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Friday, 10/29/04 Pictures: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/the_verve_1/album?.dir=3290 Hearing about Ron Faoro’s flight to Ojai and Chad’s account of the conditions on Thursday got Dean and I excited with the possibilities. After reviewing the weather the night before, a long XC seemed possible so we decided to meet in Fillmore and drop off a car on the way up to Santa Barbara. We had no retrieve driver so the task was called – Skyport to Fillmore to pick up the car. I launched at 10:45 third among a gaggle of pilots. I must have picked a bad cycle because I couldn’t manage a turn at launch and had to limp to the AF. The AF was working and I quickly climbed to 3200, benched back to the Thermal Factory, and left downrange with about 4000. Tommy Pipkin was right behind me and Ron F, Bob H. and Deano (after maybe 20 minutes of picture taking and waffling) headed downrange as well. The thermals were strong, the convective layer was working and the view was tremendous. Every point was working reliably for me and as the day progressed the climbs were getting easier and the altitudes higher. Montecito, Romero, and Castle Ridge were all working nicely. Tommy P and I shared a bunch of thermals and were yahooing and whooping it up. It was beginning to get fun. I always get a kick going downrange, sharing thermals, and learning new lines from experienced pilots. I crossed the Powerlines with 4200 and pressed on to Noon Peak. I told myself before I took off that if I made it to Noon I would camp out and bench up there before pressing on to West Divide. The last 2 times I’ve been at Noon I’ve gotten stuck and had to limp out low to West Divide. Sure enough, the same thing happened again… and I found myself sinking fast on the west side of West Divide. Meanwhile Pipkin transmitted (with the sound of the vario pegged in the background) that he’s climbing out and just loves it at Noon Peak. Well BULLY for you Pipkin. Don’t you hate it when you’re struggling low and your fellow pilots are chatting cheerfully amongst themselves on the radio? A minute later Dean, (who incredibly caught up to our little gaggle) asked for my status. Pipkin replied, “Don’t you see him…down there low by West Divide?” OK rub it in. Keep it coming. So I get to the front point of West Divide. Talk about no mans land. The good news was, it was working and I slowly began benching up the shallow spine, past the saddle, and began the work up the steep section of the spine. Pipkin joined me, Dean was just a little behind, and we all began climbing out. It’s my humble opinion that West Divide is THE most critical juncture on your way through the pass. Do it right, and you cross over into White Ledge fat, high and virtually assured of success. Do it wrong and you… well… let’s say you get a lil taste of Topa tough love. Lucky for Tom and I, West Divide was giving it up and we happily climbed up and out to about 5K. Dean, on the other hand, somehow missed the elevator ride to the very top by the tiniest of moments and he found himself pressing eastward with less altitude than what Tom and I had. That difference resulted is a considerably different outcome for Deano and it couldn't have been easy for Dean descending toward Chismahoo road in massive sink. It was bad luck and a bad break after some stellar piloting. Unfortunately, the tough love is harsh and takes no prisoners. On the flip side Tom and I are high fiving and whooping it up, climbing in huge, beautifully organized thermals on the southwest side of White Ledge. I was getting tired of hearing my vario chirping… it just sang non stop. Cumi’s were forming above White Ledge and the whole place was just going off. I’m dreaming for sure… this is just too easy. After we both climbed above 5k, I looked around and took in the view and looked down at Deano, who was only a tiny yellow and red dot on the road at this time. It’s only partially true that we threw rocks at him after he landed. I threw a hook knife at him too. That’s what you get for smoking me in the Owens three weeks ago fat mouth. Pipkins superior piloting took over and he left me behind. But by this time I just knew it was going to be all downhill from here. I crossed the river high, got high at Bruce's Point, got stinkin high at the Stooges and then…. here comes Tom Truax and Sharon on tandem. OK, you wanna pass me too Tom? I let them pass. I was happy to watch them go by so I could steal some of Tom’s lines. There was no need to steal lines on this day, though. By this time, it was just getting easier and easier. We were all flying the clouds. Cumi’s were forming over the Repeaters, Boyd's and Puckers. I flew upwind of a cumi on the east side of the Topa Bluffs and finally left with 6,500. The glide to Santa Paula ridge was smooth and magical. You know, sometimes you just gotta pinch yourself that you can go so far and get so much out of this amazing combo of string and cloth. Sometimes it’s hard to believe… am I really flying? Am I dreaming? There was very little wind in the air even up to now and I was just beside myself, soaking it all in… The glide across Santa Paula ridge was simple and I uneventfully went on final glide to the field next to the Vons in Fillmore, where Dean and I left his car in the morning. Tom Pipkin was 10 minutes ahead of me, and was kind enough to hang out over the LZ and wait for me, so we could land at the same time. That was cool of you to do that Tom. It was a blast celebrating with you after we landed. Tom T and Sharon landed about a mile east of us. Special kudos go to John and Susan Kloer for the hospitality, drinks and tasty treats served after the flight. That was very kind of you two… thanks again!
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