Total Grade Fun: Notes from Andy Long's log book
1992 .5, 1, .5 hrs
Had taken a look at the place a few times before but never saw really good conditions. There was no Vista Point at this time so I parked on Rt. 1 to the east of where we land and sat there in the pouring rain, wondering what I was doing. Then during a break I put on my full rain gear and when no cars were coming I grabbed my glider and scrambled up the hill and out of sight. I nervously walked around up there looking at the conditions. It was blowing 15-20 and looked soarable but I couldn't understand why the hovering hawks weren't higher. Then after about 15 minutes of wondering what I should do I noticed some specks way up there. It turns out they were gulls at about 1,500 feet above my head, wings in, burning to the SE. That's when I realized how they had gotten so high... they had just come from the Grade!!! That was enough to get me to set up. I was still nervous but knew that Albert and Larry were on the way. Just as I was ready to go Albert and Larry showed up. Not knowing where to launch from I started from right on top of the knob. It was the first time I was to fly here but I was pretty sure it was soarable. I had a nice moon walking launch and climbed out fast. I couldn't believe the lift. And the view was incredible. After a few minutes I headed over to the Grade and climbed out fast there. I then floated back to launch, arriving there with about 2,000 ASL. That's when I thought about the video camera. I had brought it with me plus the mount and remote control. The view was so incredible I surmised that I just had to go down and get it. So with less than 30 minutes in the air, I spiralled down and top landed, ran down to the car, got the video camera, put all the crap on the glider and was ready to launch again just in front of Albert and Larry. The same flight path followed. Soon the three of us were at 2,500 plus in the incredibly smooth air with the video camera documenting the whole thing. Then a big, nasty looking cloud began to bear down on us from the W so we buzzed back to launch and top landed. I ran my camera back to the car and then we stood around in the rain for a while. It cleared again but another cloud was coming. Albert launched first in stronger winds, then Larry. As I floated off I got rotored and went into a diving right hand turn, and almost went into the hill, dragging my knees on the hill before exploding into the lift band of 30+ mph winds going straight up. Albert was already heading for the Grade with the nasty cloud approaching. Larry too had gotten romped during launch so he top landed immediately. I pulled in and headed for the Grade as Albert and I had planned to get high and then head for Goat Rock. As I pulled into the Grade, Albert turned SE high over my head and bailed. I was still climbing while watching an approaching squall line a few miles to the W. When I broke 2,000 ASL I headed for Goat Rock as well. About 2/3rds of the way there I caught up to Albert and we arrived at the south end of Blind Beach with 900 feet. This was amazing considering that we had been beating into a quartering headwind since beginning our crossing of the Russian River. I think we ridge soared there for about 20 minutes and then, with the approaching evening and overdeveloping cell, we landed on the beach at Goat Rock. Our final thrill was getting pounded by a squall and 30+ mph surface winds as we blabbed to puzzled beach goers who wondered where we had come from. The best part was that even though the Feds saw us flying we didn't get caught. 1993 2/9 .25 hrs Looked good but turned out to be too cross from the right. Albert and I and Larry were all ready to go from the W-NW facing bowl but when I launched I was barely able to stay above the top. Scratched and scraped and hung on to try to get high enough to top land. Finally got up enough courage to come in. Came in low and cross wind and landed on the flat to the south of launch. Would have been a good idea to chuck the planes and get a heading on the wind direction. Will know next time though.1994 1/23 1.5 hrs.
This was the first day I was to fly in my new Sensor 610. Paid attention to what the weather was doing and was ready early. Looked PERFECT, gorgeous and clear at Goat Rock. Met Todd and Mike Tierney coming out of Goat Rock. Started to set up as it looked just perfect at the Grade. I walked up to the knob to see what was happening and Todd had launched. Was light though and south. Todd finally lost it and landed on the bench. Flew the plane for a while then it picked up. Mike launched, did a gentle right hand turn and headed north for the Grade, climbing the whole way. Todd soon followed. I launched, got turbulated heading south to the face, worked it for one pass and headed north. Felt nervous as I left low. Climbed to those guys and then stopped below them! As the wisps started to come through I was able to work areas of lift and get above them but I was EXTREMELY disappointed with the 610's sink rate. It was downright shitty. The glider's speed was amazing though and I was able to blaze out to the developing puffs and work them before they congealed into one big cloud over the top. When it became just ridge lift I was consistently 50 feet below Todd in his AT and level with Albert on his old Axis. Went north at one point and had a strong headwind on the way back as the wind had gone more S-SE. Blazed SE and caught up with Albert and Todd. Made a good approach but cut off Albert who I didn't see. Flared a bit late but landing was fine. Talked to Bob Trampenau the next day and he said that I had a #6 experimental airfoil and that he would send me #5 which should be better. I'll believe it when I see it. It turns out he was right.2/20 .75
Got to Goat Rock and it was light south but more velocity than the usual gentle, up-the-coast-all-day SE flow. Went to the Grade and it was coming in about 10 but got thermally and lighter. Met John and went to Jenner and called Jon James. Went back to the Rock and decided not to go to Sugarloaf. Flew planes until 4 and at that point it started to pick up out of the S-SW. Went to the Grade on a whim and it was coming right in at 14 - 18! The sailplanes showed a perfect direction. Set up in a flash and was the first to launch at 5:15 pm. It was coming in at 14-16 according to John. I went right up. Made a couple of passes and headed north. Didn't climb much on the way and came in on the better faces kind of low. Slowly ridge soared up to the face with the big tree and the deer on it. Found better lift on the cup shaped bowl and circled up to 2,020 feet. Even went further north to the next set of faces. Saw John come in to the Grade low and immediately go back towards launch and eventually land on the side of the hill near the parking lot. Got a bit lower and decided to head back as a little cell was forming and dumping a small gust front on the water. There was also a big one to the north dumping rain. Could see St. Helena with snow on it. Bob had top landed by then too. Circled down and noticed John's streamer by the picnic table. Had a great approach and landed right in the round grassy area. Settled at about 10 feet but had enough speed to round out and landed gently. I wonder when it actually got soarable on the Grade?! The lesson here is that ANYTIME it is even remotely possible that it could be good, go to the Grade and stay there. Another question is, when the direction is good, just how light can it be and still get up? Would be worth it to launch when it was light to see how much you need to stay up. Bob said it was only blowing about 10 when he launched and he still went up. This was the same day that Albert and Eric soared Sugar L. for the first time.1995 1/1/95 Grade .75
This was right as it began to clear after one of the bad floods. Around every corner I was expecting a road block as the river was right up to the road. John and I got through and were off the hill at 4:30. Got up on the Grade and flew up to the clouds, then out and up the side of them out front. Beautiful orange glow as the sun set. Was still soarable when we left. Should have headed out of Forestville much earlier.3/12 Grade 1 hr.
Arrived with Brian Scharp. Was poor when we got there. Wisely decided to set up before it was good. A squall hit then it was great right afterwards. As I walked up the hill to launch, there was Charlie and Todd to my right setting up. Brian and I got up on the Grade for a pass or two but then it went W-NW and we were forced back to launch. Hung out there for about 30 minutes and eventually top landed. Todd flew later when it was impossibly light and almost stayed up!3/13 Grade .5 & 1.75 hrs.
The next day. Thanks to Jeannie I got to go. Had to switch cars with her and everything but eventually got it all squared away. I got there but was late as everyone else was already ready to launch. Set up in a scramble while watching Todd skying out 2,500 feet up on the Grade. Jon James sunk out on his first try as it got lighter and more cross from the south for a bit. A few minutes later I launched as it picked up and got in 30 minutes then jammed at 60 mph to top land so as to avoid squalls. Launched again and flew in clouds. Jon James made it up this time. Got to 2,510 in the clouds. Was really dialed into the cycles of lift and the timing of the formation of the clouds out front and smoked everyone altitude wise. Flared a bit early but landed ok right near the benches.1996 3/15 .25 hrs.
Met Brian Scharp out there and it looked great, 25 straight in but mega squalls and a couple of water spouts!! Waited a bit longer than I really had to but finally got a window and launched. Yet I only had enough time to climb out, head north, climb out there and then burn back to top land. Then it just blanketed us and poured for the rest of the day.1997 1/10 The Grade .5 hrs.
Got there and it looked great. But I should have known that it was going to shut down because it was getting sunnier and sunnier. Took my time and talked to two girls who were interested in what I was doing and had never seen hang gliding before. When I walked up to launch it seemed a bit lighter, 15-18 SW, but I just launched and didn't give it another thought. I climbed out to about 300 over and then did some wing overs for the girls. I then climbed again but made a big error. It had probably been getting lighter for the previous 20 minutes but it just didn't register. Figuring it was great I left for the Grade with not all that much altitude, thinking I would climb on the way there. I got to the Grade below the tree in the first good bowl. I thought I would be able to get up once I was there but didn't pay enough attention to the fact that I was getting lower. When I turned and headed east again I realized the huge mistake I had made as I was now REALLY low. I headed back to launch, the whole while uttering nasty words. 1/3rd of the way back I could see that it had shut down and now I had no lift to sustain me on the return trip. Half way back I unzipped my harness because I was now level with Rt. 1. I came in way below launch and only then was I able to see that I could actually make the bench for a safe landing. But on the face below launch I got a little bit of lift so like an idiot I made another pass to the north. On the next pass south I still was at the same level so I kept making passes. In retrospect I just should have taken the little margin I had and used it to make a nice approach on the Bench but I was scared to land there for some reason. I kept making passes, telling myself on each one that I was crazy and should just land on the bench. But then I found some sweet spots which I made my 180s in. Then by sticking my wing tips in the bushes I slowly started to scratch my way up the face. I still couldn't even see launch cause it was over my head! After what seemed like a half hour (probably 5-8 minutes) I finally crested the top. I floated as best I could, just waiting for a final puff to give me a bit more altitude to squeek in for a top landing. The problem was I knew it was shutting down so finally I just went for it and came in sideways, ran across the slope and somewhat downhill and let the nose go, coming to a stop still standing on my feet. When I walked out to the lip with the airspeed indicator a few minutes later it was reading 5-10. About 15 minutes later it was totally dead. So much for doing wingovers in front of pretty girls.11/15 The Grade 2 hrs.
Looked really right cross when I got there so I threw the plane from the parking lot and it showed light WNW. Brought it in for another pass and then it weather- vaned to show perfect SW and began to climb and climb. Then the grass started to blow in the building wind so I spiralled down, hit the Kiosk by accident and put my busted plane away. What was so wild was that it had turned on to perfect conditions less than 5 minutes after I had showed up. By the time I was ready to go Todd and Charlie were right behind me. Was the first off in about a 20 from the SW. Launched from the steep lip that faces SW. Todd, Charlie and Matt followed. Worked it to 440 over the top and headed north. Got to 2,550 at the highest with Todd over the furthest NW bowl. Seemed to have just a slight edge in sink rate over the TR3. John Blacet showed up and just made it to the Grade. Got lighter so headed out and top landed. Good timing on the flare to the south of where I set up on the path. John looked like he was about to get flushed but then it got just a little better for him. He was soaring on the Grade while it was blowing only 6-8 at launch! Absolutely no rain all day, no low cloudbase.11/16 The Grade .25 & 1 hr.
The next day. Got there early and was off at 12 sharp. A big cell O.D.ed so I had to land. Had another good landing to the south of where I set up. Pretty much a no wind landing. Had plenty of speed to round out under the gradient and did a no wind flare. Waited through rain squalls until about 3 when it finally cleared off but there was absolutely no wind for a while. Then I saw some wind lines way out there but everyone thought I was nuts. But it slowly picked up to 11-13. When my airspeed indicator showed a bit of 14-15, Charlie launched, was able to stay up and just kept on climbing. Albert went next then me then John. Didn't know if we could make it to the Grade because it was so light but worked it to the right of launch and got pretty high so I just started creeping to the north and made it easily to the Grade with the guys following a few hundred yards behind. Worked up to the leading edge of the cap cloud over the Grade and continued on up the side. Stopped climbing at 2,350 because I had clouds all around me and it looked like it might sock in at any minute. So I spiraled and dove down to below cloudbase, calmed myself down and took a good look at the conditions. The development seemed to be cycling so I got up my courage and went up the side of the cap cloud again. Got spooked again so I spiralled down a second time. Got up my courage a third time and visited the side of the cap cloud once more. Once back down below cloudbase I got really close with Charlie and then he peeled off with the undersuface colors of his glider lighting up as he turned away. Undershot the landing and had to flare just before the path with the wooden rail but had a no stepper just in front of it. This was to the south of where I set up but much further back. A good place for when the wind has a true S-SW component. An awesome day and a good lesson in that it pays to wait until the bitter end because you never know when it might go from total crap to perfect conditions... which is just what happened!12/14 The Grade .25 minutes
Got there all excited but it was coming in light W-NW. Then it started to pick up so Charlie set up. I began to get set up but stopped, thinking it wasn't going to be any good. Then it switched more W, coming right from the bouy and it picked up more. Ran back to the van for my harness and came back to see Charlie ready to launch in the right hand bowl. He went right up. I launched and found good conditions, much more lift than I expected. We tried for the Grade but it was pretty cross plus a big squall was coming. Went back to launch to see what it would do. Could see a white wall behind the squall. Charlie top landed perfectly right on the knob. I undershot behind the bench and mildly whacked in the basin. As I was walking my glider behind the hill Charlie came in again a little too far behind the hill, dropped through, pushed out hard to compensate and went into a ground looping wingover. Broke downtubes and keel but was ok. I walked the whole area after that to find best places to land in heavy winds. Went to Goat Rock later but more squalls and 40 mph winds.1998 1/2 The Grade .5 and 1 hrs.
Left very early but it was coming in 35 to 40 when I got there. Charlie and Todd showed up right away but the rains came so we went to the van. Charlie, Todd, John, Albert and Larry and I all sat in the van for over an hour in the rain. Then the sky looked very different and Todd and I walked out our gliders and set up. A few squalls and an opening appeared. We launched in W-SW and headed for the Grade. After 30 minutes we came back and landed because squalls were forming everywhere. I hovered down upright like Charlie and had a gentle landing right in front of the bench on the flat before it drops off again. Bob stayed up for another 15 minutes, doing a great job of dodging the squalls. Waited until 3:45 and then Todd, Charlie, me, Bob and John all launched and headed up for the Grade. Totally surreal conditions with the clouds, the low, orange light on the hill and the cows and dodging the rain. Lots of squalls. Just when you thought you were going to have to head back to launch, the squall would drift past. Towards the end Todd and I were flying around this little squall but it grew and I got pretty wet to the north of it while everyone else went south. There was a light time just after it and I was stuck to the north of it for a few minutes in light lift and a heavy glider with rain drops all along my leading edge. Finally gained back altitude and came back to launch once the squall blew by but it was a bit nerve racking for a few minutes there. While deciding whether to land near the vehicles or not, Todd came in and landed right where I was going to. Pulled in hard right as I started to drop through the top of the gradient, leveled out 3 feet up, burned off my speed and had a perfect landing. Broke down near the cars behind the little knob on the path. Great end to a great day with the buds. Too bad Albert and Larry couldn't have been there with us.1/10 The Grade .5
Good at first then got lighter and went west. I missed this window because I was still setting up. Waited and waited and waited through conditions where I wasn't sure if it was soarable or not. Walter kept showing the direction with his plane which showed pretty much W-NW and even straight NW at times. Leo, Matt and John showed up. Then I saw the wind lines coming straight from the bouy. The shift happened on the hill and I was off within 5 minutes. Got to 1,020 then slowly sunk back down to 860. Top landed before the rain as I didn't want to be scratching with beads on the leading edge if it suddenly got lighter as the rain passed. Set up further back, came in up hill to the south of the bench. Had to push out pretty hard to complete the round out but then ground effected forward and uphill into the wind where my groundspeed began to drop off. Eeked it out to make sure there wasn't going to be any ballooning up and finally pushed out all the way for a no stepper. I'm sure I would have overshot if I hadn't started further back. There were a couple of small windows after that but then cloudbase began to drop and it got rainy. Flew plane on the way home at the dunes at Goat Rock for about 20 minutes until it got dark.1999 No flights
Andy's Grade Stats:
Total flying days at the Grade: 14
Total soaring flights at the Grade: 19
Total airtime logged at the Grade: 14.75 hrs.
Average flight length: 48 minutes
# of flights 30 min. long or less: 10
# of top landings: 19
# of landings on the Bench: 0