Elk-Rat Hybrid?

As usual, the annual Hat Creek Fly-in was loads of fun. We arrived later than expected Friday evening due to an accident on the highway, but not so late that we couldn't make the rounds to the different camps and socialize with the gang. The band was there, complete with vocalists, upright base, banjo, guitar, and hand-held percussion, and they wandered from camp to camp providing background music. All the usual folks were present too, and it was good to see them all again as well as meeting some new ones.

Ken had arrived a day or two earlier so he could give himself a chance to rest up before flying, and it gave him an opportunity to fly Friday evening in Hat Creek Rim's epic glassoff conditions along with several of the usual group.

The following evening, we joined up with the gang at launch. The wind was coming in strong as it typically does early in the evening at this site. Launches can also be tricky here, as it often crosses from the south around a rock outcropping, causing a tricky rotor that can turn a wing when leaving the hill and cause a blown launch. Thankfully, everyone managed to get off the hill in one piece and eventually there were 18 wings soaring the ridge. After leaving the ground, the air was smooth if strong, however the process of launching involved a quick elevator ride and a screaming variometer.

We cruised around for an hour-and-a-half or so while waiting for the shadows to cover the landing zone. Hat Creek is also noted for its rowdy conditions in the lz, at least until the sun sets and things have a chance to mellow out a bit. Tonight was an exception, however, as the air was plenty bumpy even well after the sun had set. We all landed safely though with no broken aluminum. Cheers filled the air and beers were raised in salute as each pilot returned safely to Mother Earth. Of course, later that evening we returned to camp to tell tall tales and bad jokes around the fire.

Among the items discussed that evening was the upcoming annual Elk Creek Fly-in held by the northern Cal group every year. Ken and I attended this one also a couple of years ago and had as much fun as at Hat Creek. We flew from two sites - one was St. John Peak and the other was the mountain over the small town of Elk Creek, CA. The St. John flight involved a long winding road to launch (with a longer, windier, steeper drive down, as our drivers will attest to) and a tricky landing in a small, cross-wind lz. The flying itself to me was good, except that my pitch rope broke upon launch and I flew around, even thermalling, while hanging from my wing like a sack of potatoes. The Elk Creek site was little more than an extended sledride for me, and no flight at all for Ken, as the winds died down at launch and he ended up breaking down at launch and packing his wing back up the hill.

Due to newly-implemented restrictions imposed on access to the Elk Creek landing zone, it was discussed and decided to move the annual fly-in to our own neighborhood of the Applegate Valley and Woodrat Mountain. The suggestion was heartily accepted, since all who visited our fine site with its very accessible launch & lz and the multiple wineries throughout the valley instantly fell in love with it. It was also decided that the local mountain mascot, Woody the Woodrat, should don the antlers of an elk for the impromptu ensemble, and it is to be called the first annual Elk-Rat fly-in. We look forward to the visit by our friends to the south in a couple of weeks, and hope for the best weather. Either way, it should be a blowout...