Yesterday Monday 15 I had one of my best flights: not a cloud in the
sky, at least not in my vicinity. Gound temperature 104* F. Fred
Robinson, operator of Great Western Soaring at Crystal tells me that
the lift will be good. That's an understatement. Take off at 12:45,
release at 6,400 ft MSL, 3,000 ft AGL in a 4 kts thermal. As I climb,
the lift increases to 8 kts. Up on top of Mt. Baden-Powell, I climb at
8 kts steady to 13,000 ft. MSL. From there, Mt. San Antonio ( Mt.
Baldy, elev 10,049 ft ) is 8 miles away. I reach Baldy on a direct
flight, having l lost only 700 ft. The lift there is 12 - 14 kts
steady. Unfortunately I do not carry oxygen that day, and I top off at
13,500 ft for a very short look-see and turn back for the gliderport.
Also I do not have a relief tube and nature calls urgently now. In
the 17 miles from Baldy to the gliderport, straight out, no
thermalling and only slowing down in lift, I arrive over the field at
11,700 ft MSL. I have been in the air for 2 1/2 hours, wandering all
over the San Gabriel Mountains, never flying below 11,000 ft except on
the initial climb and the segment over the gliderport to lose altitude
and land. Wheee !

Cheers, Charles