HAPPY JUNE!

The cross-country soaring season got going in earnest this past weekend.  Mike Koerner (no surprise) was first to reach diamond distance, soaring 352 miles to Austin, NV.  Karl Sommer, Peter Kovari and Jim Ketcham also flew north that day, and so we have our first debrief of Saturday's festivities.  Karl’s report:Mike Koerner sent out an e-mail stating good soaring weather coming up for this weekend. When I got to the airportMike (CF) was already assembled and ready. Peter (PK) and myself (C3) figured to get going a bit closer to noon accordingto what the Blipmap showed. The sky was blanketed with a layer of cirrus in all directions, so what directionis better? At our Pilots meeting we thought Vegas might be better but the darn cirrus was not forecasted. CF took offaround 10 struggled and soon after declared Mojave, JK joined him coming from Agua Dulce. C3 and PK towed outafter 11:30 and got to 12K and left heading N even so we heard them struggling low around Cal City.Soon we were struggling too, we flew together. I still can make Mojave got some lift over the windmills close to Cache,can make it to Cal City, than Cantil, then we got to 7K at Red Rock, tiptoe to Isabella turn off, can make Inyokern, lookingup at the Boomers ridge back and forth inching up seeing lots of rocks moving along the ridge, got a wild one 8K,an other one closer to Owens Peak 13K finally some cool air, along the Sierra towards Olancha was able to catch agusty one short of Olancha Pk 14K, crossing Owens Dry Lake to the S slope, could not find anything worthwhile.Asked myself “still having fun, what are the chances to make a diamond etc.” I was hot and tired, so I landed in LonePine. (That rock polishing is hard work). 4:13 hrs. Sean helped me getting off the dirt strip, since my crew had tocome back from Manzanar.Peter landed in Independence, we then drove together to the Indian Wells and had a nice dinner with a cool one.Afterwards parked the gliders back at Crystal.Nice 1st outing of the season. CF made it to Austin, JK turned at Boundary Pk and landed in Bishop. Mike’s comments:I only have a couple things to add to Karl’s report:1) I agree that the heavy cirrus layer was probably what killed Dr. Jack’s forecast. (I meet Dr. Jack at his Hall of Fameinduction a couple weeks ago. Great guy.)2) Having Jim out in front marking thermals was a big help. Thanks.3)I have radio problems. I can’t hear my plane radio without closing my vent and leaning my head back toward thespeaker. My crew’s base station won’t transmit and the squelch doesn’t work. Their handheld transmits but doesn’treceive well while driving. Thanks for your patience.4) My son, David, is getting married in Zion. We’re going to spend the week in the area with our future in-laws, and I’mgoing climbing on father’s day weekend, so I’ll be gone for a while. This is the best time of the year. I expect to readabout some spectacular flights. Go ahead and make me jealous. Peter’s comments:Ditto Karl; prior to leaving we debated as to which way Jose, and the end of the day we zigged when we should havezagged.The lift around Crystal was probably the highlight of the whole trip although not at the usual places. Than it all wentdownhill from there. I too arrived hot, tired, late and low over Lone Pine. Managed some altitude by the Haystack andjust had enough for Independence.Dinner and company were great through, I still had a good time. Thanks guys!