St. John to Yreka

Scot Huber’ story of setting the site record at St. John.

Saturday’s flight: 52.7 miles, 3 hrs 22 minutes, valley route.

Sunday’s flight: 51.8 miles, 3 hrs 32 min, valley route.

Monday, I decided the convergence zone, which Sunday had been absolutely perfect, was what I was ready for. I launched at 12:06 into a nice cycle in the blue sky. I climbed to 9300 ft. by 12:29 and headed west to Crockett Peak. I was at 8000 ft. when I found lift back to 11,500 at 12:52.

Clouds were forming 18 miles to the north. I headed toward them, knowing that I had the basin LZ if I didn’t make it to them. By the time I got to the clouds, I was at 8200 ft over Spanish Ridge and climbed back to cloud base at 11,500. It was 1:40.

It looked good to the north, with a convergence zone setting up. I was over Alder Springs Road, heading for Government Flat, following the highway in the sky (the cloud street). There are some clear cuts and meadows which looked land-able in this area.

At Anthony Peak, I climbed from 9400 ft. back to 11700. It was 2:44. I was 41.3 miles out. I knew the Yolla Bolly wilderness area was in front of me but I was confident about crossing it, based on my flight to this point. I headed north. At 54 miles out I was down to 9400 ft., when I caught a good one back to 12400 at North Yolla Bolly Mt. I was across the wilderness area, and high. I knew hwy 36 was reachable with this altitude.

The sky highway bent west from this point toward Red Mt. and the Hwy. 3/36 intersection. I followed it but was losing big altitude so I headed back to my last thermal and topped out again.

I headed north, leaving the clouds, hoping to find lift after crossing the pass and reaching the Trinity Mountains to the north. I crossed Hwy. 36 with an LZ below me, but I was losing altitude rapidly. I worked light lift at Knob Peak in a SE wind, drifting with it away from my LZ. After gaining enough altitude, I could see some LZs near Wildwood. It was 3:55; I was 69 miles out and at 7000 ft.

I had my driver, Pete, come out hwy 36, as it didn’t look good. He was near Cottonwood then. I drifted over Wildwood, checking out LZ options, getting down to 4700 ft. I found some light lift back to 7200, drifting to the NW. I was determined to get back to the clouds, which were over Hwy 3.

I could see more LZs along 13 Dips Rd. and then Hwy. 3 at Peanut so I went with the flow, hoping for lift. I burbled along, but was losing altitude where Hwy. 3 comes into Hayfork. I was at 3900 ft.; there were lots of places to land; but I was looking for lift. I found it as the wind went west again.

Climbing slowly, I drifted over the Hayfork airport. At 5400 ft., the lift went thermal nuclear: solid 1100 fpm took me to 12000 ft. It was 5:10. I was 85 miles out.

Back on track under the skyway, I was a happy man. I headed NE to Barker Mt. and climbed to 13400 ft. I knew the Trinity Alps Wilderness was in front of me but I had no pucker factor with all this altitude. I knew that Hwy. 3 followed Clair Engle Lake and I knew that if no LZs could be found, I could land on the shore of the lake, as it is low this time of year.

I hit the Alps at Weaver Bally, NW of Weaverville. I climbed to my max altitude for the day of 13,623 ft. at Monument Peak, 98 miles out, at 5:35. I decided to keep Hwy. 3 within a glide so I stayed on the east side of the clouds, which stretched to the north. I crossed over Siligo Peak, then headed due north from there.

At Black Mt., I was down to 9700 ft., which felt low at this point, but I caught lift back to 11200.   It was 6pm, 111.6 miles out.   Summerville, to my west, was my bailout LZ, as I could see a nice meadow there.

I dolphin flew for 10 miles, losing little altitude. At 10400 ft., I circled up to 12300 in a good one. I could see Scott Valley, which from previous map study I knew was there, so I knew I was over the Alps safely. I followed the skyway over Russian Peak and over the east edge of the Marble Mountains. I hit Etna Mt., climbing from 9300 to 12600. It was 6:55, 136 miles out.

The clouds dried up at this point so I crossed Whisky Butte, then headed NE for Ft. Jones (which I thought was Yreka) at the end of the valley.

Pete had headed for Eureka from Weaverville, mistaking my radio transmission. I hadn’t heard from him for a while so I figured that landing near a town was a good idea. I crossed over Ft. Jones at 6000 ft. at 7:22, 151 miles out. I wanted to break my personal best flight of 152 miles from McClellan last year so I cruised Hwy. 3 to the end of the valley. At the last LZ in the valley, I was at 151.7 miles. I made some turns at the end hoping for some help to get me up and over the hills, not knowing what was over them. I found enough lift to climb from 4600 to 6600 where I could see some fields along the road on the other side. I cleared the pass with 200 ft. and glided into the valley to my landing field at Oberlin rd., along Interstate 5. A local lady and her daughter stopped and told me I was in Yreka. It was 8:10. I was 158.4 miles out.

I called Pete but couldn’t get his cell phone, so I called his wife Maureen and informed her I was in Yreka. Pete called her 10 minutes later and learned of my location. He was 50 miles west of Weaverville on Hwy. 299, so he knew he had a long drive ahead of him.

I broke down, walked the 4 blocks to Main St. and had dinner. I then booked a hotel room. Pete got to Yreka at 15 minutes after midnight. We drove home Tuesday.

This was a magical flight for me, over some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever laid eyes on. If you’ve never been in the Trinity Alps, I suggest you make the trip. The Russian Wilderness Area and the Marble Mountains are equal as eye candy. I hope to spend some time in all three some time soon.

I have 20 more pictures from this flight that I hope to show at the next meeting.

Stay high. Follow the skyway.

Scot

Photos of the flight

I'm heading out from St. John, looking back at it in the distance. Notice that I'm not over the "knees" of the ridges, but way deep.

I’m heading out from St. John, looking back at it in the distance. Notice that I’m not over the “knees” of the ridges, but way deep.

Even further on course, still following the “highway” (clouds). My nose is pointing back at St. John. That’s the valley out beyond my wing.

Even further on course, still following the “highway” (clouds). My nose is pointing back at St. John. That’s the valley out beyond my wing.

That's the town of Weaverville in the lower right, and Trinity (Claire-Engle) Lake in the distance to the right. And I'm heading toward...

That’s the town of Weaverville in the lower right, and Trinity (Claire-Engle) Lake in the distance to the right. And I’m heading toward…

12005

The Trinity Alps. That’s Red Mt. / Siligo Peak in front of me. Coffee Crk. Rd. is in the canyon on the left. I’m still following the “highway”.

Looking South. Siligo Peak is just under my wing tip. The canyon on the right, crossing in mid-photo, is Coffee Creek Rd., the access road to Caribou Lakes.

Looking South. Siligo Peak is just under my wing tip. The canyon on the right, crossing in mid-photo, is Coffee Creek Rd., the access road to Caribou Lakes.

Coming up on my valley - Scott Valley that is. Etna is in this end of the valley.

Coming up on my valley – Scott Valley that is. Etna is in this end of the valley.

Cruising along Scott Valley. I was going to fly to Shasta today, but instead...

Cruising along Scott Valley. I was going to fly to Shasta today, but instead…

That's the town of Weaverville in the lower right, and Trinity (Claire-Engle) Lake in the distance to the right. And I'm heading toward...

That’s the town of Weaverville in the lower right, and Trinity (Claire-Engle) Lake in the distance to the right. And I’m heading toward…

I took the direct route over Ft. Jones (at the far end of this ridge) toward Yreka (top-right of photo), where I landed next to Hwy 5 and Oberlin Rd.

I took the direct route over Ft. Jones (at the far end of this ridge) toward Yreka (top-right of photo), where I landed next to Hwy 5 and Oberlin Rd.

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