to the mini bus gets locked in the bus at 8:00am. We call the local road service who sort us out v quickly.

On the way up to launch I drop the rear wheel of the bus over the edge of the track and we get stuck, blocking the road for all the PG

and HG aiming to get up the hill for a good looking day.

This is the best looking forecast of the last 3 days so Paul, Rod and Lindsay walk up to launch ahead whilst the HG pilots and PG pilots we are holding back work hard to help us clear the vehicle. Conrad, Toni, Barb and I get up to launch a couple of hours later. The forecast is for W/SW 15-20kmh, top of lift around 4500m. Some Cu's are beginning to form as we work on the bus.

A frenzied collaborative effort and we get going in time for the day

Lindsay - 12km

Paul - 149km - PB, 4700m (hypoxic happier still)

Phil - 45km PB height 4545m

Toni - 10km

Rod - 10km

Conrad - 25km

Brian - 45km

A tough, rough day decking most of us. Paul hangs on then pushes for his PB of 149km, just short of Burns.

Weather

W/SW, 10-25kmh

Base 4700m,