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I had flown IV once before and ended up in the bailout. A few years have passed and my flying has improved enough to allow for some better flights. On Sat. Kurt and I had plans to fly to Lassen on our rigids with mosquito assists. It's about 40 miles NW of the takeoff at IV and we felt with some thermalling and dual tanks it would be doable. Kurt and I both launched from the burn without power and climbed out pretty quickly. Kurts radio malfunctioned and he couldn't transmit, this convinced him not to go. I got to the end of the ridge overlooking Lake Almanor about 9 miles on course and started the motor for the 30 remaining miles. I climbed in convergence lift half way across the eastern edge of the Lake to 11000. The remainder of the flight I cruised at around 10800 at 37 to 40 mph with a quatering head wind of around 10 mph.
There was enough meadows for me to feel I had bailouts reachable if the motor quit at all times. Chester has a nice big airport on the NW edge of the lake also. I followed a back road a few miles north of Chester directly on line toward Lassen. As I approached the east side of the mountain I was losing altitude rapidly, I was in the down air coming over from the westside. I then flew more towards the southern end of the ridge where Hwy 36 runs over the pass as it's a few thousand feet lower then Lassen at the north end. I flew to some forming clouds and thermalled up to 10600 and then worked my way along the ridge toward Lassen gaining altitude. Lots of snow everywhere and big canyons with steep walls and rugged rocks. Just as I was about to start working my way up the face of Lassen the motor started losing power and sputtering. It looked like along way to a bailout with all the high terrain surrounding me but was only about 6miles to Childs Meadow which I could have easily reached even if the motor quit completely. it continued to run as I headed to the meadow but finally quit as I neared it. I landed in a lite SW wind after radioing John D. He came and got me. I still had a fifth of a tank of fuel in the first tank and a full tank on the other downtube. The return flight would have been quick with the tailwind and the motor running. Upon landing I noticed my airfilter was missing. It apparently came apart as the clamp and lower portion of it were still attached to the intake.
A fun flight anyway with some good video shot.
Sunday I flew my flex without power assist and took off first and climbed to 11000 over the burn launch. I then headed out over town under big clouds and climbed to 11500. I flew over round valley reservoir then on to Crystal lake where I got drilled on the back side of Hough Mt. Low over Taylorsville I went to clouds and climbed back to 10500 and flew down Keddie Ridge back to launch, then I headed over to Daves and landed next to his property after about 2 hrs. Cold beers in the fridge and hot solar shower waiting. Alex, Daves lovely wife cooked fajitas for dinner then we sat around the campfire and had a few more cold ones. A near perfect day.
Monday, we sided the new bath house in the morning and left for launch with Greg staying behind to help Dave with the roof sheeting. Charley Nelson, Bob S. and myself with Kathy Nelson driving. It started coming over the back soon after we were setup. A big cell in front of launch was shading us and drawing the air over the ridge from the north. For a few minutes it cleared enough for a little heating and some lite cycles to come in and I got off in the Atos after walking to the lower part of launch. Bob and Charley quickly suited up but it shaded in again and started raining lightly so they broke down. I flew down the ridge to behind Daves place hoping the sun would come out. I ridged soared for about 45 mns, but the cell blew up even bigger and I headed out and landed.
We all spent the night at Daves and headed out in the morning. I went for a little site seeing trip looking for launches on the east side of the range near Susanville. I had scouted out some possibilities on topo usa which I wanted to see firsthand. I took the back roads over going past Antelope Lake which is gorgeous. It is a beautiful Alpine Lake about ten miles due east of IV. with nice camp grounds. There is a paved road running around the lake and out to 395 near Janesville on the eastside. About half way there is the road to Thompson Peak which was my destination. It has a fire lookout on the top and a good dirt road to it. It's about 7800' at the top with the valley floor near 395 around 4000'. Their were signs pointing the way so I was hoping the road would be gate free but about 1.5 miles from the top I encountered the gate. No matter I had to see the top so parked the rig and started hiking. Upon reaching the tower I came upon what was obviously a launch site overlooking the east side. their were streamers in the bushes below launch. Just what I wanted to find. This launch is about like Glacier Point with three or four steps and a big drop into clean air. Fantastic! It overlooks Honey Lake but guess what Honey Lake is dry and dust devils could be seen blowing across it. It is in the Diamond Mountain range which runs for another 50 miles toward Reno.
I then drove into Susanville and called Bruce Rhymes who I know lives there and flys hanggliders. Left a message on his machine then drove up to Eagle Lake about 20 miles north and went for a swim. I also checked out Gallatin Peak another flying site right above the lake with an LZ on the beach. Bruce called me back and informed me the gate on Thompson will be opened on June 7th for the rest of the season. He also told me about a SW facing launch a few miles NE of Susanville. I was impressed with the area and feel it would make a nice club outing with good camping and great flying. It only took me 5 hrs. to get home going 36 to hwy 5 then 20. Prettier then the Owens and new country to fly over and explore. Along with IV there are alot of flying sites in the area and lots of XC potential. Bruce says hi and wants to see Sonomawings flying there. Let's go.
Scot
ps. thanks Dave and Alex for your hospitality, I really enjoyed camp Clement.