Flying Box Saturday

Guido · Post by **Guido** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:08 pm

Now I have already been 3 weeks here and hadn't made any flights yet

My better half and me intend to hike Box Canyon in the afternoon and -if the Conditions are acceptable- I would take on the way down to the car a little shortcut through the air (hopefully the shortcut would end in a long way round...)

Someone interested?
From what I have seen in the weather forecasts so far Mustang is not such a good option because Winds from Northwest are expected in the afternoon...
correct me if I am wrong....

Guido

Fred · Post by **Fred** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:04 am

Guido,
It looks like Box should be the place to go today. I'm about to head out of town, so won't be joining you, but I just got a phone message from Ross Hughes saying he and a visiting friend were heading out to Box. I tried to call him but got his voice mail. So I left a message that you guys would be out there too. Have a good time!

Guido · Post by **Guido** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:00 pm

Birgit and me arrived at Box LZ around 2 p.m. Fred already informed us that Ross with 2 people will show up as well. So we were not surprised to see 2 cars. But we were really astonished and pleased to see Gunter, I haven't seen for 2 years. Unfortunately the time to talk was limited (the others were already on their way to the launch and it started to get cloudy). To find the footpath to the launch was impossible for me and it turned out to be more a Geochaching game.... (fortunately I had restored an old Tracklog on my GPS). We met Ross Mick and Mark at the lower southwest launch. Mark was ready for take off, the conditions were light and the wind direction changed constantly, with a tendency to northwest. So we switched to the northwest launch. Wind was coming a little stronger and more constantly from WNW.
Mark launched well and drifted to the southwest side of the rich. There was not much lift (just sink) and he bailed out to the LZ. But he landed safe and mastered his first mountain flight successfully. Ross was the second. First it looked that he would also end in a sled ride, but thanks to his skills he scratched at the slope around the launch and could soar above our heads. Mick launched well, but it seems he wanted to look after Mark and bailed out to the LZ too.
I was the last who launched and was happy to soar along the slope with Ross. Since I didn't want to interfere I decided to soar some flight levels above him .

At the end I was lucky to soar the ridge up to the top. Again I enjoyed the phantastic view and the calm air, but after a while I could hardly feel my hands because it was damned cold (I have seen some little spots of snow on the top). So Ross and me landed around 4 p.m. (I underestimated the wind, so I missed the spot a little bit - who cares). All in all it was a wonderful flying day for everyone.
Guido

Gunter · Post by **Gunter** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:53 pm

Guido, thanks for the flying update. It was nice to see you, Ross and Mick again. It was also nice to meet Mark and Birgit - and to be at my old flying hangout -"Box".

I'm planning to be at the next SAHGA meeting. Hope to see all my old flying friends there. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all.

Gunter