Randolph never gets old or boring. Because of dwindling landing zones and crowded skies at other local flying sites, I've resorted to calling Randolph my home site. It's an hour and forty minute drive from East Layton, and though that's a bit of a hike, it's a beautiful relaxing drive. 

This year there's been an abundance of hang gliders showing up to fly this great valley. The conditions, as usual, have been amazing. There were several days of wave formation in the valley where pilots were reporting 10g+ climbs and harrowing "I can't get down" stories.

It's fun just to climb out as high as you can and take a tour of the valley. On one particular day smoke from the California fires permeated the area. You would have thought the smoke would mute or lessen the strength of the thermals, but I found myself climbing out over the town of Randolph topping out over 14g. The higher I climbed the more surreal my surroundings became. In every direction the smoke limited the visibility, and soon even the ground disappeared!

Thanks to the great landowners who have unselfishly shared their beautiful cattle ranches and farmlands for the last three decades. Hopefully the future of this awesome soaring site will be preserved!

Birds Of A Feather

I know that it's been a while since my last post. There has been a lot thats happened over the course of the past year. Julie has recovered from breast cancer for one. She bravely endured a year of surgery, chemo and radiation to defeat the triple negative cancer that invaded her body. Greg, my good friend and long time hang glider companion had a bad landing last September and broke his neck, among other injuries. He was fortunate to live through the ordeal but will be partially limited physically due to paralysis.

On a brighter note, the house is completely finished (including the basement). Im on to bigger and more important things, like building an out building! I just can't stop.

This photo came from a flight I had last month. The bald eagle followed me around for over 10 minutes. For the most part he was right on my tail. We flew together and gained several hundred feet. The wife of another pilot who was at launch took this photo.