XC Camp 2011 by John Scott
The ASI camps are always a great experience and are highly recommended. Classroom work was very educational, as usual. The weather this week did not cooperate (not so good thermals) so some of us newbies had trouble getting out of the valley.
My first XC was to Stead and I made it, but I didn’t make it back. I ended up landing out at Spanish Springs. When I came over the ridge looking for the airport I was expecting to see an asphalt runway and I didn’t have a lot of time (altitude) to look around. I kept circling over the dirt runway of a private construction site next to residential housing. Unable to locate the airport I landed on the dirt strip. After landing, while sitting on the wing of 2SS and studying my Sectional, I noticed for the first time the hollow circle designating Spanish Springs as a dirt strip. This was also the first time that I noticed the words “Hazardous” as an airport description.
LESSON #1 Study your alternate airports before you land at them, not after. It works better that way.
ASI does not tow out of Spanish Springs (too dangerous) so I had to wait for the trailer and got more practice de-rigging 2SS. Special acknowledgement to Buzz Graves for all his help and mentoring on 2SS.
My second XC (the first successful one) was on the last day (Friday). These photos were taken just minutes before I launched.
After releasing at 3,000 AGL I had difficulty maintaining lift over the Red Rocks and the side of Tule Ridge. I worked my way back trying for lift and thought I was going to have to land and re-light. Just over the “knoll” to the north of ASI I was saved by a house thermal that took me from 6,300 MSL to 13,000 MSL. From there I proceeded on course for Tiger passing over Nex-Rad and Pond peak. It is easier to stay high than to get high. Thermals are larger (wider) and easier to find and work up high.
LESSON #2 If you’re new to XC, get high and stay high. “Tank up” often.
Any time I got below 11,000 I took the next thermal to get back up.
After passing over Tiger I proceeded to Silver Springs, both of which I easily recognized having now done my homework. From there I headed back. I “tanked up” to 12,500 MSL before crossing the foothills. I was practically at final glide altitude for ASI before proceeding. Passing over Pond Peak and Nex Rad there was a constant lift in the form of bumpy “zero air”. I came off First Lift still at 12,500, I hadn’t lost an inch! During my spiral descent to ASI everything electronic stopped working; radio, transponder, vario. After 3+ hours my battery was dead. I made the landing using my handheld.
LESSON #3 Consider carrying a handheld.
LESSON #4 If you don’t own an Oudie, or something like it, consider getting one. Not having to read charts and do glide slope mental math made things more enjoyable for me.
Flight Statistics:
Duration: 3.2 hours
Maximum Altitude: 13,000 feet
XC Distance: 103 miles
Every glider pilot should try to attend the two ASI camps “Thermal” and “Cross Country”.
We had people from as far away as Kentucky, Florida, and Canada.
Many people come to these camps more than once.
END
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