FlyBC "Site of the Day Archive Page" - January/2010
San Marcos, Jalisco, Mexico
“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde
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El Chante Report - a lazy day at the Raquet Club today. I couldn't find any fliers until after noon and by then the sky had OD'ed "big time".
The CU forming above the Raquet Club ridge at noon looked ominous click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR By 3 pm there was rain, and later lightning and thunder. By 630 pm it was all clear and calm again but no one went flying here.
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Non-Flight Report from Mexico - today was shaping up to be an awesome flying day. East winds in the AM, switching to SW after 2 pm, -2.9°C lapse rate through to 12000 feet, light SW winds forecasted for the ground. Heck it will be perfect!
| I headed up to La Ceja Launch at Tapalpa and arrived at noon. No one flying but the CUs were forming nicely and had a SW tilt at the top already. Hmmm, clue #1. 
The CU forming above the Tapalpa ridge at noon click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR There were no birds flying, and no other pilots and it is the first weekend day of a long weekend? A few birds flew a bit later and were sinking like stones near the powerlines, so I waited. The CUs out front started to grow fast and a few birds started to ridge-soar the roadway and were climbing finally so I got ready. 
The CUs out from the Tapalpa ridge at 1245 pm click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Stephan had arrived but wasn't getting ready so I took out the Zoom and had everything sorted and I was clipped in waiting for the cycles to build and straighten when a "boomer" came through the treeline to the south of launch rattling the trees for a good 2 minutes or more. This was +40 kph sustained. Over by the microwave towers the thermal there was just as strong but 90 degrees out of phase? I waited for a lull but it never came, as another "boomer" smoked through launch lasting 5 minutes. Sheeesh! First too light and then too strong. I gathered up the Zoom as dusties were forming on launch between strong blasts and it was starting to blow tail by 1 pm. 
The CU are still forming above the Tapalpa ridge at 1 pm, but we were denied by the SW winds click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR I was kicking myself on the drive down as Stephan and I decided to head to San Marcos for a night flight and BBQ as it was full moon and SW, but as I arrived at the bottom I was glad I hadn't launched earlier. It was blowing South at +30 kph on the highway and we had dust storms all the way to San Marcos. At San Marcos there were dusties all over the flats, some very defined small cores and some that were the size of a city block. Some went to base in a thin column. Awesome display of power! At Pedro's Ultralight Park the scotch and cervezas were already flowing at 2 pm, as most knew it was a "no-fly day". We observed a gang on launch but no wings were being unfolded. I headed to El Chante Launch after a few hours of hangar chat, and arrived at 430 pm, to +30kph blasts there too, with an awesome sky over the lake with towering CU with a base estimated at 4200 meters and gust lines on Lake Chapala. Time for lunch and to head home. If one had launched at 1 pm at Tapalpa and hit cloudbase and was able to maintain flight til 6 pm, I am sure it was a +100 km day. But that would involve flying through a restricted Military Zone, Guadalajara's Control Zone and into some mountainous regions north of Guadalajara to land so it probably wouldn't be worth it. I personally was glad I hadn't launched earlier! Monarca 2010 Report from Valle de Bravo Day 6 - the last task day was called due to rain. Early forecasts were calling for 60% chance of SNOW! Final results can be found at Monarca 2010 Open or or Cumulative results here.
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El Chante Report - we met at noon after Peter and Diego had done some mountain-biking for the video crew. Good thing as I was still suffering from a food or bug-related illness from a few days ago, so I could relax and prepare for our flights today. | We drove up in Jorge's truck and I graciously took the seat in the bed, so I could get lots of fresh air! We arrived to perfect launch cycles but a bit of high cirrus that looked like it would doom our soaring hopes. 
El Chante launch today with the video crew click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Camilo launched first and was soon 150 meters over, but Peter wanted us down low soaring in front of launch to get some footage. I launched next and soared the front for a few passes and then Camilo dropped down and was struggling below launch so I moved east to let him climb and I was soon 450 meters over. So much for the high cirrus blocking the sun, as I was getting +6.2 m/s climbs! I waited for Camilo to climb but he was getting lower and lower. Peter launched with the cameraman and was also grovelling for some time. Then Jorge launched and there were three gliders below launch and I waited at 2500 meters as I knew they would eventually climb out. After about 15 minutes I headed a gulley or two east cause I was hitting sink and then I saw Camilo and Peter climb up to 2500 meters too. I waited for them to head east but they were doing some formation flying above launch for video and then Camilo headed down to El Chante Malecon where he parked his motorcycle. Peter continued east with me but we never got close on the ridge. I flew over the Raquet Club and noticed strong west winds in the LZ, and as I was setting up I was going up everywhere. Lots of pavement and concrete houses makes for nice thermals . . . but I didn't want any now! I tried many times to get down and finally decided a short walk up the hill from the beach was safer than a busted body and/or wing, so I flew down to the lakeshore. Even setting up over the lake I was getting popped up in strong thermals, so I had to do wingovers to cut thru the lift right onto final. I saw Peter setting up over his house in the Raquet Club, and he looked smooth and no bubbles 10 minutes after I landed and he had a straight in approach over the stables, and disappeared. It looked good from my angle, but apparently it was a bit hairy as they went long and almost hit the horse pens, landing in a heap in the gravel road. I think I made a safe choice? 
Peter setting up a landing at the Raquet Club with the videographer click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR We later reviewd the video footage and we have some really nice professional shots for use in a promotion for the area that will be featured on Activ8Chapala . Monarca 2010 Report from Valle de Bravo Day 5 - results can be found at Monarca 2010 Open or here or Cumulative results here. Better day today as 40 or more in goal including 3 Canucks.
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El Chante/Joco Launch Report - Wow, we had a classic day today at El Chante/Joco Launch. Peter B needed me to help with tandems again today as he was overbooked and I am always glad to help and make some pesos too. | Peter was taking Richard from Toronto (currently renting in Ajijic) and I took Camilo's friend Claudia. NOAA said is was going to be strong south winds at launch altitude and they were right today. In fact when we arrived at launch around 1 pm, there were gust lines on Lake Chapala. Peter was happy to have wind as his passenger had bad knees and couldn't run so we ballasted Richard and they got plucked off launch and were climbing fast. Claudia weighed about 48 kgs so I too needed ballasting so Jorge helped me and we were off and climbing like a rocket too. Jorge and Camilo launched after me and I saw that they too got ballasted by our driver Andreas when we reviewed everyone's pictures later. We had such a sweet flight due to the dynamics of the south wind mixed with +4.5 m/s thermals that we were above launch at the Raquet Club 9 kms east, and I was worried about the South winds at the LZ cause the water was churned up pretty good, so we kept heading east to Ajijic. There were some nasty thermals along the way threatening to push our lightly loaded tandem over the peaks, if you look at Google Earth between Jocotopec and Ajijic you will see the volcanic ridges that flow down to the lake and they all cause some interesting convergence. At one point we hit a thermal that was very strong and even though I was fully hands up with no wrap, the glider broke into a full stall! I waited and it re-started and I caught the surge and we were off flying again. We were just too lightly loaded for that thermal I guess? We were cruising at 55-62 kph along the ridge never getting below launch height and I chose the Hotel Real Chapala (the 5 star) for our LZ as it has a nice Futball Field near the water. There was so little wind here that I had to assume it was south wind as there were no ripples and no flags. We had a super soft touchdown and Claudia was all grins! She had no idea we had travelled 16 kms, until she looked back at the ridges towards Joco. 
Our tracklog from the iPhone GPS Kit click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Monarca 2010 Report from Valle de Bravo Day 4 - results can be found at Monarca 2010 Open or here or Cumulative results here. Not a great day as no one made goal falling short by 30 kms due to weak conditions.
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El Chante/Joco Report - I know this is getting boring for you Northern Readers as we are flying the same site everyday, but it has been consistently south making the other launches unusable. | Plus it is a shorter drive for us at the Raquet Club! Turnaround is 30 minutes to the top on mostly paved roads and should be even faster (maybe 20 minutes) with the new Jocotopec Bypass. Today Peter B had a tandem around noon, Jorge came for a solo flight as did I, and Andreas drove for us. Nice cycles at launch and strong in the air too. Peter was off and climbing above launch immediately before heading east. I launched 10 minutes after Peter, having to wait for an up-cycle for that long. I should have waited longer as I got flushed off launch and was doing a low save in the gulleys, while Jorge climbed out! The vertical is only 500 meters, so you have to catch something right away or it is a short flight. Fortunately I climbed back to launch and was chasing the guys easterly. Peter was high above the Raquet Club when I lost sight of him and I heard later that he had landed at Futball Field at Real de Chapala, 20 kms east of us. Nice field to packup in and right next to the bar. Jorge landed at the Raquet Club LZ while I landed at Punta Montana a km short of the Raquet Club. I then met Rossanna and her friends as it was Chava's turn for a tandem with me. We drove back up to El Chante and it was blowing in strong and straight as I got ready. Chava was the last to go tandem as he was a bit scared but he was getting used to seeing his friends go flying so he seemed very calm. We were off in a nice cycle and climbed out immediately above takeoff. We got about 200 meters over and hovered around for videos and pictures before heading east. We had some brilliant climbs up to +5 m/s and strong enough to feel like we were being blown over the ridge at times. But if you went too far out you were in sink, so we just rode the ridgeline east to the Raquet Club arriving there with 600 meters of altitude. 
Arriving at the Raquet Club, note the hill above the LZ click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR The problem was that lower down the wind was blowing strong easterly, meaning we would descend in the lee of the hill by the LZ and as we got lower it was rotoring so we headed out to the San Juan Cosala Malecon We had enough height for some strong spirals above the Malecon and we landed "soft as a feather" in the Malecon LZ on the waterfront. We packed up and headed to the Square for pickup after a fruit paleta. 
Sunset at the Raquet Club, on the hill above the LZ, after it turned west before dark click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Monarca 2010 Report from Valle de Bravo Day 3 - results can be found at Monarca 2010 Open or here.
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El Chante/Joco Report - Peter called me around 11 am, to say that a group of French pilots had arrived and wanted to fly El Chante after being denied at San Marcos last night due to strong south winds. | I headed over to Peter's and loaded my gear in their Van and we were on the road to Launch. Joel was the tour leader and he had 7 pilots along for a 15 day excursion of Mexico. They had flown Valle, Tenancingo and a bunch of other sites and are on the last days of their tour. They had a newer VW Van for a shuttle vehicle but it is no Suzuki XL-7, as it bottomed out constantly on the easy road up El Chante. But we made it by 1 pm. Jean Marc was first to fly on a Sky Eris 3 comp wing and after some scratching he was above launch and away to the east. One by one they all launched and had some soaring from 15-30 minutes in light conditions. Jean Marc came back from the east and landed in the same field as his friends below launch. 
Soaring at El Chante Launch click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR I launched last and was able to scratch out a 30 minute flight never getting above launch, as it was inverted and the lift was very light. We regrouped and went back to the Monte Coxala Spa for a tour and the French Pilots had a hot-tub soak courtesy of Peter before retiring to La Vita Bella Restaurant for dinner and drinks. Monarca 2010 Report from Valle de Bravo Day 2 - results can be found at Monarca 2010 Open or here. Keith McC was in goal in 4th place today and is in 7th place overall!
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Tapalpa Report - no one was out flying as it was Monday . . . except for some vultures having rough flights in strong east winds so I drove home the long way to the South Shore of Lake Chapala. | Monarca 2010 Report from Valle de Bravo - results can be found at Monarca 2010 Open or here . Aconcauga Report - I wanted to be the first person in the record books wearing an ozone hat from flybc on the summit of Aconcagau. Thanks for your support! 
Brad on the Summit of Aconcagau by Kevin Ault Amigo Jim, Brad reporting some of the paragliding the Valleys and ridges of Aconcagua. The pics speak for themselves, we are 16000' MSL and about 2400 above our base camp - plaza argentina. This place can only be described as a no man's land, where a reserve really is meaningless since this altitude does not have the air density to for a deployment . The flights are fast and crisp. The Ozone Swift was a performer even at high attitude. Unfortunately we were unable to fly from the top as the wind seemed to dominate every minute of our day. To you jim - Brad 
The Ozone Swift on Aconcagau by Kevin Ault Woodside Sledders via GoPro by Phil Ibis Nice Ozone Commercial!
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El Chante Report - I offered to help Peter B with some tandems today, which were to start around 1 pm. | Somehow the 4 tandems we had booked became 6 and logistics became a nightmare. We eventually got to the Launch around 2:30 pm and it was still blowing in nicely. Peter took off first with David and I was right behind them with David's son Paris. Peter climbed out quickly and headed over the back for a top-landing after about 20 minutes. Paris and I orbitted around launch for 30 minutes trying to top land there but the thermals were too strong out front. +5.5 m/s and they weren't subsiding to let us in. We eventually gave up on the launch top-landing and climbed out to 200 meters over before heading over the back to top-land. It is always interesting top-landing at this site. You must head back high to avoid the rotor, but today the wind was actually quite strong from the west. Cycles at launch were due south because of the thermics. When we came over the designated area where Peter had landed, we were barely penetrating and that put us behind a small hill that was punching off thermals and rotor until we were 20 meters up and then we came straight down on the road softly except Paris forgot to run in the excitement. 
Google Earth image showing the top-landing and launch areas at El Chante click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR After we got back to launch Fernando was taking another one of Peter's tandems, and then Peter took off in the last launchable cycle and had a rodeo ride due to the west winds aloft, but the passengers loved the flights. The last flights landed at the El Chante Malecon, and we drove to get them. After a long torta break at Tortugas torta stand, we headed to San Marcos for more tandems. I took Artie tandem and we soared for 15 minutes landing on the lake bed near the Beer Store, which was unfortunately closed. A hard day of flying work here in Mexico! - Jaime Update from January 10/2010 Report - I met Stephan at Kordich Airsports last night and he said he was flying with Normando and the HGers and that rather than head over the flats he stayed on the west ridge and landed in Acatlan about 50 kms from Tapalpa. Ouch!
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San Marcos Report - it was clear that the north wind would deny us flying El Chante today, so off to San Marcos with two tandems. | Paramotorists were flying on the Lake this morning. I love the smell of 2 stroke oil in the morning! Peter took the first tandem right away at 2 pm, while I was negotiating with my tandem whether she wanted to go today or tomorrow. We were last in line after it was decided we would fly, and it had gotten very gusty at launch. A few pilots got plucked off rather roughly and one guy stood down after he nearly got dragged through the air toward the cars. We stood down and drove down to get the others and headed back to San Juan Cosala to drop them off, and I went back later with my landlord's daughter and 2 friends hoping to fly. There was about 12 pilots on launch when we arrived back at San Marcos at 4:30 pm, and it was still too gusty. No one flew until 6:15 pm, and by then the sun was setting so not really a good tandem value for my folks so they are coming back Sunday instead. Another beautiful day in paradise! At least a dozen flights here between the gusts for locals and visitors - jaime
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El Chante and San Marcos Report - a busy day up on El Chante as Peter, Jorge and I arrived to see Granger and his group standing around. We were then joined by Miguel Leon from Tapalpa because Tapalpa hasn't been flyable all week. So 11 pilots in total this morning. | Peter showed everyone how to fly this site on a stable day, getting low, climbing out, heading east then returning to top-land before flying off again. This guy is amazing and I keep saying it is because this is his home site, but his flying is amazing to watch and on an old UP Trango I that is nearly worn out. Google "Peter Brinkeby Paragliding" and you will see his results from when he competed a few years ago - top ranked in the PWC. Jorge launched and was on the ground after 15 minutes so I wasn't motivated to try and figure out a retrieve for the Suzuki, so I watched the Granger group try to launch. Then Miguel had a student try a few times and then I left. I went to Joco for an oil change (cambio de aciete) and then a taco on the west end of town before heading to San Marcos. I saw Miguel's student fly out at that time at least an hour later than when I left. Peter was now at the Raquet Club and home. One of the Granger group apparently was in a tree at launch! Glad I left early! I saw a HGer soaring San Marcos so I headed straight up, assuming a top-landing was possible. When I arrived the Hger was landing, but another was setup and there were 2 drivers so I had my truck driven down by Anya. Bonus! I launched after the HG and he was also soon on the ground but I maintained about 100 meters over launch following the vultures. It was a north leeside day, quite rough near the north peak, but soarable. I was thermalling back near launch in a good climb when 2 vultures (dog-fighting each other) nearly hit my wing! Then out of the corner of my eye another vulture had to tuck and dive to miss my body! We were all in the same thermal but I guess I wasn't following the ridge rules? I flew along the ridge practicing top-landing approaches for next time, and was doing pretty good but not getting above 100 meters over as the wind looked like it would switch to west, when I hit a huge pactch of sinky, lee air and was plummeting down in a ravine, so I pelled away from the hill and tried some flatland thermalling over the lake. Pretty strong north there too, but one could thermal around as long as you wanted at 500 meters over the lakebed. As I got closer to the Kordich Airstrip it was really gnarly with the air spilling over the hills north of the LZ, so I spiralled down through the crap and had a nice soft landing. Flight time: 1:05. Max Climb: +2.2 m/s. Max Sink: -4 m/s. Max Altitude: 2200 meters.
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Mexican Road Trip Report - good day for a "Wild Goose Chase" to Tapalpa. It was forecast to be light west winds but usually the east facing Tapalpa ridge works until noon due to sun-fed thermals. | It was a blue inverted day on the way there, and I could see Colima Nevado (14,000 foot volcano) clearly with not one cloud in sight. Also a low inversion was apparent when the smoke hit that altitude. At the top, it was blowing 15 kph from the west, so a wasted trip. If the lapse rate had been better it may have been possible to launch and climb and then track the west winds toward San Marcos but that hope was shattered. I was on my way back to Jocotopec when the phone rang and Peter was going for a tandem up El Chante so I raced back to meet them at the Torta Stand below launch. We drove up in Andrea's Chevy 4x4 and there was Alex (a doctor from Guadalara) flying solo, Peter and Howard flying tandem and myself flying solo at El Chante. Nice cycles despite the inversion. I think we were just above the inversion judgng from the haze. Peter took off and was scratching for awhile and it looked rough and jumpy (inversion) and then he popped through and was 150 meters above launch. I launched and had a similar flight, very rough thermals and many weightless moments before I settled in and was climbing out too. Peter was now on the east ridge heading home to the Raquet Club. I followed him and hit heavy sink en route east. I abandoned the east flght plan and went back to the Cross Thermal and started climbing as Alex launched. He got low and never regained his height as I boated around launch for 15 minutes and I was going to try a top-landing but my car was below so I just boated around the ridges in front of launch until I saw Alex landed in the El Chante futball field and I went out to join him. Peter landed with a very sick Howard at the Raquet Club LZ. Too much adrenaline! Alex's friend wanted to go tandem later so we headed to San Marcos in Andrea's truck arriving there around 4:30 pm. Camilo joined us too after working all day. It was pretty spicy at launch, so I was elected "wind dummy". I waited for a lull and was off and climbing straight up and out, before testing the wind speeds aloft. Low ground speed of 8 kph and high of 20 kph made it flyable for the others. I was soon through 2600 meters, launch is 2000 meters and over the North Peak. Very smooth ridgy air with the odd thermal thrown in to keep one awake. 
The view back towards Joco from 2600 meters at San Marcos, very beautiful despite the inversion haze click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Oddly only a few vultures out today? I watched the others launch from my perch and we were all climbing well, Peter was just below me after an hour of flight when I saw him head south trying to connect to the southern ridge but he couldn't clear the gap there, so it was over the back to the highway to land to save the retrieve time. I watched Peter land, then watched Camilo misjudge the wind and land in a thicket of high brush short of the corn field LZ, and I landed next to Peter. Alex was last off and saw us land and chased us out and he just made our field by a few meters. We stopped at La Vitta Bella Restaurant in the Raquet Club for dinner and drinks to finish the day - Reporting from Sunny Mexico - Jaime
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El Chante Report - Peter B was taking his nanny tandem, so I came up and did my best "Rob Samplonious" impression working a machete, chainsaw and cutters to clear a second launch slot. | All three of us worked throwing debris over the side and then Peter took off with the tandem and climbed out over launch and headed east on his way home to the Raquet Club. 
Peter launching from El Chante Launch click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR I was too hot to think about flying, trying to top-land or having to retrieve with a taxi, so I headed down to get a coke and a siesta. I was going to go to fly San Marcos later but the winds picked up from the west so I stayed in the Raquet Club.
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El Chante Report - a late start today but we were up on El Chante Launch by 1 pm.
| Peter B, Camillo and I flew after 1:45 and Peter's goal was Ocotlan about 50 kms east of launch (Norm had flown there 5 years ago). I was last to launch and Peter was already at 'base and Camillo was heading up under Peter and I was climbing fast under them. The thermals were drifting us back to the North and were easier to track than yesterday. Once I climbed to 2600 meters (under 'base) I headed east towards San Juan Cosala chasing the guys who were already over the peak behind Cosala. Halfway there, I hit some sink and had to go back toward launch to top-up and when I got there it was shaded so I thought about top-landing to save the retrieve but it was still too lifty to attempt an approach, so I climbed back to base there and then headed east along the ridge tops. Violent thermals with +6 m/s and windy from the west, when you fell out wingtips were flapping! I got to San Juan Cosala at the peak and was soaring with the vultures and noticed the wind was +20 kph from the west, so descending along the ridge would place me in the lee, so I flew straight out to the lake. I saw Camillo packing up in the Raquet Club LZ near the stables so I aimed for there. There was no wind on the ground as I approached, and the LZ got small pretty fast as the air is thin at 1600 meters and 26C and the ground speeds were close to 45 kph. A few turns and I was blazing in on final and hit a thermal over the roadway that lifted me up on final but it worked out well. Camillo was pretty pumped as this was his first time landing here, and then I found out this was his 31st solo flight, so he did really well given the conditions. Late update: Peter B made it to Mezcala about 48 kms east of launch at 6 pm. Just read the SMS message he sent me last night. 
The Raquet Club LZ in low resolution click on the picture for a high res version and for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR
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El Chante (Joco) Report - the local pilots here call this launch El Chante as it is above the town of El Chante. We always called it Joco Launch as it is near Jocotopec so technically we are right as El Chante is the eastern boundary of Jocotopec. | Peter Brinkeby (ex UP Team Pilot), his brother-in-law Jorge and Gerardo are the local wing-nuts. Gerardo runs the La Vitta Bella Restaurant in the Raquet Club. Jorge runs the larger outdoor restaurant here too on weekends. We headed up to El Chante launch to take Helgar, a German tourist, for a tandem with Peter while Gerardo went tandem with me for his third tandem flight. Light cycles and no vultures but Peter said it looked good and this is his main site. Helgar and Peter took off and were scratching for a few passes and then they were 300 meters over. Gerardo and I took a few tries to get off and when I finally had a good wing I could see why. There was a +4.5 m/s thermal blasting right up the launch face! and we were being dragged up in it until we too were at 2600 meters. Peter and Helgar disappeared easterly, and we followed but were soon thermalling the gulleys. Jorge launched after us and was also scratching for awhile, but had the glide pegged and was around the corner hugging the cliffs. My vario got bumped so it was off and we were flying by the "seat-of-the-pants" and while strong, the thermals were narrow. We flew to the point where once must make a decision to fly east away from decent LZs, when I turned back to get a better climb first before going and we were scratching for 20 minutes before finally landing in a nice field near the highway. Flight Stats: 30 minutes, +4.6 m/s up, -4.6 down, max speed 54 kph. Nice landing and takeoff with wild thermals in between . . . ah this is Mexico Flying! I later went up to San Marcos Launch around 3:30 pm, to attempt a solo flight and top-landing to save a long hike to retrieve my truck. When I got there it was too strong for top-landings but it was launchable in lulls. Then 15 minutes later, it was barely launchable and the birds were struggling to stay at launch alttude. I got bored and drove down, looking for another launch spot for future days here when the CU started to form suggesting it turned back on. I didn't go back up but the rest of the week looks good for San Marcos with west winds aloft.
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Tenancingo Report - after many days of rain and wind, the Bellingham Crew headed up to launch at 11 am. Sid, Delvin, Chad, Doug, Jim W, Steve F from Portland, Daniel Pedrosa and Daniel Miller/Villegas and myself assembled on launch and started waiting. | At about noon I figured it was launchable in the lulls and got the Zoom ready. I took 10 minutes or more to wait for a lull and I launched and as climbing smoothly and fast and I hit 2600 meters (300 meters over launch). I headed further NE along the ridge but wasn't gettimg much lift there and the LZ fade away there, so I headed back to the house thermal near the ancient carvings. As I got back to launch I was still at 2500 meters but could not break through the windy thermals and a shade cycle was coming. I was 20 minutes into the flight and did not want to land at the Piano LZ (rocky and a hike back up), so I played in the house thermal milking it until I had to run over the back towards the sun. This is where the adventure begins! Huge sink and no speed once over the back I tried to run with the wind to the north as I have done before. I was being forced down by the hand of God and rotor, but I found a nice field near a road out and turned on final at 30 meters. No wind landing in big sink required a huge double wrapped flare and I still bounced in. Shook off the dust and packed up and walked out thru a futball game, where Daniel Pedrosa drove my car down to retrieve me. Total flight time: 38 minutes. Huge Lift and even Huger sink. Fun factor was negated by the over the back experience! After I got back up, we waited another 2 hours til 3:00 pm for the others to start launching. 
Doug and Daniel V over La Malinche Launch click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Sid and I drove down after 4:30 pm, when everyone else got off and headed over the back to Garis LZ. Doug probably had the best flight after a wild launch getting high over the NE ridge and the antennas but not high enough to make it to Malinalco. Apparently quite windy there at the last 100 meters, and rough. Woodside Report - I am the king of desperados. I was out at Woodside yesterday, despite the lousy forecast of wind and rain to make sure Bob had enough food if Colleen wasn’t going to be out during the week. It was sunny and through the telescope it was coming up nicely. Drove up calling on the radio with no response several times and when I got to the top, still no responses! I launched (thinking someone would be out) into a nice 8-10 k cycle and flew out with a few launch height passes into really buoyant air and actually got some beeps when I turned northerly high above the train tracks. Still no-one around, soooooo I started to walk the long down Kilby road way thinking another desperado would be out but nope! I walked all the way and hiked up to retrieve my truck. It was blowing about 10-15 km’s down when I got back to launch. So the desperado (dumbass) award of the day goes to me! - Thomm Want to go for a ride with the Blue Angels?
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Tenancingo Report - We drove Dale to the Guadalajara airport at 6 am, where is was 1C today. Bloody cold for Mexico but it warmed up later. | We headed east to Tenancingo and arrived around 1 pm, to strong gusty conditions and no pilots around as they were all shopping in Taxco. Apparently there was only one flyable day on Tuesday for the past week. We went to launch around 4 pm, and it was probably flyable but no one had the "cahoneys" to try it and then it started raining. Normando should have gone, cause it is his last day here.
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San Marcos Report - after getting blown out yesterday, we left for San Marcos early for my tandem flight with Rossanna. | We got to launch around 10 am, very early for this west facing launch, and we clipped in and we were ready fast as we knew it was going to get windy later. One aborted takeoff due to a gust, and then we were plucked off launch and climbing fast. We climbed fast and headed south where we could see dust storms already setting up on the dry lake bed. Great! We kept climbing and we were soon high enough to make a run over the back towards Joco and less wind. We had a smooth flight and came over a nice big field in case it got windy but landed in virtually no wind. No one else flew and they came to retrieve us after 15 minutes. We then went to Pedro's Air Field on the San Marcos Dry Lake to visit and saw some folks getting into a Quicksilver Ultralight that was heading to Manzanillo 200 kms away. They took off in the dust storm and we saw them disappear to the SW. About 15 minutes later we heard them returning after getting "turbulated" over the mountains. 
Dust Storm in San Marcos click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR We decided we would give Colima a try and Pedro kindly called a flying friend there who said is was 40 kph plus but it should calm down by 5 pm. We headed south through some nasty dust storms and high winds, and arrived at Colima Launch around 5 pm. Still gusty but the vultures looked good climbing everywhere. At about 5:45 pm, Normando dragged out his Nova Factor and he got plucked off just like our tandem launch in San Marcos and was climbing fast. A huge Tarantula spider joined us on launch after Normando launched, in fact I think it was under his wing staying out of the wind. Good thing it hadn't climbed into a cell opening! Dale was soon getting ready and was in the air by 6 pm. 
Dale over Colima Launch click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR We got back late but we flew 2 sites for Dale's last flying day.
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San Marcos Report - we headed to Tapalpa early and arrived at the Pemex near the road up to launch to stop for a bio-break when a dust storm hit us. | We figured the SW winds signalled a no-fly day for Tapalpa and head to San Marcos. When we arrived at launch it was flyable . . . if one was brave and none of us were. After 30 minutes it got stronger and stronger, so we thought Joco Launch overlooking the lake would be calmer . . . wrong! We decided lunch and shopping was safer so we headed to Jocotopec Centro and ate, shopped and hung out. We took Dale back to his room to read and did one last trip up San Marcos after 5 pm to check and we saw another wild dust storm. 
San Marcos dust storm cancelled our flying plans click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Later Norm went for more seafood in the new outfit he bought. 
Normandos new look by Gerry LaMarsh
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Tapalpa Report - finally a classic Mexico Day! We flew Tapalpa around noon with Dale skying out earlier and going XC north of the crossroads LZ
to land in a field with 2 sets of high fences he had to crawl under. Normando got off La Ceja Launch a bit late as it switched to SW and he had hard work to find usable lift in the lee. | Then on to San Marcos, where we arrived at 3 pm to light cycles and some shade. Normando launched first this time and had to do some light ridge soaring until the sun broke through and he was soon at 2900 meters. 
Normando just off San Marcos Launch click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Dale launched and had some ridge soaring until he broke through too and they were soon pretty far north over the peak. After about 45 minutes it started getting rough at cloudbase, so Normando setup his XC run towards Joco, landing at the west base of the Joco hills. Dale took another route heading north landing in a field right behind San Marcos Launch in an unconventional XC route landing in a cut corn field. It was early but we headed to a nice seafood restaurant for dinner and cervezas before I retired early. Mexico is hard work!
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Tapalpa Report - we drove up to Tapalpa Launch in cloudy skies and when we got to the top, we saw blue skies to the west so we packed up and headed to Colima. | When we got to the bottom we saw the sky here open up and hundreds of vultures were climbing out! We quickly drove back to the top where we saw Granger and Dennis from CO climbing out in front. 
Granger and Dennis climbing above Tapalpa Launch click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Dale got ready and soon was in the air and climbing above launch in nice fat smooth thermals, with not much sun. He was above launch for some time motivating Normando to get ready. As soon as I saw Dale flying out, I drove down so I didn`t see Normando launch. As I arrived at the bottom 15 minutes later, and got Dale from his LZ next to the highway, I saw Normando sinking down. Not even more than a beep all the way down. It also looked like the SW winds aloft had kicked in so we packed up the car and headed to San Marcos. Finally a classic Tapalpa day, fly and thermal here until it turns West and then head to San Marcos for an XC flight there. 
Normando heading in to land at Tapalpa click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR But when we arrived at San Marcos launch, we were denied! It was blowing over the back despite SW wind on the ground and SW winds in the CU over the peak just a few hundred meters above us. We had no explanation as this was not forecast. After a 30 minte wait we headed to Joco Launch nearer to our hotels, and Dale setup and got his first Joco flight. Nice buoyant air right into the El Chante Malecon on Lake Chapala. We noticed there was an inversion layer just around San Marcos launch altitude at Joco, so this may have explained why the cycles couldn`t break through the meteorlogical wind at San Marcos, because we were in sun but the east winds would not abate. Tomorrow is forecast to be blue sky and SW light winds so we are expecting good things to happen!
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Tapalpa Report - we arrived at Tapalpa Launch around noon and watched a tandem fly off followed by an un-named US pilot. | The tandem was thermalling a bit on the first hump away from launch and the other pilot followed in roughly the same line, when all of a sudden the second pilot did a fast spirally 180 back towards the hill and disappeared from site. It is mostly jungle in this area so we expected the worst. They were on another coded frequency so we could not contact either pilot, but later we saw them on their drive back up and the second pilot thought he wasn`t going to clear the ridge so he decide to land in a small clearing! All went well despite large boulders in the clearing. After that mayhem, Dale launched and had 2 small flights with a bit of thermalling. The Czech guy on an orange Venus II was working the light stuff pretty good, and he almost top-landed a few times in spite of the shaded ground and smallish thermals. 
Dale on the Blue Rush and Czech Guy on the orange Venus II click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Normando decided it was too challenging for him and we both played ``Looky-Loo`s`` today. After 2 flights Dale was done, so we went for dinner and an early bedtime for me at least. Normando was probably painting the town ``red``.
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Tapalpa Report - Normando and Dale flew today. It was Dale`s first flight in 6 months and he was pretty pumped! He had a good 30 minute flight with some flat land thermalling out front. | Normando went further landing near the 25 kms mark in El Zapota after a few hours of upwind thermalling chasing some topless HGers. We found the HGers packing up on the San Marcos salt flats where they were still reliving their flights. Normando had quite the fan club watching him pack up in El Zapota, click on the link here for more pictures. Woodside Desperado Report - Well another wrong forecast. It was supposed to be rain rain and more rain. It actually was sunny Saturday morning when Jan hiked up for an early flight. Derek also hiked up after Jan landed and Martina retrieved at the ranch. We all went back up and flew except Martina, she opted out with “it’s too cold” or “it’s raining” (she wasn’t wrong about either comment) I got wet all the way out but moments later Derek flew and didn’t get wet(one of those days) Back up later a couple of times with Derek and Ken who showed up later when it warmed up nicely. Everyone flew two to four flights(Derek) in nice smooth air. Sunday was pretty much a repeat with slight blowing from the eat over the back with lulls to brush up on forward launches in completely still air. Just Derek myself and Ken again with the odd “up” cycle at about 1kmph Derek managed to reverse. We all flew two flights each again. Good thing we got our 2010 flights in as the rain is here today with forecasted 90 mm and the next couple of days pretty wet too. PS. I named the cat “Bob” - Thomm
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Tapalpa Tiger Country Report - this time it was my turn to fly as Colleen was just getting back on her feet after a nasty bout of mussel poisoning. | It was coming in briskly at La Ceja Launch and Normando launched and started climbing fast. I got ready too and was soon in the air and clear of the powerlines above launch when I saw Normando sinking rapidly. We were both soon grovelling at the foot of the hills, almost ready to land in fairly strong North winds (me on one gulley and Normando on another), when it started to work. We were less than 100 meters off the deck and landings didn`t look that good with long hikes out. We were soon climbing thru launch altitude on our way south. Normando was leading the charge higher and with faster climbs as he was gutsier and was going farther back, when he went a bit too far and was soon in sink that he never really recovered from, even an hour later. He claims that it was my fault as I had keyed my headset on transmit and he was hearing my vario through his radio and was trying to thermal to my vario tones. . . but he was in sink. I eventually figured out what I had done wrong and un-keyed the radio but Normando was already shaken! 
The clouds today from my perch click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR I was soon at 2900 meters at `base and heading south when I hit a decision point and had to either head south in the lee and shade and try and make it to the flats before Cuidad Guzman or head back to a decent landing field. I headed back north and was greeted with sink and headwind all the way down to the deck on a plateau covered with cactus and brush, and no where to go! I grovelled in a few spots but it was clear either a tree landing or worse was about to happen when I spotted a clay clearing and started to thermal above it. I only got a few turns when I hit big sink and was headed for a big tree. I swerved around it and landed on the clay sidehill in either an amazing feat of skill or DUMB LUCK. There was a gulley beyond and trees all around. Nice soft sidehill plop, with the wing next to me. It was more dangerous hiking out the 3.5 kms to the highway than the landing. 
Jim`s sidehill landing zone, it looks worse in the picture than it really is click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Normando landed in a big field 5 kms north of me on the Sayula flats where Colleen retrieved him. In later analysis on Google Earth I was at 2500 meters with a 7 km glide to a 1500 meter LZ with a tailwind so I was probably okay to glide south even with no lift, but I didn`t have the data to try it. Maybe later this week we can retry this flight. 
Jim`s tracklog - 19 kms out and about 5 kms back click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR
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Joco Report - a sick day for Colleen, so I just hung around the Raquet Club as cloudbase was very low. | Normando left Valle in the rain, and arrived at 11:30 pm tonight here in San Juan Cosala, long after I had fallen asleep and I took him to a local motel to bed down for the night. Conditions here look better for his last week of flying vacation.
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San Marcos Report - not much to report here in cloudy Mexico. It was flyable but probably not soarable and Colleen was sick in bed so I just worked on San Marcos launch clearing some brush and grass. |
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San Marcos Report - today was Colleen's Spa Day and she was booked for 11 am, so I took a lawnmower up to Joco Launch and did some cleanup to reduce the snags and open the launch wider
for our first guests this weekend. | On the way up I was presented a challenge with a gate securely wired and barb-wired, as it looks like someone has been forgetting to close the gate. Hopefully it won't be padlocked soon. It is only a short 200 meter hike on the flats to launch from this fence line, but it is nice to drive the gear right in. I re-secured the wires after entering and leaving later. Please close all gates in Mexico and canada when you enter a property! The mower did a really nice job of mulching up the crap and blowing it out of the way. I think I will do San Marcos later this week too as we have access to the mower whenever we want it. I just wish I had brought our little chainsaw too, as there are some trees that should go. We re-assembled at 1 pm, and took our time getting away as it was quite cloudy at the Raquet Club. We headed to San Marcos around 3 pm, and when we got within a few kms we saw the Czechs were back and were at 3000 meters! Crap, late again! I rushed up as fast as the Suzuki would go, set up and launched into a nice cycle and was soon a few meters below launch and struggling in fairly strong south winds. I lost sight of the Czech pilots who had started descending as we arrived. I was working all the normal trigger points but there just wasn't enough sun radiation to get a thermal, mostly I was ridge-soaring the windward faces of the gulleys. I did get above launch once and when I headed back to launch to attempt a top-landing I was in the lee and got sucked downward before I could try an approach. I gave up on the top-landings and started to work the southern faces and was doing okay about 200 meters below launch when enough sun came out to start some action and I followed a vulture through 2200 meters after an hour of scratching in the gulleys. This was enough to get me over the back toward the Pemex. I saw two of the Czech pilots land while I was flying and the last finally gave it up and landed at the foot of the San Marcos hills south of town. I am sure they logged three hours today. Flight Stats: Max altitude - 2200 meters, Max climb - +3.7 m/s, Max Sink - 3.8 m/s, Time 1:07, Max Speed 79 kph (just think of the climb rate of the sun had come out!) 
iPhone GPS Track by GPSKit Application by JPR Colleen had already started driving down the front but saw me climb out and followed me to the same field I have landed in three times now in differing conditions. It is a harvested corn field, not too snaggy if you bunch up on landing and pack up on the side where there is no corn. I have been mentioning chayote in a few posts: it is a plant that is grown on suspended vines. Suspended usually on barb-wire 6 feet off the ground in a matrix supported by poles or tree branches stuck in the ground. You don't want to land on these! If you are landing in an un-familiar field while XCing, pick a harvested corn or other grain field. Do not land in green crops as you can`t tell the Chayote from alfalfa or hay from the air until it is too late. 
Chayote field with barb-wire matrix 6 feet off the ground by JPR
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Tapalpa Report - another lazy day in Paradise. | We had an excellent breakfast at the Monte Coxala Spa Palapa (where we were told it was very expensive to eat). Fruit Plate, Orange Juice, Coffee, Omelette, Bread all came to 120 peso each,, less than a White Spot Breakfast at home and in a magical setting perched on the San Juan Cosala hills. Then off to town to get gas and on to Tapalpa where we saw pilots in the air struggling to get high. It was Colleen`s turn to fly and the cycles were good. We saw Taco Bob fly off La Ceja and plummet but later learned he had just gotten a Niviuk 22 meter Acro glider so that was his excuse. Colleen flew off after Beto (a local Tapalpa pilot), and an un-named US pilot. All three pilots were ``duking it out`` our front swapping the top position when Beto decided to head south. He must have known something because he found a thermal that took him back up to La Ceja Launch to top-land, while the others ended up in the Piano LZ after 30 minutes of hard work. 
Beto coming into La Ceja to top-land click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR I finally took the time to do a tour of the La Ceja facilities, where Russell and gang stayed a few weeks ago. There are three small casitas (cabins), with 3 double beds bunk-house style for rent for 200 pesos a night including breakfast. Juan Carlos has also started construction on 3 full size houses that are going to be available for rent for 2000 pesos a night appealing to the rich Guadalajarans who want an Eco-Adventure. Pictures are posted in the Picasa Links.
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Joco Report - rather than do a long trip to Tapalpa due to a late start (still on holidays until next Saturday when first guests arrive), we decided to do a re-conn trip up to a new possible launch site directly above Jocotopec. There is a Cross up there and a recent antenna installation that looks like a repeater station for emrrgency use. | After some Google Earth mapping we found the road up thru Ejida Land (community farms), and we had to hike in a few hundred meters. The wind was coming straight up, but there were many jagged rocks and snags that made me think twice about getting out a wing (I still have a few months here and can't risk wrecking the only wing I brought down). 
Sand Cranes soaring around Jocotopec click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR We ditched the idea of trying this new launch until we can find a tarp or netting to protect the lines, and headed to the existing east Joco Launch which now seems pretty civilized after this one! We also concluded that the drive up to the east Joco Launch is easier and faster, so I doubt this new launch will get much use as it is strictly P4/Advanced skill level required. I flew off Joco after 3 pm, and it was shaded but the sand cranes were soaring as well as some vultures, and I followed them east where the LZs dwindle to nothing safe so I flew back west to the La Fuentes Futball field nest to the highway. I sized it up a few days ago and it looked do-able and the wind was diagonal across the field so I had a nice straight approach. It is important in the high, hot conditions to have a straight approach with no turns close to the ground as you will fall out or skid in the turns as the air is so thin. More horses in the LZ, this time unfenced and ungated so they are range horses I guess. They didn't mind me flying in over them. Flight time: 30 minutes. Lift + 1 m/s (light). Sink - 1.1 m/s. Never got above launch for more than a minute, but it was better than shovelling snow! 
iPhone GPS Track by GPSKit Application by JPR Climb for Prostrate Team Report - The Team Spot Casting is happening here so click to follow the progress. They are on the move again as of 6 am PST Dec 27. 
The Summit Team yesterday by Brad
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Tapalpa Report we were in no rush today to get started as there was low cloudbase after yesterday's hard rains. also the forecast was for east wind all day so Tapalpa will work later. | We left the house around noon and arrived at launch around 1:30 to see one of the locals coming in to top-land, but they decided to overshoot and climb again. 
Miguel after setting up a top-landing, then climbing behind launch click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR There were a few other gliders in the air; a Boomerang and a few 1-2s before Colleen launched. 
Colleen setting up on launch click on the picture for her launch video and more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR Everyone including Miguel who had climbed out earlier were starting to sink down as Colleen got in the air. But she is the "queen of light lift" and she was soon "coring up" in some lift way out front and was soon at launch altitude or slightly above it, but she couldn't come back to launch or she would sink out so I asked her to fly as far as she could. Unfortunately the north winds were pretty strong at her height so she was not making any headway. She landed after 45 minutes at the old Piano LZ, while the others were all over the countryside (some at the foot of the hills facing long hikes out). We went from there to San Marcos, ignoring the east wind forecast as it looked calm on the flats, but were denied as we got to launch. Strong over the back as the thermal cycles were dwindling. Valle de Bravo Report - Normando reports rain and no flying as the front makes it to them further east. Woodside Report - Derek reports that Martina, Thomm and he drove up to Woodside and had some birds climbing out but the leeside blasts made them think twice about launching. They needed a wind dummy but no one else was out. Climb for Prostrate Team Report - The Team Spot Casting is happening here so click to follow the progress. They are on the move again as of 6 am PST Dec 27. SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2010 We Made it!! Blog Update 3 January The weather update yesterday evening, looked quite favourable for the 6 Team members remaining on the mountain. They decided that they would reassess their situation at 4am this morning and decide on the way ahead. I spoke with the team at 8am and due to their fit and healthy state and another weather window opening up, they decided to make a bid for the summit from Camp Two – an 18 hour round trip. The timing would put them on the summit around 2pm local time, we gave a call on the radio but nothing was heard. It’s a beautiful hot sunny day here, +30C and fresh snow on the surrounding hills transforming the landscape around a busy Base Camp as yet another dozen mules bring in more climbers hoping to grab their few minutes of glory on top of the world. Just after 3pm local time, 10am Pacific Time, my radio came to life, it was Brad calling from the summit of Mt Aconcagua, 6,962 meters above sea level, the highest point in the western hemisphere, Brad Henry, Randy Kolarcik, Don Scamen and Kevin Ault had made it to the summit with John LeBlanc and Jim Weatherall only an hour behind them. A fantastic result for the whole of the Climb for Prostate Team. With the temperature on the summit at -18C, there’s not a lot of time for celebration, just time enough for a hug and photos and then start the long journey back to Camp Two. Despite mild headaches the guys are elated and in good spirits. They’ll be met back at Camp Two by John Arnold and Don Parmenter who have thoughtfully climbed up again from Base camp to help with the carry back down.
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Rain Day Report - we finally had a day of real rain here, starting early in the AM and ending in the evening. So it was a lazy day of watching movies and Colleen working. We are fully rested for tomorrow's flying plans! |
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Tapalpa Report - I wasn't hung over, so I got to fly! | It didn't look so promising as it was overcast and shaded, but warm. I watched local instructor Miguel take off and he was soon scratching in the gulleys. His student took off after him and he did even worse, until they both found a thermal each and the student was soon "sky-ing out" Miguel. That was enough for Granger and I to launch, he took off earlier and was also scratching down low when I launched. I never got down to his altitude initially, finding a thermal right off launch but it was shading in. Granger went further south in the gulleys below La Ceja takeoff and was soon way above launch. He said he wanted to top-land and drive down but he must have forgotten that plan as he was chasing another group of pilots who launched off La Ceja and they led him to the ground. His flight lasted about an hour and he landed in one of the "piano" LZs right in front of launch. I was starting to get low in the shade and the only sunny bits were way south of me so I explored the Gulleys. 
The view to the South, working the gulleys click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo grab from helmet cam by JPR I regained all my height loss in the gulleys south and I had no idea where it was being triggered from, I just hung on to it maybe +1 m/s or less. I saw some sunlight push through the crowds halfway to Sayula so I went for it and just as I arrived the hole closed up and I was circling in the remains of the thermal the sun caused but it got me up. 
The only sunny spot to the South click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo grab from helmet cam by JPR Unfortunately, I was a long way from the valley back on the hills and there is a huge high tension line that runs across the foot of the hills and climbs the hill at the south end near Sayula. There was also no fields on the hill, just a few trails through the jungle. Hmm, there better be something soon! or there is going to be the first tree landing of 2010! 
The view to the final gulley, where birds were working the clear spot on the little hill click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo grab from helmet cam by JPR I managed to climb out with the birds, and then over the powerlines before working a small foothill with some other birds and landing near the Sayula Cemetary where Colleen found me. Flight Time: 45 mins. Max Climb: +2 M/S. Max Sink -2.5 m/s. Max altitude 2500 meters. Nice workout in light lift after yesterday's strong stuff. Proof that Tapalpa works in the shade. New Year's Thanks to all our clients that supported us through 2009. We had a great year despite the gloomy economy and look forward to serving everyone in March on my return. My final stop in the USofA is to attend the Ozone Dealer Meeting on March 8-10th to find out what new innovations we can bring to market in 2010 - Jim & Colleen.
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Tapalpa Report - we arrived late as usual and I rushed to get ready as it will blow over the back at this east facing site after 1 pm. | Light cycles up the front but huge towering CU behind launch on the flats to the west and they had a westerly tilt already, so this will be a leeside flight after launching. I launched into a nice cycle after kiting is some lame ones, the video is featured here . I was soon climbing through 3000 meters in a rough +6 m/s thermal before heading along the rim of the ridge toward the Cross to the North. 
The view to the North, where the Cross is on the ridge dead-center, while on a transitional glide click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR At times the was - 4 m/s, so a few times I got back to launch height (2000 meters), but once you got near the CUs it was easy to get back up fast. Hang on and keep telling yourself to "relax" and let the glider fly like it was designed to do! I was definitely in the lee, as I was getting a 12 kph tailwind flying east along the Cross ridge and the thermals were so strong they were pushing me out when I tried to enter on the transitions, actuallly causing the wing to do 45° turns without input. At times on the transitions I was wishing I was on an R09, and other times I was glad I was on a solid Zoom! I was getting some help along the way from a hawk and some vultures. The hawk was the best! It was in front of me and gliding straight ahead on my track following my line, when it slowed right down and pulled in behind me looking like it would dive for me, when it banked left and hit a boomer to 'base. I followed it and was I rewarded with a rough climb back to 'base too. Usually, I am looking for LZs when I do most XC flights but this day was so good, you could go anywhere and get up or so I thought. Interesting detail from today: I was flying along on some of the glides and noticed large pieces of corn debris (leaves) flying through the air. I mean really large pieces, so some strong dusty must have taken them up to 2800 meters too! I flew north to the ridges west of Zacoalco and was getting +1-2 M/s lift constantly and staying at 2800 meters along that ridge but it was getting shady below and behind me as the clouds drifted. I decided that with this height and the on-coming shade that a run across the flats to San Marcos was in order. I was in huge sink as I crossed to the sunny flats and even when I caught a thermal it was very weak, even the vultures were sinking out. Denied! I flew back to the hump that had a microwave tower on it, to hopefully catch something and that is when I noticed the wind on the ground had switched to North from the previous strong south, so I was on the wrong side of the hump but it was smooth all the way into my LZ next to the highway where Colleen was waiting. The LZ was a huge harvested corn field, with two horses in the far side so I assumed I wouldn't scare them. 
Jim on final at Zocoalco click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by CMV The horse weren't scared, in fact they came to greet me and chew on my wing! Bev should have been here to ride them! I was also greeted by two cute Mexican kids. 
Landing crew in Zocoalco click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by CMV Good flight, what we came to expect in Mexico for the past 11 years flying here despite rotten forecasts. Flight time: 2 hours. Lift +6 m/s. Sink - 4 m/s. Max Altitude 3100 meters (base). Max speed - 59 kph. Distance - 39.2 kms. 
Google Earth simulated flight path as my vario cable is in Harrison Mills click on the picture for more Mexico Pics - photo by JPR San Marcos Report - we had a nice lunch at the nice restaurant in Zocoalco before heading to San Marcos for Colleen's turn at flying. Nice cycles when we arrived and some nice CU above the hill to the north. Colleen launched and was soon soaring in front of the big launch cliffs to the north and as she got near the CU to the north she was "hoovered up" pretty fast. 
Colleen just before hitting "the tractor beam" click on the picture for more Mexico Pics and her launch video - photo by JPR It was gettting shady over the back as the sun is pretty low at 5:30 pm, but Colleen had enough height to fly over the back toward the Pemex after 20 minutes of soaring. I chased after her but the road is pretty gnarly so she beat me to the LZ. The best place to land right now is harvested corn fields, as they are tangle free. Do not land in green crop fields as they may be Chayote fields. Chayote is a pear shaped fruit/vegetable that they grow on vines suspended 6 feet off the ground on a barbed wire matrix. It looks appealing from the air, all green and level and it is hard to differentiate from an alfalfa field until you land on one! After flying we went to shop for groceries as we are attending the Raquet Club New Years Social Event - 150 pesos for a potluck turkey/ham dinner with a live band (Kevin - I think we can book you for next year). I actually made it to midnight and beyond and saw fireworks from our balcony with a nightcap. Happy New Year to All! - Jim & Colleen Normando's Valle Report - Normando reports 4 Lakeside LZ Landings in 5 flights for an 80% success rate. Not missing the east winds in Hope I will bet? |
FlyBC Paragliding Past Site of the Day Reports
October 2009 Site of the Day archives - Women's Fly-In in Chelan WA with the Barbie Theme, took first place honours again! More good soaring flights of 2 hours plus on special days.
September 2009 Site of the Day archives - more decent flying weather with a few road trips to escape wind by heading to Savona.
August 2009 Site of the Day archives - best flying conditions in years with little rain. My first hike up Cheam with pals went well.
July 2009 Site of the Day archives - the FlyBC SIV in Revelstoke was a blast, 280 SIV flights and only one wet pilot intentionally that is. Jeremy wished he had landed in the water.
June 2009 Site of the Day archives - dry all month locally so lots of flying, Al has been test flying the new ShotGun launch near Stave Lake having great flights out to Woodside.
May 2009 Site of the Day archives - local flying is getting great with nice XC's! Bridal was working well. The new bathroom was installed in the Barn at Eagle Ranch enriching the FlyBC experience.
April 2009 Site of the Day archives - we escaped the local weather by flying in New Zealand for 3 weeks. We will be heading back soon!
March 2009 Site of the Day archives - we were flying locally in snow, relying on Derek's sleds and chains on the 'Mog to get up Woodside.
February 2009 Site of the Day archives - the Worlds PG Championships in Mexico was hard work for the Canucks, the tasks and speeds were unreal.
January 2009 Site of the Day archives - Manzanillo, Mexico was a BLAST, many new sites flown and we have a new tour Destination for 2010.
December 2008 Site of the Day archives - the annual FlyBC Christmas Party was a cold success with Head over Heels entertaining us all night. And we left early for Manzanillo, Mexico on Dec 28th.
November 2008 Site of the Day archives - some soaring between rain storms, and it was pretty dry in Agassiz.
October 2008 Site of the Day archives - we went ot the Women's Fly In on Chelan for the annual Halloween Costume Fly-In, great conditions there to offset the wet month on the West Coast. Steve Fosset's crash site was found in Nevada after a year of searching.
September 2008 Site of the Day archives - great student conditions at Woodside and Bridal all month, with 10 students getting signed off this month, a record.
August 2008 Site of the Day archives - our second SIV Course of the 2008 season went well at Sale Mountain near Revelstoke (except for a few water landings and minor injuries). Wet all month at Woodside except the weekends.
July 2008 Site of the Day archives - our first SIV Course of the 2008 season went well at Sale Mountain near Revelstoke.
June 2008 Site of the Day archives - a few good soaring days at Bridal, lots of new students this month.
May 2008 Site of the Day archives - the cost of gas is keeping pilots at home and the weather isn't helping either. One good XC in May for me, leaving Woodside with Norm and Martin H and ending up at Elk at 1600 meters before landing by Hopyard Hill. 3 hours and 85 kms later by the GPS.
April 2008 Site of the Day archives - worst weather in years but we flew every day we could.
March 2008 Site of the Day archives - more snow and still hiking to launch at Woodside! But some major airtime for the locals committed to coming out to fly.
February 2008 Site of the Day archives - more snow in BC than I can remember in 25 years of living here. We are still hiking to launch at Woodside!
January 2008 Site of the Day archives - worst weather in years so we went to Mexico and logged many hours of airtime, while it snowed heavily in BC.
December 2007 Site of the Day archives - worst weather in years so we went to Mexico on Dec 29th for three weeks.
November 2007 Site of the Day archives - Colleen and I went to California to fly the new Falcon A-16 Advanced Ultralight prototype and it flew very well. Some good soaring days at Woodside, some folks were still trying to fly Bridal but that is a waste of time this late in the season.
October 2007 Site of the Day archives - mid-air at Woodside caused Martin H some paraglider damage, some great soarable days. The Women's Fly In was a success with the Canuck Team taking top spot for the theme of "Celebrities in Rehab".
September 2007 Site of the Day archives - we re-discovered and flew 'Horsefly' Launch for the first time, some mayhem at Woodside due to tree-suck, lots of good soaring in afternoon glassoffs, a great Indian Summer until late in the month when the rains came early. Derek, Martina, Robin and Diane went to Europe. Kirill went to Australia for a paramotor Fly-In.
August 2007 Site of the Day archives - fun two weeks at Mara Lake, followed by steady flying at Woodside and Bridal, making up for the dismal spring and summer.
July 2007 Site of the Day archives - good flights at Bridal, some mayhem at Woodside from visiting pilots.
June 2007 Site of the Day archives - more crappy weather on the weekends. Some awesome flights between showers as Norm and Thomm flew to Mission on the last day of the month.
May 2007 Site of the Day archives - flyable every weekday, but the Fraser Valley XC Comp got crappy weather on the weekends, although it was student flyable.
April 2007 Site of the Day archives - good flights are starting. Some complete triangles from Woodside to Bridal and back, some "musical triangles" from others.
March 2007 Site of the Day archives - fifth month of crappy weather on the Coast. We went to Santa Barbara for some flights, and to dry out. Some good days were also recorded locally.
Febuary 2007 Site of the Day archives - fourth month of crappy weather on the Coast. So we stayed in Mexico.
January 2007 Site of the Day archives - third month of crappy weather on the Coast. So we went to Mexico to fly Colima, Tapalpa, and San Marcos, while Brad and gang headed to Tenacingo, Mexico.
December 2006 Site of the Day archives - more ugly weather on the Coast. Severe winds damaged trees and property so not much flying happened. Some good flight reports from local PGers travelling world-wide.
November 2006 Site of the Day archives - the wettest November on record. We flew a few good flights but mostly we were rained out.
October 2006 Site of the Day archives - lots of good days with 3-4 hours airtime. The Women's Fly-In was on again in Chelan with about 18 Canucks, and a good day Saturday with 85 registered pilots.
September 2006 Site of the Day archives - still soarable in the Fraser Valley, little or no rain. Colleen is back flying! Some mayhem in the valley.
August 2006 Site of the Day archives - a great flying month everywhere, we had a super successful SIV clinic at Mara Lake with everyone SAT-ing and heli-ing.
July 2006 Site of the Day archives - road trip to Lumby, then on the 8th Colleen spun in below Gloria cancelling her summer plans (but she is recuperating well).
June 2006 Site of the Day archives - the Valley dried out, and we flew most days and every weekend.
May 2006 Site of the Day archives - more rain that ever imagined in the Fraser Valley. Very few soaring flights and even less XC.
April 2006 Site of the Day archives - the Easter Bunny was "run over" on Kilby Road, plus the train wreck on April 1.
March 2006 Site of the Day archives - a new pilot was born, Chloe. We also flew a few days between showers, some long flights up to 4 hours. A few Out & Return Flights to Deroche and Bear.
February 2006 Site of the Day archives - another wet month with some soarable days (2).
January 2006 Site of the Day archives - some flying on Elk and Woodside, smart pilots headed South for great Mexican or Chilean flying.
December 2005 Site of the Day archives - some flying on Elk and Woodside, smart pilots headed South.
November 2005 Site of the Day archives - rain, snow and not much flying.
October 2005 Site of the Day archives - Women's Fly In in Chelan yielded two soarable days before the snows hit.
September 2005 Site of the Day archives - dry most of the month. Some great 4 hour flights at Woodside getting to cloudbase most days. Three crash-landings in the same clearcut by pilots scratching too low, but no injuries.
August 2005 Site of the Day archives - road trips to the Interior gave us an opportunity to rag out some gliders at FlyBC SIV 2005 (Part II). Also a great road trip to Savona.
July 2005 Site of the Day archives - good flying all month, no rain but some windy days shut us down. The Willi started in Golden with a few good days, but one tragedy as Charles Warren perished in a crash near Harrogate.
June 2005 Site of the Day archives - too much rain, but good days to fly between showers.
May 2005 Site of the Day archives - our Instructor/Tandem seminar yielded some good flying. Our May 2005 SIV Clinic had a good turnout, with many wet wings/pilots! Many nice flights at Woodside and Bridal, with some long "out & returns" at Bridal.
April 2005 Site of the Day archives - some great soaring at Woodside and Bridal. Sad news from the US Hanggliding Nationals as Chris Muller crashes at goal.
March 2005 Site of the Day archives - we had to head out of town to Savona a few weekends due to wet weather on the Coast. Wetter than normal according to Environment Canada.
February 2005 Site of the Day archives - some good soaring despite early time of year. Flights as long as 3 hours at Woodside, some good flights at Whidbey Island for first timers, too!
January 2005 Site of the Day archives road trips to Mexico, not much flying locally due to strong north winds and rain. Record rain kept Eagle Ranch quite wet for kiting.
December 2004 Site of the Day archives a dry month with some good soaring including a fantastic day on Dec. 11 where we thermalled for 2+ hours!
November 2004 Site of the Day archives more record rain. We installed a fireplace in the barn to keep pilots warm between winter flights.
October 2004 Site of the Day archives more record rain, but sweet soaring between showers. Many new students signed up and making quick progress. We missed the Women's Fly In for the first time in 9 years, and there was some interesting flying on the Sunday!
September 2004 Site of the Day archives rainiest September on record for the first 3 weeks, made flying difficult. But Alan and others logged some pretty nice flights later in the month. Lots of student tandems for both Colleen and Jim.
August 2004 Site of the Day archives Great Maneuver/SIV/ACRO course at Mara. Jack got wet! Some great soaring at Woodside. Norm made it 68 km from Mara to King Eddie, Derek made it from Lumby to Enderby the opposite direction for 67 kms. We also did our BC roadtrip from Ashcroft to New Denver, and flew everyday.
July 2004 Site of the Day archives the Willi was on at Golden. We missed the mayhem due to work and school commitments but Norm did a great job representing the West Coast.
June 2004 Site of the Day archives Canadian Nationals came off with many great rounds. Pemberton-Whistler Championships were blown out most days so we headed to Cornwall.
May 2004 Site of the Day archives great flying at Woodside and Bridal. We held a very successful SIV Course at Mara Lake, and hope to run another one in August if they keep the forests open.
April 2004 Site of the Day archives good flying in the Valley. The Fraser Valley Cross Country PG Series was successssful.
March 2004 Site of the Day archives Nicole won in Brazil, otherwise the month sucked for flying time.
February 2004 Site of the Day archives some local flights extended to an hour with vigourous scratching above the trees. Good paramotor month.
January 2004 Site of the Day archives Mexican road trip yielded 20 hours of flight and a wet Canadian January kept most local pilots on the ground.
December 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew a few times but it got really cold at the end of the month as we prepared for a gala New Year's Party for 40 of our close personal friends and neighbours.
November 2003 Site of the Day archives windy and wet with the odd good soaring day, not many pilots out these days.
October 2003 Site of the Day archives Women's Fly In was great fun, some good soaring days mid-month, most of the students are signed off.
September 2003 Site of the Day archives good conditions until the last days of the month when it got stable. Most days were flyable at Woodside or Bridal.
August 2003 Site of the Day archives Forest closures made the end of the month a non-flying period unless you headed to Blanchard. FlyBC SIV 2003 was a great success with 9 stunt pilots and no deployments or crashes.
July 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most days early at Woodside until it got windy, then over to Bridal. Good Golden flying reports from the "Willi".
June 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most weekdays at Bridal, Woodside worked most weekends. Bridal Air Races had one great day with only two tree landings!
May 2003 Site of the Day archives not a great weather month on the coast, especially on the weekends but a few pilots managed to get some great airtime at Bridal. The Nationals were held in Lumby and it didn't rain!
April 2003 Site of the Day archives rain for 28 of 30 April days, but we managed to get a few flights in between showers. Even the golfers were complaining!
March 2003 Site of the Day archives some high spring flights in early March, but not a great weather month. Still no HPAC Insurance!
February 2003 Site of the Day archives some nice long spring flights in late February. HPAC Insurance expired on Feb 14, so many pilots stayed home instead of getting USHGA coverage.
January 2003 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month in BC so we bailed and headed to Tapalpa Mexico for three weeks. Norm and Lucille had a great XC flight the first day we arrived.
December 2002 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month.
November 2002 Site of the Day archives not a great flying month, lots of rain in the beginning and then super stable and inverted for the balance of the month. Even the Savona Road Trip wasn't that great. Looking forward to Mexico!
October 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable some days, great fun at the Women's Fly In 2002 in Chelan. Allan logged 15 hours and only flew a few days. Most of the students are ready for signoff soon to get ready for Mexico trips!
September 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable most everyday! Some scary incidents at Woodside. Fun flying at Ashcroft.
August 2002 Site of the Day archives More spring-like days with super lapse rates, great fun up-country at Revelstoke and Mara, with some good XCs for all.
July 2002 Site of the Day archives Some spring-like days with super lapse rates, but still rather wet at times.
June 2002 Site of the Day archives another rainy and windy month with great lapse rates, some great flights at Bridal with some getting above Cheam Peak. The Club Cup was nearly rained out but they got one valid task in on Sunday June 30.
May 2002 Site of the Day archives an extremely rainy month with the more spring mayhem, another reserve deployment at Lil Nick and a pilot crashed at the top of Deroche Mountain, uninjured but with a ripped glider and long hike down the mountain. Colleen placed 5th place at the Canadian PG Nationals in rainy Lumby!
April 2002 Site of the Day archives a rainy month with the usual spring mayhem, one reserve deployment at Woodside and a pilot hit a parked car at Bridal LZ, fracturing his leg.
March 2002 Site of the Day archives a few great days days with lots of snow and rain mixed in.
February 2002 Site of the Day archives two epic days already (4.5 hours and 2.5 hours!).
January 2002 Site of the Day archives Mexico vacation shots, some local flying but it was wet on the coast.
December 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, wettest December on record, some good days sprinkled thru the month.
November 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, had some good days at Woodside +2 hours, lots of rain later in the month.
October 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, but great flying at Chelan at the Women's Fly In.
September 2001 Site of the Day archives starting to get pretty stable, more sled rides forecast for October.
Aug 2001 Site of the Day archives Mara, Bridal, till some great flights locally
July 2001 Site of the Day archives Road Trip Month, Golden, Mara, points east!
June 2001 Site of the Day archives Great Month, 3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower! Some getting up to 6 hours in a single flight!
May 2001 Site of the Day archives Unstable Month, 2-3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower!
April 2001 Site of the Day archives Rainy Month, not as much airtime for some pilots
March 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring has Sprung!
February 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring is in the Air!
January 2001 Site of the Day archives - Mexico Flying Trip
December 2000 Site of the Day archives
November 2000 Site of the Day archives (great month for airtime!)
October 2000 Site of the Day archives
September 2000 Site of the Day archives
July - August 2000 Site of the Day archives
June 2000 Site of the Day archives
March - May 2000 Site of the Day archives
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