It is also the longest task as well. 
The start went well and as I tagged the first turn point I could see people going deep in the mountains to the west, high along the foothills at the valley edge and everywhere in between. I found a good climb at the edge of the valley above the foothills and a few of us worked it and pressed on. Before long people were catching up and I had my eye on the other (south) side of the valley. A pilot next to me topped off his climb and aimed for the other side. Another pilot and i went with him. If we crossed early it was a shorter distance to the next TP. Turned out it was also slower. Some made the transition to the west TP fairly fast and high but the pilots on the mountains to the north made better time with their large, fast gaggles. Ugh!
Even with a screamer climb to base just a few km from the TP, it was a giant sink hole to tag it, and when I turned around the only pilots I saw higher up were the ones who joined the ridge running gaggles and they beamed out and left. I was working drifting lift, low over a giant plateau with a few others. We split up as we raced to catch the leaders, but for me it only put me lower and alone. I was skimming along a very shallow ridge line hoping to find some lift as it was mostly forest with only a few clearings ahead. Landing would have been safe enough, but the retrieve would be epic.
Eventually I got to a spot where several pilots before me slowly climbed out. I was much too low to get the climb and late as well. I spent what seemed like forever, but was more like 30 minutes or so. Another pilot came in 150 above me, glided to the next ridge, but was too low to cross it and try the sunny south slopes. The pilot followed the shallow forested ridge all the way down to the valley to the south and landed in small field. Rats. I was hoping to work with him and both of us get out.
I knew I could do the same if need be, and so I tried a different path. I found just enough lift to stay above the trees so I had a land-able spot if need be, but not by much. I snooped around for some sunny slopes. Found a weak bubble I and circled in it until I saw some birds half way to the next ridge climbing. That was my ticket out of there and using that lift, I crossed the ridge that the other pilot couldn't, found a climb on the other side and kept drifting with each climb towards the last TP. I was finally out of there and back on course.
I could see a few pilots ahead climbing slowly and some getting very high. I knew to be patient an vowed not to get low anymore. Found some climbes and got up to 7800 feet. It felt great after kicking trees on the shallow mountain tops at 4500.
I was flying alone but could se others in the distance. Staying high and watching where the clouds converged was key. I could see the line to take and after a while got above 8 grand and kept topping off on climbs as I worked buoyant line to the turn point and back, using the track on my gps as a guide to this invisible seam of lift as I retraced my flight back to where the good climbs started. Arnie, Josh and Eric were all in goal and came in a little behind the leaders. I was heeding their advice to stay high and tanked up patiently, still 10km away, and jonesing to just get in and land, but they were right and even though I had it on a 6:1 glide ( I normally get close to 10:1) it was just enough to tag the end of speed section 2km out and glide the rest of the way to where the line was on the ground. The van was still there waiting for me and I landed next to Eric "the Badger" as he finished packing up his wing and Rob who was shooting photos of me coming in.
Making goal is always my primary goal. I felt as though I was in great position at times today and wanted to race. But, after getting stuck, it was all about finishing then. Unfortunately, Nick got even more stuck than me it turned out, but we gave him all the intel we could on the radio, but it was getting late and he managed to land near goal a few km away. Hell of a great effort.
Oh, it felt great to finally make it in. Over 5 hours in the saddle today. Glad I was rested!Back at the house now. All checked in and instruments are charging as I write this. Dinner time in just minutes. Boy how the day flies by. 
Tomorrow looks great for flying again. More then. Cheers,Marty
