Those were great flights but why would you fly over
virtually unlandable terrain? Those actions can have
a nasty way of catching up with you.

At 21:00 25 April 2005, Mike The Strike wrote:
Last Saturday saw the first annual Arizona Soaring
Association Downwind
Dash in which Arizona pilots attempt long-distance
one-way flights.
Originated and inspired by Steve Koerner, three pilots
including Steve
(ASW 27) took part. The others were Cliff Hilty (Ventus
B) and Ted
Wagner (304 CZ).

All three struggled north from Pleasant Valley Airport
north of Phoenix
in breezy conditions with broken thermals and faced
developing storms
as a frontal system moved in to the state. They squeaked
up onto the
high ground north of Sedona and finally connected with
better lift
north of Flagstaff. Circumnavigating the Grand Canyon
National Park to
the east, they parted company at Tuba City. Steve
headed north-east
towards Colorado across virtually nlandable terrain,
finally landing
at Cortez, Colorado after 7 hours in the air. Cliff
and Ted flew north
to land at Page, on the shores of Lake Powell on the
Arizona/Utah
border. About 1,400 km total for the three of them.

The flights will be posted on the Aerokurier OLC site.