FROM HIGH TO LOW, LOOK OUT BELOW

Last week Peter Kovari (6PK) flew east on the route toward Phoenix, and learned something very interesting over near the Colorado River. Aside from the lesson itself, he also proved that you don't have to win a diamond to get your money's worth. Here's Peter's story.Well I can’t believe it but I ended up skipping the whole month of July and then some, a total of six weeks. And not just because I had other commitments, but this time it was a sheer disaster as far as the weekend weather conditions.This last Saturday finally looked ok but not very promising. Going north did look favorable but overcast starting at Lone Pine and OD was in the picture. This turned out to be correct.Going the Las Vegas route; very much the same over Vegas. This left the only other option going toward Phoenix, although a steady head wind, predictions were not half bad.I launched just before noon, released at the second ridge and climbed slowly to just below 10k. Moved over to Baden Powel and trying the ridge a couple of times did not produce any better. I then moved over to the Wrightwood area only to turn back to the second ridge for another try.This time I managed to climb to 11k (30-40 minutes later) and left for Wrightwood, my favorite house thermal, the landslide north of Baldy which took me to 12k and on my way to the Big Bear area via Rabbit Dry Lake ( Sean did check it out on his way, making sure it was indeed dry due to the recent rains). After a couple of quick climbs I connected with the convergence over Big Bear and following the clouds up to 13.5k, soon was heading toward the high ground south of Twenty Nine Palms, also following a cloud street convergence. This shear line only produced 2-3 kts here and there but I was able to climb and arrived north of Desert Center, void of clouds and or thermals.A steady long glide to Blythe produced kind air but very little lift.I had a careful eye on my flight computer and hopefully my next alternate Quartzsite, a dirt strip just across from the Colorado river on the Arizona side. I had it made with my margins plus a few hundred feet and I was maybe 10-15 nm west when I decided, as I usually do, about half way into my flight; to check the altimeter setting. I dialed in Blythe ASOS and readjusted my altimeter.Boy, was I in for a surprise! Normally I would anticipate 100’-200’ discrepancies but I was off over 500’ !! And of course in the unfavorable direction.One can say that I did not set my altimeter to field elevation prior to take off, but I did. The fact is I always do; I also set my flight computer ( CAI302) which sports it’s own barometric altimeter to offset GPS altitude. The chance of missing both is next to nil.I’m not sure if I was going from high to low (at this point it doesn’t much matter), but given the recent weather systems and changes, it is very possible that stuff was left over. At any rate good lesson for all; set your altimeter every 100 miles as required ( FAR part 91.121).I still kept inching toward Quartzsite, keeping Cyr Aviation (a duster strip) in my back pocket, hoping to walk into something good. As I got to the hills just west of Quartzsite it was obvious from looking at the angles that I was too low. After a couple of unsuccessful bug f..t thermals, I turned around and landed safely at Cyr.6PKThanks for that, Peter!