Vegas Fun

Climbing

I love climbing at Red Rocks! But gale force winds the first couple days that made us stop and just hang on until the gusts went by were making me question my judgement. Day three was the charm!  While it was still a little cool in the morning, we had a fantastic afternoon of climbing in the warm sunshine.

Looking down the rappel line.

Typical bum shot when the belayer is trying to take photos of the climber.

Springs Preserve

It's hard to believe this place is in the middle of Las Vegas, not far from the strip. It's one of our favourite places to go, either in the morning before we head to out to climb or on a rest day. We always get a membership both to support their initiatives and so that we can get early admission before the general public arrives. We were the only ones there on this morning. So quiet and relaxing. 

Andrew enjoys the photography opportunities. 

The cactus garden.

The butterfly garden was out of season but I liked this colourful entrance wall.

Flying

This is the first time we've been back to Vegas area since taking up paragliding. So Jean Ridge was a new spot for us. The conditions weren't spectacular (a few difficult-to-stay-in thermals but no steady wind required for soaring) but we did get several short flights of 4 - 18 minutes. The ridge is about a mile long so if conditions were "on" it would be awesome!!

It's a 20 minute hike from the bottom of the ridge and, thankfully, the road in was doable in our Prius. There's also a road to the top but a 4x4 is definitely needed for that. Sort of humorous that one of the dirt bikers we encountered was more impressed by the fact we got there in the Prius than he was by the fact we were flying off the ridge.

In addition to the dirt bikers, there are a ton of ATV's and people out shooting guns. We learned that it's one of the few areas near Vegas where there's enough room for people to do long-range (i.e. a mile +) practice. We'd wondered why there were rocks near the road in with paint on them but they were markers for the shooters. One morning we arrived just a couple minutes ahead of a couple shooters and they weren't too impressed that they had to find another location.

We didn't have any success contacting the local paragliding club but luckily this is a site that doesn't require membership, etc. It was definitely fun to be able to come here on our own and not worry about needing a retrieve vehicle. We'll no doubt be back!

View from Jean Ridge mid-launch.

Andrew at the top of Jean Ridge, waiting for a good wind cycle before launching.

Me, just after launch. Screenshot of video taken by Andrew. 

Andrew coming in for landing.

Patrick, a pilot from Utah (left) and Andrew (right).

Me, just after launching. Photo from video taken by Patrick.

Leavenworth Climbing

Our next stop was Leavenworth, WA. It's been quite a few years since we've climbed here so we were looking forward to a return trip, combined with some paragliding. Unfortunately the logistics of flying (plus weather) didn't work out but we got in a couple more good days of climbing.

We did trad routes one day and sport routes another day. Unlike at Smith Rock, the climbing is quite spread out and it's often a bit challenging just to follow the guidebook directions to get to the climbs. We scouted the approaches to both locations the afternoon we arrived and then had both completely to ourselves for climbing which was really nice!

At the top of one of the three-pitch trad climbs. Great views of the Wenatchee River.

Wenatchee River and the highway to Seattle.

Andrew and his yellow helmet can barely be seen at the bottom of the climb.

A "selfie"

Waiting to rappel.

Between climbing days there was a day of pouring rain! We spent the afternoon at Silvara Vineyards where singer/songwriter/guitarist David Flett was playing. He was very good and it's a lovely location -- a large airy building with patio overlooking the valley and lots of wildflowers blooming.

At Silvera Winery

Sport climbing in the Icicle River valley.

A fun layback at the start of the climb.

Now we are back in Canada with another few days of holidays left, checking the weather and trying to decide what to do and where to go.

Climbing at Smith Rocks

Our last morning in Jacksonville, we headed back to Woodrat, hoping to get in a short flight or two before heading north. It was a bit cloudy and, on the drive out, we wondered if it would be flyable. I always hate the uncertainty. It makes me nervous. It is ok? Isn't it? I like it clear cut. Either conditions are good and it's good time and day to fly or it isn't. As we got closer, the clouds quickly got darker and it started to rain. Decision making was suddenly easy! 

In addition to rain, there was a bit of snow as we crossed over a high pass on the way Bend, Oregon. Knowing that we'd be driving right by Smith Rocks State Park the next day, we stopped in at the REI store and purchased a guidebook to see what there might be in the range of our skill level. Smith Rocks is well known in climbing circles for several very difficult routes. 

Seeing it now, I have no idea why we have never been here before. It is a gorgeous location! 

The climbing was really good but very busy even mid-week. Luckily we got there early and managed to get in the first few climbs without waiting for other people to finish a route or other people waiting for us to finish a route. 

We would definitely come back here again. If too busy for climbing, hiking or trail running would also be fantastic.

Such a beautiful place!

Getting gear ready.

Just one bridge to get across to the side with all the climbing.

Andrew rappelling at top right of photo. We were some of only a few who were wearing helmets (which I never quite understand!).

Walking along the river to the next climbs.

They've done some really good trail maintenance to prevent erosion where it's the busiest.
Looking down from the first pitch of a climb. Three routes on the go and people waiting.

Mount Shasta

Cold, windy, zero visibility. This summarizes conditions at the high point of our climb on Mount Shasta.

We started out late Thursday afternoon and hiked into Horse Camp, about an hour from the trailhead at Bunny Flats. Even just the drive gives you a lot of elevation gain. Getting to Horse Camp put us at 7900 ft. (The summit is 14,161 ft.) The Sierra Club operates a small hut here, collects registrations for camping, maintains the composting toilets and ensures overall protection and responsible use of the area.

The Sierra Club hut at Horse Camp.

Camping at Horse Camp.

SPOT vs InReach. So far, the InReach is winning.

While shopping for food supplies, we couldn't resist getting a couple cans of this wine.
It was more like "Ridiculously okay wine in a can" but . . .   :-) 

We woke up at 2 am and were on the hike upwards by 2:45. There was no moonlight so luckily we had lots of tracks to follow in the light projected by our headlamps. We were just hoping we were following upward tracks which would take the most logical route as opposed to the downward tracks that seemed to go everywhere!

Warmed up and stowing outer layer.

After two hours over fairly steep terrain, we got to Lake Helen (which is not a lake at this time of year). The guidebook suggests that most groups camp and start from here to give them a head start on their summit attempt. But carrying heavier packs up to there didn't appeal to us and there were a few groups that hadn't even started yet when we passed by. 

It was just getting light and we put away our headlamps and put our crampons on for the even steeper, harder and icier terrain ahead. 

Looking back at the Lake Helen camping area.

The higher we got, the windier it was and visibility continued to decrease. Quite a few people were heading down and telling us it was even worse up higher where they'd backed down from. 

There was a guided group ahead of us and we figured if we could keep them in sight we wouldn't have to be too concerned with route finding. We soon caught up to them (they looked miserable!) and at this point, we decided to turn back. It was exactly 7 am and we were at 12,200 ft, just below the Red Banks ridge and we knew it would even windier at that point. (The guided group soon turned back as well.) 

The guided group just ahead of us. We turned back at this point.
The outline of another person heading down is barely visible at the top right. 

At our highpoint. Great background!

We covered over 4,000 ft of steep elevation gain in just over 4 hours which, considering we hadn't really trained at all for this climb, we were pretty happy with. It took 2 1/2 hours to get back down to Horse Camp which, in our younger days, would have been quicker but, for both Andrew and I, the old knees just ain't what they used to be! 

Heading down, still in whiteout conditions.

Starting to get a bit more visibility as we got closer to Lake Helen.

Sort of looked like rain off in the distance.

Frustratingly, a couple hours later, the skies cleared! Although whether or not the wind had diminished was questionable as the remaining clouds were moving very fast.

Almost back at Horse Camp, looking up towards the now clear mountain (summit is not visible from here).

Great views on the way down.

At Horse Camp, we packed up camp and hiked out to the car. We were back in town just in time for lunch.

From Horse Camp, looking up towards the summit.

After an afternoon nap and 11 solid hours of sleep overnight, my legs are still a bit sore but overall feeling pretty good. Planning for a relaxing day today with a short hike to get moving again. 

Fly British Columbia

Over the past couple weeks, Andrew and I were out in the mountains on a paragliding and climbing trip. Unfortunately, neither of us think we can also fit scuba diving gear in the car!

Since our training course in Santa Barbara in March (where we were able to do just one mountain flight) we'd only done a bit of kiting around home and a few small flights off a local hill. Therefore, one of our goals was to get a bit more time with an instructor and to get feeling more comfortable in our skills and longer flights.

We first headed to Vernon due to its close proximity to climbing at Skaha Bluffs in Penticton. After three long days with two or three flights per day, I'm not sure if I was feeling better about things or not! Both of us were having really crappy luck with launches (obviously more kiting practice is in our future!) but thankfully the launch areas were mostly forgiving. (The newest rip in my pant leg and scratches and bruises on my leg not withstanding.)

Flying at Baldy, near Vernon, BC. Four gliders in the air and cows in the landing zone!

Andrew doing "big ears" to lose some altitude.

Andrew coming in for a landing. Watch out for the cow in the zone!

On my very first flight I came much closer to a tree than I would have liked which put some healthy fear into me! We were learning more about thermals and what to look and listen for to find them and what to do to try to stay in them to gain some altitude. On one flight the tight turns made Andrew a bit nauseous but he recovered quickly.

After the second day of three flights and very hot weather, I had a splitting headache!  I finally took an Ibuprofen in the morning and was somewhat better before our flight at a new and higher launch but obviously not better enough. I never felt nauseous but just feeling "off."

We got some great thermals that morning but after a few 360's I soared back & forth (with a head that was still spinning 360's) toward the landing zone and after 55 minutes was more than ready for the flight to end.

When Andrew got down after an hour and 20 minute flight, including some cross country, he was so excited about flying! I felt bad that I didn't share his enthusiasm. A conversation at supper one evening shortly after this demonstrated the difference in our comfort levels. "What I really like is that it's sort of like a game of hide & seek. You know, trying to find the thermals," said Andrew. "Ya," I replied, "I just wanna not crash."

Panorama from Cooper's launch near Lumby, BC.

Andrew coming in for landing after a long flight.

Ready to touch down!

We then headed to Skaha. After the stress of paragliding, we were pretty mellow and climbed nothing but sport routes that we'd done before and were quite comfortable on.

Andrew rappelling off "Plum Line" -- a beautiful 10a at Skaha and one of my all-time favourite routes.

We were (unusually) social butterflies during this trip and had great visits with climbing friends Ian Marsh and Murray Hainer in Vernon (who we hadn't seen in years!) and Ellen Woodd in Summerland; with Andrew's work crew (Pete, Joanne, Irwin and Irwin's wife, Christine) in Penticton; and then made a quick detour to Kamloops to see my niece Julie and her new beau, Bryce.

As we headed back in the direction of home we stopped in Revelstoke and got two flights at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR). The ski hill boasts the highest vertical in North America. This was by far my favourite two flights. Mostly because I easily had 1/2 hour flights without doing too many 360's. Even going straight to the landing zone, it's still a 15-20 minute flight! And being surrounded by snow-capped peaks was amazing!

Laying out the gliders at highest launch point at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. 

Andrew just after takeoff from the launch at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Love the snow-capped peaks!

Ski runs and the town of Revelstoke. 

I love the colour of my wing! That's the most important thing, right?  :-) 

My first in-flight selfie!

Our final stop was Golden. We did just one flight at Mount 7 on Friday morning -- a 15 minute sled ride down to the landing zone but again, it was a really great flight. We purposely planned this for Friday as we thought it might be busy on the weekend and, sure enough, we learned there were approximately 20 student pilots expected, several tandem flights and of course many other visiting pilots. We just don't feel experienced enough yet to be in the air with too many other people.

Andrew getting ready for forward launch (almost no wind) at Mount 7.

Golden, BC.

There were a lot of these little guys in the landing zone.

Loving the air! (Photo by Andrew)

Me coming in for landing. Launch point is the peak on the left. (Photo by Andrew)

After this, the heat (high 30's) and holiday crowds, not to mention simply being very tired from travel and activities, made the decision to head home an easy one. We'll continue to keep an eye on wind conditions at home, get in more kiting practice and look forward to our next get-away!

Andrew is much better at doing blog posts on the road than I am. Here are several of his with more flying as well as some "down time" activities.

- Flying at Vernon
- Climbing, butterflies, flowers and birds at Skaha
- Okanagan rest day -- wineries, birds, coffee shops and more!
- Flying at Revelstoke and Golden