Trip Report
Flying over Lone Pine Peak & the Rabbit Ears (Wheeler Crest) Video

by DaveT.
Wednesday September 14, 2011 8:56am
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Spirals over the Rabbit Ears
Spirals over the Rabbit Ears
Credit: DaveT.
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Yep, a bit off topic, I know. But great views of the Sierra are on this video, especially of the Rabbit Ears and Lone Pine Peak. I was hoping that there was going to be a few climbers on the North Ridge to buzz by, passed over it pretty close, fighting cloud suck the whole time.

Been trying to fly from Walts Point (Horseshoe Meadows, 10 miles south of Whitney) all the way up to Mammoth, over the crest along the way. Have made it to the Palisades three times now, is a pretty hard flight to make. Eventually flying to Bridgeport is the long term goal, in a single push from Walts.

Walts Point, Wheeler Ridge, Flynns, & Paiute launches are all featured in this short film. As always, usually going out alone and finding some adventure in the air! Big thermals, spirals & wingovers, and a bit of cross country flying all makes for a great four day weekend. Almost all of the clips were shot in mid August, during a long weekend from the hustle and bustle of Yosemite Valley.
Big ups to Stephan H. and Fred T. for coming out and gettin' some!

Where the hell are the new SoCal boys and their toys?! My two regular flying partners are both casted up from speed flying now, need fresh meat! Get better soon Kia (broken ankle and foot) and Kris (broken back and ankle), and get your asses back here, and don't pound in this time!!

http://vimeo.com/29022221

-Dave Turner

  Trip Report Views: 3,007
DaveT. 		About the Author
DaveT. is a big wall climber from southeast face portaledge.

Comments
Manimal

climber
SLT, Ca
  Sep 14, 2011 - 10:33am PT
Having trouble seeing this...nothing happens once I am on vimeo, anyone else experiencing the same? Definietely want to see
DaveT.

Big Wall climber
Mammoth Lakes
Author's Reply  Sep 14, 2011 - 11:01am PT
Just checked it, should be working. Click this link, then choose the top video in the line-up. Good Luck.

http://vimeo.com/user5961980/videos


-D
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Sep 14, 2011 - 11:02am PT
Now you just stop that before you hurt yourself!
Manimal

climber
SLT, Ca
  Sep 14, 2011 - 12:53pm PT
Thanks it worked off your link. Sweet footage but man those helmet cams and all the turns make me a bit nauseated..looks fun as hell to do though.
Klimmer

Mountain climber
  Sep 14, 2011 - 01:45pm PT
Rad.

Looking forward to watching this when I get home.

You could work out the first VolBivouc from Walt's to Bridgeport.

Yes, it would be great to be the first to do it in one push, however, launching and landing, getting up in the morning and launching from a new launch and going further each day needs to be worked out for the entire Eastern Sierra also. Start at the S. Sierras near Ridgecrest and fly all the way to Lake Tahoe and beyond. This needs to be done. Walk-up launches all along the entire E. Sierras need to be discovered and worked out. We need to be doing VolBivouc as much as they are in Europe. We are behind. We can and should be doing this also.

Also, trans Sierra flights need to be done. Launch from the Westside and soar to the East side over the Sierras. This can be done too and needs to be.

Looking forward to watching your film at home.

Be careful out there. Fly so you can fly another day.



Edit:

We really need to be starting in Tehachapi and going all the way to Lake Tahoe and beyond along the Eastside of the Sierras. We need the US version of the X-Alps.
http://www.redbullxalps.com/
Mark Hudon

Trad climber
On the road.
  Sep 14, 2011 - 04:27pm PT
Dang that looks fun! Be careful, Dave.
Klimmer

Mountain climber
  Sep 15, 2011 - 12:03am PT
Dave,

Finally got to watch it. Great footage. Looks like you found a nice launch off of Wheeler Crest.

I have a peeeeeeerrrrrrrffffffeeeeecccccttttt luanch off of Wheeler Crest where you can launch an Army of Paragliders and it makes a nice bivy ta boot (if you didn't already find it). Where I launch there are Native North American morteros in the rock right next to launch. The native Piute knew this site perhaps hundreds of years ago and sat there grinding away and looking at the beautiful scene before them over looking the valley below and the Volcanic Tablelands.

It would be fun just to launch from there early in the am with a bunch of paraglider friends and have an L/D contest all the way to Mill Pond. I've made it to Mustang Mesa. On a better wing I think I could make Mill Pond just on a glide, a giant sledder.
poop_tube

Big Wall climber
33° 45' N 117° 52' W
  Sep 15, 2011 - 12:47am PT
YEEEAAH MONKEY!!!

SIIICK

Keep sending and keep the sweet videos coming. I'll be back in action in a month or so and sending with you.
DaveT.

Big Wall climber
Mammoth Lakes
Author's Reply  Sep 15, 2011 - 09:31am PT
Sweet photo Kia! Heck yeah, I remember that day! Launching in super high winds, getting plucked up from the ridge lift, then to the moon on the little wing! Was maybe a bit too rowdy that day to fly, but pulled it off.

Klimmer- You are a PG pilot? Sweet! If you or any one you know ever wants to come on out to the east side to fly, for sure drop me a line. Yep, I saw the huge take off from Wheeler, just to the north of my launch, where the road from sand canyon comes up, yeah? The drive up way.
Thats right guys- you can drive up to a few of the launches in the area, no hiking if that is your gig. Carrying a 12 lb speed wing set up is a bit easier to hike with than a 40 to 60 lb paraglider set up. This is why I usually fly the speed wing from the summits, and drive the PG up to Walts Point at 9,000 feet then thermal up to 15,000+, then head north over the crest. Have made it close to Big Pine three times now (one reserve throw over Split Mountain though-ROWDY in mid summer), but am really trying for points much more north. Gaining the experience to try this epic flight, been piecing together the route lately flying all over the east slope of the Sierra from Horseshoe meadows all the way up to Conway Summit.
Stephan Haase just became the first person to cross the high sierra on a PG (probably no Hangie has crossed it yet either over the 14'ers) crossing around Williamson, heading deep into the west side of Kings Canyon. Props! This is the most committing flight yet achieved in California. We were trying for weeks to make this flight, he completed it the day after I left from a five day flying weekend, had to go back to work at El Cap.

ANYONE wanting to come fly- lets do it....


-dave t
DaveT.

Big Wall climber
Mammoth Lakes
Author's Reply  Sep 15, 2011 - 09:38am PT
Klimmer is right on- the Sierra is perfect for VolBiv (hike, fly, and bivy. then again.) You could go from Tehachapi, clear past Tahoe. Europe has the X-Alps, an organized race across the Alps, with specific rules and turnpoints. The Sierra is perfect for a similar route, but without all the hype, rules, and lycra. We need to pioneer this thing. Any takers?


-D
DaveT.

Big Wall climber
Mammoth Lakes
Author's Reply  Sep 15, 2011 - 09:43am PT
Here is Stephan Haase's account of his (record setting) Trans Sierra flight-

Finally I have the track up of X-High Sierra....

The flying day looked great, but once in the air I was thinking of landing the Alabama HIlls, but made an abrupt turn back to triggers and found the up. 30 minutes later I was feeling comfortable in saddle under the skywalk Cayenne 3 and continued north to Onion Valey.

Just south of onion valley I was content that I would be dirted with the walk of shame in the high desert not at road. Being content with a walk out I surfed (going hands up letting it slowly suck me) light lift that brough deeper into the mountain and became stronger lift high above Indenpence Peak. Being at peace with walking was peaceful so I elected to push over the Great Western Divide for another attempt to make Hwy 180 at a minimum.

Well into the west push Mt Gardner pushed me to base with light whippy clouds starting to obscure the ground. Adjusting size of ears allowed for a few km's to be flown near base. I wasn't stoked until I knew I had landing outside the NP on glide. Then the valley flow the canyon kicked in....

Crossing at least two (3?) divides brings me a huge personal achievment. I've been strongly connected to this range since a pre-teen when I first hiked Whitney in an outrageous lightning show with smokey people et all! This led to me alpine climbing achievements and back country skiing passion. Soaring these peaks once climbed only strengthens my connection to Range so elegantly desribed by Muir or displayed by Rowell. This is my church...

The flight was a thermal shy of entering the foothill region and two thermals shy of Dunlap. The day of this flight quickly became dangerous in the sky and required a safe landing in a place with few safe options. Plenty of room for improvement is there and I hope others will improve upon X-High Sierra routes. The distance is not impressive, but opening the idea that this route is possible is...For a definitive explanation of High Sierra I encourage reading R.J. Secor's book on the region. I have tried flying this from the west side, but changed my mind once realized I was essentially backpacking with a glider after walking 1/2 across the Sierra's. My traditional climbing ethics yelled at me this must be done in a single push, west or east side... The range is not that wide. I turned back to the west and went home to the east side resuming my objective with success.

Big thanks to Stu for his supportive position during my years of attempting this. Stu is an inspiration, a man of few words, and sincere love for the region. Stu certainly could have crossed the northen HIgh Sierra years ago when he had Half Dome on glide. Certainly Half Dome or the apron of Glacier pointed would have boomed him to orbit landing outside YNP. I'd be remiss not also thank Stu for droppin his commitments to come get me from Fresno and laoning me a car to get back to Bishop. THANKS! Couldn't miss thanking the super cool Marina HG crew Dennis, Stephen, and Skip for their friendship, rides to launch, and dealing with my vehicle left in their camp. Chris I. shared a huge word of inspiration, "Just attempt it on a poor day and get the walk over with. Then you won't worry about walking any longer...." Dangerous Dave Turner, nothing else be said other than this guy will be sending huge committing flights in no time at all. Looking forward to the next adventure with you all!

http://paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/503716

-Stephan Haase
Klimmer

Mountain climber
  Sep 15, 2011 - 02:04pm PT
Dave,

Thanks so much for posting Stephan's flight. Way cool. I flew along the route on-line and looked at it in detail.

Man, he is doing it. Very inspirational.



Max. Alt. = 5362m = 17,591.8 ft.

Max. Vario = 7.0m/s = approx. 1400ft/min.

Ave. vario up approx. = 3.0m/s to 3.5m/s = 600ft/min or more


Dave, a few questions. Do you know if Stephan was on supplemental 02? Or did he just go sans oxygen?

I suppose he has a very high bump tolerance and he is pretty comfortable in aggressive air (big lift and sink) in Owens in August.

He definitely is not scared of making the big commitment and going for it. Sounds like neither are you.


Me, I'm more the type to fly as long as I can bail and get down if things are too rowdy for my taste. I don't mind hiking far as long as it isn't an epic. I try to stay in my comfort zone, and then expand my comfort zone with reasonable increments and limits. I would really like to start working on finding great walk-up launches all along the Eastern Sierra and start linking them up VolBivy style. There will always be the guys who are really comfortable in the big air and lift of Owens and then pushing it in one go and going as far as possible in one flight. I really got to get back into it and start flying on a continual basis again to feel anywhere close to that. Family commitments keep me out of the air at times. I know when I have been away too long. I start dreaming of flying night after night. That is definitely happening to me lately.


When I get home I'll post up a Goggle Earth image and show you the exact launch on Wheeler Crest. I call it "Wheeler Crest -- Mortero Launch and Bivy."

Klimmer

Mountain climber
  Sep 16, 2011 - 12:53am PT
"Wheeler Crest -- Mortero Launch and Bivy" to 395/Mustang Mesa, a 8+ mile sled ride in the early am in the summer. Flown it 4 times around July over several summers a few years ago. Drove up part way via 4X4 to the very large high meadow to the West and then hiked the rest of the way via the mining road. Bivied for the night and flew off the next morning as soon as the winds were anabatic from the East.

I have also hiked from Rock Creek. Wife dropped me off at the campground, crossed the river via bridge, went up the west slope to the giant meadow cross-country, hooked up to the mining road and hiked to the bivy.

It's just a really fun flight. It would be great for a L/D contest among friends. I think on a modern wing with good glide you could make Mill Pond.

You can launch a platoon of paragliders from the launch were there are a few morteros in the rocks just to the side of where I pull up my wing. Plenty of room for easy no stress forward launches with a long runway. Or reverse launch with wind. Plenty of room. Plenty of runway. Pretty clean alpine launch over 10,000' and all natural.
Kristoffer

climber
  Sep 16, 2011 - 12:27am PT
now this is just the kind of stuff that gives me the nervous poops.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  Sep 16, 2011 - 01:11am PT
Hey, there's mountains so it ain't OT, 'kay? Nice!

One of my bro-in-law's best friends from the Air Force Academy took off
from Walt's about 15 years ago and disappeared. They found him about
two and a half years later although I don't remember how.
ryankelly

climber
Bhumi
  Sep 16, 2011 - 02:02am PT
looks good
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