Paragliding - Southern California style

Well, we made it back to the Northwest on Christmas eve day, and arrived in sunny Sequim mid afternoon. Almost 3 weeks on the road visiting family and friends, and looking for some good flying. All that, and I only flew 2 different days. But they were good days of flying. Buddy Steve and I flew at the Andy Jackson Airpark just on the north side of San Bernardino on the 15th of December and also on the 17th. It was a long drive from Oceanside where Steve and his lady are renting a condo for the winter months, but I think it was worth it.

We launched from the Crestline launch at 5200' (the landing zone at the AJ airpark is at 1700') and got a bit of lift, however, I never got above launch, and sunk out early. Steve managed to stay up and eventually top landed at the Marshall launch site which is at 4000' and just south of the Crestline site by 1/2 to 3/4 mile. I knew Rob (the shuttle driver and main man at the AJ airpark) was planning a 1:30PM ride back up to launch, so I went back up and launched again at Crestline. My log book shows 45 minutes and 20 minutes for that day. Not the best, but very enjoyable.

On the 17th, we met up with Wayne (one of the guys from our club up in Washington who also happens to belong to the Crestline Soaring Society) and his wife who was our driver for the day. This time we went to the Marshall launch site and the 3 of us launched around noon. After about an hour and having climbed up to 5000', we all top landed at the launch for a break. Some of us did better at the top landing than others, but all arrived unhurt. OK, I more or less "side landed" as I was down the northwest side of the launch site a hundred feet or so. I think I got a rotor just about 100' or so in the air, and I didn't have time to turn out into the wind. Poor approach technique by yours truely. I'll do better next time.

After launching again from Marshall, I scratched about for another 45 minutes before landing. All in all, I had a great time. I hope to fly at that site again in years to come. It is the best site I have flown so far in my vast paragliding experience (almost 4 months, 47 flights, and over 8 hours of airtime). It has a paved road all the way to the Crestline launch, and the most beautiful and large (about 3 acres) green grass LZ I have ever seen. Flat as a billiard table, and they water it every night.

The wife and I took it slow up the entire coast of California, most of the Oregon coast, and back home. It took 5 days, but it sure was beautiful scenery. I don't think I'll ever do it again!