Yesterday was my first flight at Pine Mountain in Ojai. It was a short flight of 1:20, 11K max and about 7 miles. I got some of the flight on video that I've edited. Enjoy!
Cool vid! (1:20 is not necessarily considered "short")...........
Yes. That's funny about individual sense of time. I should, have simply stated the duration and left out the adjective. I was planning on flying 5 hours and going far but I was unable to connect with the convergence and get out of the range. I was both happy and disappointed, so I called it a short flight. I made a few attempts to climb back up from 5400' to 11000' but could only manage 7400' twice and threw in the towel. One of our group had landed way up in 'The Chute' and I spent part of my flight relaying his position and coordinates to our driver. That pilot had a 2-mile hike out but was flying PG so it wasn't quite as bad as 100# of HG equipment. Meanwhile, our host flew his Atos to the convergence and went 35 miles. I landed early in order to break down and get on the chase truck and not be left waiting for the drive back. It was very turbulent and I had limited access to the camera so I was unable to capture the beautiful view from 11000', etc.
Thanks for sharing. I've often wondered what Pine and vicinity looked like. It actually looks alot like NorCal's Mt. St.John, and it's XC routes to me.
Thanks for sharing. I've often wondered what Pine and vicinity looked like. It actually looks alot like NorCal's Mt. St.John, and it's XC routes to me.
RM
Here's a nice photo log from a long PG flight from Pine a few years ago (I happen to be the "Hare" in a shot near Frazier Mountain). http://www.circlinghawk.com/118.html
Pine is a great site when it is on. Most of Jonathan's video is of the north side. From the south launch (7,100 ft) you have great views of the backside if the coastal range with the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands beyond that. On XC flights the first 25 miles are over mountainous terrain, but after that it is mostly desert flying.
Toward the end of summer when the monsoonal moisture starts rolling in it's not uncommon to get over 15k near Frazier, our stepping stone to the Mojave Desert.
.............Toward the end of summer when the monsoonal moisture starts rolling in it's not uncommon to get over 15k near Frazier, our stepping stone to the Mojave Desert.
Thanks for posting that epic photo essay. Last year, Chip B. posted this nice helmet cam video from up to 13K at Pine:
Link
Very nice Jonathan. Outstanding music !
Looked like a beautiful day. _________________ H-4 (1976) UP Saturn 147 & UP Axis 13
The Cloudbase Foundation
Learn to fly hang gliders (click here}
Torrey Hawks #208
On my blog post I write about how Pine is at its best when a "Four Corners High" sets up, which pumps in monsoonal moisture to the area. Pine isn't always immune to overdevelopment, but it is often times just out of reach the main slug of moisture. Anyway, right now they are calling for a Four Corners High to set up this weekend; might be a good time for some of you Bay Area and McClure pilots to take a road trip.
Having said that, when the highs do set up we get a SE flow here in So Cal; just what you want to keep the inversion layer at bay at Crestline. If it doesn't look like it will OD on the eastern side of the desert, it might be a good time to go there with the idea of going OTB.
Unanswered
Highest rated...
Topics
