Trece (13)

The day dawned more clear than I have become used to. I was suspicious and thoughtful of the consequences of such intense hearing from so early in the day. 

Breakfast was a tasty granola covered with fresh pineapple, strawberries, papaya and pitaya (the white chunk with dark seeds).

Everyone was ready, excited and probably a little tired, but nobody let it show. John wasn't feeling good yesterday but was ok today.  Jim wasn't feeling well and opted not to fly. Farmer wasn't feeling great, but went up the hill anyway, only to launch first and make the short flight back to La Union to go and take it easy. We suspect it was a drink with unpurified ice at the chicken pace in town that got both of them. 

Flacko brought his dog "Kita" again. She is a real cutie and super excited to hang out with us. 

The sky was bright and blue. We climbed the stairs in fresh shade from the forming cumulus clouds above us. It seemed too good to be true. We urged everyone to launch ASAP and get about while the conditions were soft. 

Dawn and Jim preparing for flight. 

The cycles coming into launch were unusually strong and this made it easier to launch everyone quickly, but soon it became evident that the wind was cross from the North (left of takeoff) and quite strong on the valley floor. This is not an unusual pattern for this site, just an unusual intensity. 

Shredded cumulus from the wind. 

Everyone in the group was off and flying except us three guides; Brian,  Bradley and myself. We were still offering radio supervision and advice. 

It looked stronger than normal and having warned everyone earlier, it came as no surprise to those in the air.  Ten minutes later, Rob reported wind velocity in La Union at 12-14 mph on the surface having just landed there.  That's when I radioed to my group to fly away from the terrain and land if necessary. It was the right call. 

Eagle pilots waking from the LZ to be picked up. 

A few minutes later, a pilot flying alone (or with a different group) had an asymmetric fold in front of launch, while flying through the lee of the house thermal. He may have had a riser twist and the glider began a diving turn with a cravat (stuck wing tip on one side) for a few rotations before his reserve was thrown, opening almost immediately and arresting his rapid descent, allowing him to land safely below, somehow missing the power lines near there. Whew!

Waiting in the shade by sugar cane fields. 

One by one each of our pilots landed safely out in the valley, reporting in by radio and text message. Well done. The remaining guides launched and chose a strategic line to the right, away from the rotor off to our left and climbed quickly to cloud base drifting downwind and down range.  Brad flew on a ways further to land but I opted to push upwind with my altitude and veer out to Oscar's LZ where the bulk of our pilots were safely packing up on grass. Brian did the same and we landed without a hitch. 

Sugar cane

Today it was too much of a good thing, it seems.  This place is epic on average days, so I am hoping for more average weather tomorrow. 

Rotisserie chicken instead of juice today. 

I gave a chat at 5:30 and went over my time a little bit into the dinner service. It seemed well received and I was happy for that. It's been a great group and today helped everyone catch up on some much needed rest. 

Dinner was great. Veggie soup with pasta and grilled steak. People tuned in early and I am sure we will all be rechaged for tomorrow. I know I will be. 

Cheers, and goodnight. 

Martín