Chelan XC Classic 2-7 July 2007
7/4/07 Wednesday - After a reasonably early start, we spotted two paragliders descending from Granite Peak (Later we found out that it was most likely Steve and Teresa) as we drove up Snoqualmie Pass. We got to Chelan around noon and dropped off a bunch of camping gear at Tom and Lori's house before heading up the hill. We arrived early enough to help Brian Scott with launch director duties - it was a busy day with lots of free-flyers as well as the 40-odd competitors. Andrei, Irina and Chris got good flights north to Okanogan, Omak and north of Omak, respectively for almost 60 miles. Later, C.J. flew to the soccer field. We had dinner with the other guests at Tom and Lori's: Mike and April, Meet Dir. Darren Darsey (and his wife, Kari), Scorekeeper Paul Dees (gone home for a couple of days), Peter and Naomi (arrived later after Peter retrieved Naomi who had a 6.5 hr triangle flight but no radio contact); Conrad Kurp and Herta also ate with us. C.J. was able to get some work done using the wireless internet connection - or maybe nor since there were fireworks off in the distance at Manson.
7/5/07 Thursday - We got up at 0715 before the sun got too close to the tent which we had pitched in the backyard to take advantage of the shade of the house and headed up the hill around 1015. We were there for the pilot's meeting at 1100 and acted as launch directors until everyone had taken off. There was a smaller crowd today as many of the pilots who had been here yesterday had headed back to work. We got back to the house fairly early and figured out a dinner plan with Lori - the temperature had risen past 100 deg F and Lori wanted to avoid cooking inside the house so we went to Safeway and bought bratwurst, rolls/bread, chips and corn on the cob. Darren made a salad using jicama and we were set. I cooked the corn right on the barbecue grill along with the brats. Mike "went long" today -132 miles - so he and April did not make it back for dinner. We didn't need any blankets until early in the morning because of the heat.
7/6/07 Friday - Same schedule today as yesterday except that there was a picnic/BBQ at the soccer field in Chelan Falls organized by Trygg Hoff. C.J. helped make sure that it broke even by collecting $10 from everyone who got served (There was some confusion about whether the picnic was included in the entry fee - it wasn't.) The temperature dropped in the middle of the night and I had to pull the down comforter over us for a while.
7/7/07 Saturday - Today was the last day of the competition and James Thomson turned in a 100 mile paraglider flight to Reardon and Peter Gray had a personal best to the south of Spokane for 120 miles. Lori didn't get back with Tom (landed near Hartline?) and Peter until after midnight. Meanwhile, deciding not to fly after the competitors had all launched, we took a drive out to Field's Point, 25-Mile Creek State Park and then up many switchbacks to Slide Ridge for the view back to the Butte and down to the lake. We got back by 1930 to have leftovers from the picnic and from the last few dinners with Naomi, Paul and Darren (with Naomi’s margaritas!).
7/8/07 Sunday - We drove up early (0900) to try to get me a flight before the awards ceremony and dithered a bit between Lakeside, Sunnyside, Upper Lakeside and, finally, the back of Sunnyside (facing south). It was soarable and I climbed over the Butte in spotty and disorganized lift before heading north of the LZ to look down into the Chelan River canyon. I landed just before Aaron started his aerobatics over the field for about a 20 minute flight. After the awards ceremony (for which many of the winners were missing) we picked up our gear at Tom and Lori's and went back up so C.J. could fly. Unfortunately, there were so many dust devils around launch that it didn't appear to be a good idea to fly a paraglider. In fact, there was only one other pilot up there who was setting up a hang glider. I guess the competitors had had their fill of flying and Chelan heat. We bought some more cherries at Safeway and headed home beating the worst of the Sunday traffic.
