Updated on Thursday, 9/24/03

Sharon Sweeney has organized a trip to the Owens Valley the first weekend of October (4th & 5th).  I (Tom Truax) will be participating as a director and will attempt to provide:

• Logistical Coordination
• Condition Evaluation
• Site Selection
• Team Briefings
• Map Sets
• Flight Following and Consultation
• Debriefings

We we currently are at our preferred limit of 12 pilots plus myself and crew. Eagle Paragliding my be running a parallel trip and Sharon is accepting reservations for Rob's crew also.

The trip contribution of $200 per pilot includes the above mentioned functions plus transportation to launch, retrieval, and crew stipend (crew may appreciate an optional gratuity).  Not included are meals, lodging, and transportation to and from Lone Pine.  Suggested vehicle contribution for the trip to and from the South Coast to Lone Pine is about $20 each way.  Sharon will have some plush suburban seats available, but some may choose to bring their own vehicle.  Sharon's vehicle will leave late Friday afternoon, and return Sunday night or Monday morning.  Mark Pratt may also have seats available from Fillmore, leaving mid afternoon on Friday.  It would be good to have an extra vehicle or two, but we want to avoid shuttling more than a few vehicles from Lone Pine to Bishop, so try to carpool.

We have chosen early October to fit between stronger summer convection and colder winter air.  The Owens is weather dependent and we may need to postpone.  We will keep the next weekend open as a rain date, but are putting more emphasis on the first weekend.  We will post a go / no go call Friday morning after the winds aloft report is available.

It would be our preference to fly Walt's Point on Saturday morning and follow with an afternoon flight from Flynn's.  We would likely spend Saturday night in Bishop and either return to Walt's on Sunday morning, or try one of the high launches on the Whites (Piute or Gunter).  I've never been to Gunter, so you may have to give me directions.

Currently, Sharon has rented her brothers 8 or 9 passenger Suburban (bucket seats in front / some gear on the roof), and Mark Pratt is bringing his Montero which can seat a maximum of  7 if all the gear is up top.  We've currently enlisted Edward Skow and Chris Grantham as crew. The afternoon flights will be staggered as our crew will reboost pilots as needed, so those trips may not be full.

Sharon Sweeney is acting as our promoter / manager, so contact her for details, reservations and contributions.  We were asking for a $75 deposit by mid September so we could confirm the roster.  Sundowner's team has anted up, but Sharon is still accepting reservations for SA's team.

sharon@paraglide.net 448-0603