P O W D E R

While most of the gang is in Hurricane this weekend flying, I'm still holed up here in Park City making the best of some of the greatest skiing in recent history. Thursday morning was one of the top ski days ever for me! Our team was stationed at Jupiter, and the snow was out of control. In places the snow was waist deep, and of the lightest and fluffiest variety.




The deep stuff.


My team leader Jenn, slogging along Disco Ridge.


Strange wind carved cornices.

This past week our team was stationed at McConkeys Ridge. Overall, the weather was great. There were a few storm days that added to the already epic snow.



Home sweet home for the week.

Dreams of flight (part two)

Landing a hang glider requires a level of skill directly proportionate to the type of glider you are flying. In simple terms, a beginners glider is easy to land and a high performance glider takes a keen since of timing as well as concentration and luck. A hang glider lands similar to a bird. As the glider comes in skimming the ground for a landing, Just at the right moment the pilot pushes his weight aft of the glider causing the craft to abruptly stop. Given the ideal conditions, landing zone and wind direction, landing a hang glider can be the most exhilarating and predictable part of the flight. Conversely, landing where you took off, at the top of a mountain, doesn't share the prerequisites for an ideal landing. If you can master the art of top landing, you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you can put it in where ever you like at any time. Sometimes the equivalent of landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier, but without power you can't go around.

So after an incredible day of flying, Bob decides to leisurely cruise out and land at the main LZ at the bottom of the mountain and let me drive Mr. Cruiser down solo. As I pulled into the LZ it was dusk. The fireworks mother nature had provided earlier was just a dull fading memory. I was worried. Bob was coming in on final with very little light left to safely make a landing. With a hundred and fifty feet left on Bobs glide, I noticed quite a bit of barking coming from where bob was set up to land. Because of my perspective, I couldn't make out exactly what all the racket was about. After landing, Bob hastily dropped his wing, un-hooked his harness and bolted in my direction. Running as hard as he could as a pack of wild dogs gave chase.

Dreams of flight

A flight memory with friend Bob Cano who recently died in a car accident.

A kaleidoscope of iridescent light stretched out like a carpet of radiant orange and red hues. From horizon to horizon, the mackerel sky appeared alien and otherworldly. This moment would be forever burned into my memory.

Since early afternoon, Bob and I had been flying, and by six o'clock we had both logged several hours of flight time with multiple top landings. Just west of Palmdale California, Saniquin Mountain was a site we rarely flew. Mainly because of the rugged four wheel drive road to the top. Long ago the top of the mountain was once home to a government weather station, now obviously debunked. The road had probably not been maintained for several decades. The drive up was one of many white knuckle off road adventures associated with the pursuit of flying hang gliders. Our ride to the top - a vintage F-J40 Land Cruiser.

The 1975 Toyota Land Cruiser was one of my passions and a definite work in progress. Always in need of some type of serious work, it seems it always had some form of brake related issues. In the late summer of 1989 I purchased "Mr. Cruiser" in Reno Nevada, close to the end of a flying trip with the Steve Nootenboom and family. Steve and his wife Tanya lived in the Mojave Desert near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. They lived in a house truck Steve built himself on the bed of an early 50's tractor-trailer truck. The house truck included Solar panels, a self-contained water system and ornate woodwork that reflected a Victorian style. Steve's Land Cruiser and subsequent ride on our trip, was quite the work. He had invested thousands of dollars and untold hours of work restoring his prize. It was this sea foam green four-wheel drive beast that started the Land Cruiser obsession with me.

Mr. Cruiser was a rusted out, 70's goldenrod colored heap that would over the years, require to much time,money and attention. Needless to say, it was no less notorious on the way up to Saniquine. At one point along the treacherous climb, I glanced over at Bob noticing his hand firmly clutching the door handle. Ready to jump at the first sign of trouble.

Generally, flying Saniquine is best in the late afternoon. After a long hot summer day , the heated valley floor can produce a wonder wind, a phenomenon typically associated with consistently soarable, velvety smooth air. An air junkie’s prize. That evening, after a grueling hour ride to the top, we were rewarded with one of the most satisfying series of flights in our aviation careers. Back and forth like soaring birds, we cruised effortlessly a hundred and fifty to three hundred feet above the ridge top in the dreamiest air you could imagine. And it was all you want. The lift was so consistent, we only came down for a momentary break, a soda out of the ice chest, or just to confirm that we were experiencing reality - not dreaming.

The gang got together last night at the Prairie Schooner. It's a western themed restaurant in Provo. The tables are mock covered wagons encircled around campfires, desert scenery and even stuffed coyotes and other desert animals. We had a great time and talked about flying, (poor wives) till the restaurant closed.



Earlier in the week the Amstel light crew made thier annual showing at the resort.

A Patroler's Day

This past week we've seen snow in epic proportions. These storms make life on the mountain intense. The skiing has been incredible!


One of my masterpieces



Zoie gets all dressed up - bored patrolers do strange things.



6am. 18 patrolers heading up to summit in the back of a snow cat.



Looking out the back window at the Pioneer patrol shack.

Today the pre-frontal south winds brought some great cloud formations along the back of the Wasatch.



A few shots of some lenticular cloud formations behind the resort.

The Guns Of Winter

Nothing else gets the blood flowing like the smell of snow in the morning. A line of snow guns blowing the man made stuff skyward.


It's been a slow start, but finally the resorts are looking good. In part, due to the ability to create the white stuff. We have had a few good storms in the last ten days that have brought some great powder days, as well as raise the base substantially.

Even though I patrolled last year as a weekend volunteer, there's been so much to learn as a full timer. The two systems are similar, but greater responsibility goes along with being a pro. All of the avalanche control work is handled by the pro's, and even rookies partake in the duties.



A great sunset at evening sweeps.

Let it snow!

The ski season finally started last Monday for Park City Mountain Resort.


Some images from around Summit Patrol




Monday night the resort threw a party for the staff.

Finally the snow is stacking up! Seems we always get a little more snow here in Parley's Canyon than the resorts on the Wasatch Back (Park City Resorts). This most recent storm system began Thursday and it's still dropping snow consistently. Overall storm depth - 17".

A few pics from around the house.

Extreme Holidays

Thanksgiving found Julie and me in the Midwest. Our families are scattered from Houston to Nashville to New York, and for a few days during the holidays, they all converge at our parents' homes like an organized army . They set up camp in every available niche of my mom and dad's house. This year there was even motor home that took part in the invasion. But despite all the madness and commotion, I wouldn't miss it for anything. Julies family is sedate compared to the Hibbard clan. We spent 4 days at the Hibbards and three days at the Cleeks.


My mother has hosted these thanksgiving dinners for as long as I can remember, and she's still making them happen.


Siblings and cousins.

11.28.07

The resorts are slowly opening, with minimal amounts of snow. Most are making snow. Park City Mountain Resort opening with a walloping 2 runs! But mother nature is doing her best to squeeze out a few storms here and there. Yesterday and last night we picked up about 7 inches here in the sub-division. I'm not sure what the total count for the resorts ended up being. Around 4 am the lake effect snow machine kicked in adding to the totals, but lake effect is so variable its hard to say who got what. So patience is the key, Im sure we'll get nailed here pretty soon! In the mean time, dreams of warm air and strong thermals. Or white storms and knee deep powder.

Southern Utah

This past weekend the crew headed south with hopes of scoring some off season soaring in St. George, Utah. Hurricane is just outside of St. George 15 minutes or so. A twenty + mile long ridge that runs somewhat east and west. I arrived early Friday morning and met with Greg. We arrived at launch were fellow Salt Lake pilots Shad, David and Steve were already set up. The southerly wind was picking up so everyone was scurrying around launch getting ready to get airborne. Shad was first off the hill and I followed close behind. Greg soon was in the air and we all three enjoyed the smooth ridge lift. The conditions were not as great as we hoped for, still we managed to log over an hour. Later Steve and David launched taking advantage of the days remaining winds.



Cody, Jeff and Greg loading up.


On Saturday the wind was not cooperating. When we arrived on launch it appeared as though it would be a repeat of the day before, but as the day progressed the wind became lighter and lighter.


The crew's enthusiasm wains in the late afternoon sun.




Jeff landing after his extended sled run.


The west end of the ridge.


Molly's Nipple

Some fine flying at Moma S

Saturday proved to be a great day on the South Side at the Point of the Mountain. Everyone was out. Eleven hang glider pilots! The air was butter in the morning, with hangs and bags filling the airspace above the ridge. Later in the morning the wind picked up. The bags packed up leaving the rest of the day to the dozen or so hang glider pilots. In the afternoon John Russell showed up along with pete Anderson - both in recovery mode. John recently recived a new Knee and of course Pete on the road to recovery from his towing accident this summer. All said, a great day of soaring!

Friday 11.02.07

A few pics from this evening at the Northside. Pretty much a repeat of Wednesday night, but a little stronger. I managed to log an hour and some change on the lower bench. Craig the dentist and Jeff flew as well. Jeff was able to bench up, later performing some wingovers for those on the ground.



A beginner pilot taking advantage of the smooth evening lift.



Val and John demanding Greg to launch.



A great night for the Bag people.

A Little Airtime

I got out this afternoon and drove down to the Northside. Steve and Val were already set up and ready to go. As I was setting up, Val launched and within a few minutes benched up and disapeared into the gap. Things seemed to be getting lighter so I hurried to launch only to wait, for the wind began to lighten up even more. After ten minutes or so and a few cycles, it was evident things were dying off. I launched in the next cycle and for the next fifteen minutes scratched around flying in and around a half a dozen bags. I was pinned a few times at ridge level by the bobbling flying thingies before committing to the lower LZ. John Linndberg had a similar flight but was able to top land.

Possibly Friday will bring stronger north winds!

Of Moose and Men

Today ends the week long evac training at Park City Mountain resort. All said, most everyone finished well trained and ready for a lift to go belly up! During the training, there were quite a few stories about lift evacuations when the weather was horrid. A scenario no one looks forward to. The last few evacs at PCMR was during optimal weather conditions. I can imagine a three hour evac when the air temp is -10 and it's snowing - yikes!




In short, the rescue rope is thrown from the top of the tower and worked close to the first chair. The skiers are lowered in a chest harness. Through a series of semi-complicated rope maneuver's the line is moved down to the next chair and the process is repeated.




The skier is safely lowered.



One of our local residents captured this evening on my camera.

Ski season approaching fast

The season is upon us! Today started the annual Park City Mountain patrol lift evacuation training. Over 75 full time patrolers as well as a few weekend volunteers showed up for this week long training program. The training includes rope ascending and other specialized high angle rescue tactics.

Saturday 10.12.07

Greg and I went to the point Saturday morning and managed to squeak in a bit of airtime. We got there around 10am. There were several para's in the air along with John Lindberg, flying his Falcon. We set up and waited as the wind slowly diminished. Finally a promising cycle or two coaxed us out into the waining morning lift. After a few top landings things got real light and we decided it was time for lunch. After a quick Mc d's run we returned to the Point only to find the getting light trend continued while we were gone. We hung out for a while longer hoping the predicted pre-frontal winds would manifest. No dice! We packed up and headed for downtown where we sat in on a session of the semi-annual USHPA board meetings - interesting.

Now and Then

Finally I purchased a new (well slightly used) computer. I had worked myself into a corner with my old 350 mhz G4. I picked up a powermac G5 dual 2.0 gig beast, and it seems to be the perfect system for my recording project.

My current project should be finished by Thanksgiving, if all goes well. I will post some pre-production, partial song files on the blog soon.

For your enjoyment, a few pic's from the Valle De Bravo trip this past winter


Cody and Greg chillin' at Fly Mexico's lake front LZ


The lemmings all lined up


Bruce launches after the lemmings trundle off