Owens Valley a fairly flat, 100 mile long valley is probably best known for being raped by the City of Los Angeles during the early part of the 20th century for its water. The majestic 12 to 14 thousand foot peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains flank the west side, while the equally impressive 11 to 13 thousand foot peaks of the Inyos, and the 12 to 14 thousand foot peaks of the Whites mark the valleys' eastern border. The valley itself is 3700 feet above sea level at the dry Owens Lake at the south end, and less than 4500 feet at the north end. Launch, at 9000 feet, is at the upper end of a box canyon, facing towards the SE of the dry lake bed. This means the vertical drop here is more than one mile!
The 'standard' routine is to launch before noon, because the morning sun warms the monolithic granite of the Sierra, developing a convection breeze. The warm, rising air, known as thermals, carry you above heights that commercial pilots are required to fly with oxygen. You then bounce from peak to peak for about 50 miles before crossing the valley to the east side, and the White Mountains. As the afternoon sun continues to warm the south and west facing slopes of the Whites, the westerly winds kick in. The idea is to cross the valley before they get too strong, since they create treacherous and terrifying turbulence! You then can fly the 50 miles to the north end of the Whites, which is 13,100 foot Boundary Peak, before heading into Nevada.
Of course this is a very simplified overview for this complex and dynamic place. Some days you are lucky to survive a severe pummeling, other days it takes little effort to float well above 14,495 foot Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the lower 48 states), which is about 10 miles north of launch. It is always incredible to get above 14,000 feet. The rarefied air is always nippy! Dozens and dozens of snowcapped peaks extend for hundreds of miles from the south to west to north! To even begin to comprehend the grandeur requires intimate contact. Sliding up next to the smooth face of a shear granite wall and turning into a column of powerfully rising air is incredibly gratifying. It will often require 5 to 15 minutes of continuous turning to gain the altitude you need (or want) to fly the mile or two across a canyon towards the next peak. When you are at 9000 feet, deep in a canyon (still a mile above the valley floor and a safe landing) you feel very vulnerable and even desperate, like a fly darting around a room trying to stay clear of a menacing fly swatter. As you reach 11,000, you begin to feel more comfortable but still extremely intimidated because you are still 2 to 3 thousand feet below the highest peaks! The snow becomes more prevalent, and the trees abruptly thin out, giving way to shear rock. Above 13,000 feet you can begin to see over the back. The temperature is noticeably colder and the air noticeably thinner. You have entered the extreme zone. Your speed relative to the ground becomes much higher also. The air is so thin the wing needs to move through it much faster to generate the proper amount of lift. Clipping a jutting rock with your wing tip here means sure death. The farther you get above 14,000 feet the more in control you are lulled into feeling. You feel like you have the upper hand, which, of course, you temporarily do. You must ALWAYS remember that the menacing fly swatter can make its connection at any time, know matter what your altitude!
Needless to say, it impossible explain to someone, and have them even remotely comprehend the sensations that each individual human experiences during this type of flight without having done it.
Do not land on the alluvial fan! This is the shallow slope which occurs from the base of the mountains out to the flat part of the valley. Though it may look flat from the air, it is not! It is also full of boulders! To avoid this, you should head out towards the highway once you are down below 9000 feet.
The sky may be crowded, especially near launch. Always look before turning.
Launch is at high altitude, 9000 feet, and very intimidating for the first time. You must have good launch skills.
Landing. The key to a good landing is choosing a good place and having time to read the wind direction. This means leaving the mountain before you are to low. There are miles of power lines and fences along most roads. The wind direction can change very quickly. The hot valley floor usually will have a severe wind gradient. Do not land in the lush, green alfalfa fields! Avoid landing in the lava beds! Good luck!
Several flights of more than 250 miles have been done here. Altitudes of 21,000 feet have been reached here. Flights of more than 10 hours are flown here.
Have fun!
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