Still no pictures of Mt. Buffalo up close

March 5, 2013

Two flights today and lots of practice with inversions and slow climbs.  

It seems like I circled around Mystic today for quite a long time at before finding a thermal that would get me high enough to head for “Clear spot” Finally left at 1600 and made it there and was able to catch the next thermal but could not find anything when I headed for “Black Fellow” and arrived at the ridge line west of Porepunkah airfield too low to catch anything.  The pictures I wanted of the chalet and rock face on Mt. Buffalo will have to wait for another day.

The stone face of Mt. Buffalo from a distance

I had a nice chat with a micro light pilot there while waiting for Mary Beth to retrieve me.  I may have to take a flight with those guys one day. 

It was still early so I decided to go back up for another flight.  Winds were not in my favor heading west to Buffalo so I climbed up over Mystic and then decided to head across the valley to “Gold mine” ridge and it that worked head for Harrietville.

Looking ack at Mystic Launch while crossing to Gold Mine ridge

I made it across the valley easily and found a thermal that took me up to 1600 meters.  I headed towards Harrietville above the ridge looking for a thermal to keep me going.  Not sure whether to head for Smoko bowl or not I stayed centered on the ridge and then on the north side for a glide down to a bail out LZ if I didn’t find another thermal.   That, in hindsight was probably a mistake.  I didn’t find anything and landed in the shed LZ only about half way to Harrietville.

1600 meters and headed for Harrietville.  Smoko bowl on the right.

Final approach for the Big Shed LZ

Mary Beth picked me up and we did a little tour of the “no landing” areas along the way to Harrietville as well as getting the coordinates for the “official” Harrietville LZ. 

Pizza from El Centro, a shower and a little time on the blog and the day is finished.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll make it somewhere I want to go.