Today at Mingus......
We arrived ready to set up at 9:30am. Tim, Russ, Paul, Mitchel, Dale - all locals - and myself, were ready to go before 11. Paul was first to launch and immediately found a core. He reported going through 12k when the wind began blowing down at launch. The five of us remaining waited through a 20min down cycle before a nice cycle came up the face. We all five trundled into the air within that one cycle and climbed out in a giant multi core thermal. The lift was strong enough through 11k, but around 12k the SW prevailing wind seemed to collide with the lift we were in. It felt like a giant tsunami crashing down and breaking the thermals into more powerful and numerous cells. Sounds weired I know - it was! At 14k the group headed out on glide to the northeast. After leaving the vicinity of Mingus, things calmed down a bit. We all flew back to Sedona, burbling along in light buoyant air. I was able to take in the incredible views around Sedona from 11k (pics coming). One by one we descended and landed by hi-way 89. I was last to land, as it took more than 20min to burn off my last 1k. Mitchel flew past our LZ and landed at the Sedona Airport. The airport is on a mesa and appears like an aircraft carrier. Sort of intimidating. We met Mitchel at the airport for a nice lunch before dispersing.