Mecca to the Candy Factory

We're just getting home from our annual spring trip down to SoCal. I try to plan it so I have a few gliders on order that will be ready about the same time, and then picking up said gliders saves me on shipping and usually about covers my share of the cost of the trip. Wouldn't say it SAVES me any money- but I spend about the same, and I get a trip out of it... so I can't complain...

Arriving at Andy Jackson Flight Park

This year a lot more people went than previous trips, which was awesome! In my car it was Tim Rhinesmith, Dangerous Dave Gibson, and myself. Cal also drove down, with Shadd and Wes in his car. Karl and Emily Yates went down, too. And Robert Bagley drove down with his Airstream trailer.... for a grand total of 9 Utah pilots. Turned out we hooked up with another UT pilot down there, Neil, putting us at an even 10 Utahns.

This year the weather wasn't the best, but we still managed multiple flying days, with one of them being quite good considering the low cloud base. Of course none of us went in the clouds, for that would be illegal.

In-flight view of my new T2C, photo courtesy Robert Bagley

This trip was extra special to me, because I was picking up my new T2C. I've been calling it the 'bling wing' so far, but I think the "Sundancer" will be it's final name. It's such a fun, nimble glider! I felt right at home on it, thanks to Dave lending me his T2C last week for some re-currency training.

"The Sundancer", my new T2C with all the trimmin's

And the top- tight and clean

Compared to my last T2(Aluminum), and Dave's T2C... this glider is the best of everything. It handles as good or better than my aluminum T2, no easy feat... and it's FAST. Faster than Dave's C, even with his sprogs lowered a touch. Although Dave's getting a new sail, so I don't foresee any advantage over him this season...

FAST! Getting a thorough test flight on the new bird. Photo courtesy Crestline Soaring Society

All-in-all it was a great trip, and we had lots of fun. The CSS group and site(s) are top-notch, and I have to recommend a visit there if you've never been... or if you haven't been lately. Good flying with great people, what more can I say?

Carbon Obsessed. Base tube, down tubes, keel, cell phone case, WEDDING RING...

Climbing

Last winter, my friend Ben came out to visit and together we ski-mountaineered Lone Peak. This year when he was out the snow pack wasn't as reliable, with recent rain and very warm temps, so we decided against another mountaineering project.

Here's last year's Lone Peak video, for those that may have missed it

One of the days was so nice and warm, Ben decided to take me climbing in American Fork Canyon. I'm going on 4-years living in Utah, and haven't climbed since I moved here! I've heard how much climbing there is, and how great it all is... but with my unreliable shoulder I couldn't reach up over my head, making climbing pretty difficult. But that's all behind me now, and the shoulder's repaired nicely.

Ben did some research online, and found a nice area in AF canyon with bolted sport routes and some easier climbs for me to get the rust off on. And boy was there rust! I should mention that I wasn't very good to begin with... but oddly enough taking 4 years off didn't make me any better!

Tying in, photo by Ben Carlson

I did ok on my first day back... made up one climb pretty well, made it to the (mini) roof on another, but couldn't quite figure how to get my legs up over so I stopped there, and made it to the top of another but only with some pretty heavy coaching and encouragement from Ben. After just those three routes I was feeling pretty tired, so I called it a day and continued to belay for Ben while he topped 5.10 after 5.10, making it look so easy even I was thinking I could do it (I can't).

AF Canyon is so freaking scenic, and the perspective while climbing just adds to that

All in all, it was a great day! It was fun to get the dust off my gear, and to learn about some challenging (for me, anyway) sport routes just a few minutes from our house! I hope to take Des back there this summer. Climbing is such a fun sport- the challenge is so welcome, and I love the mental games involved. Problem solving the next move, figuring out how to balance yourself so you can move a foot or hand to the next hold. Trying to control breathing and every body movement. Did I mention that I suck? But we had fun, and I'm pretty sure that's the whole point!

Chalking up while Ben gives me some pointers, photo by Ben Carlson