Aerotowing at Moose's

Last year Farm Flight closed for aerotowing operations. It took a lot of research from Jim, Tim, and JT, but they found a new strip with a welcoming owner named Moose. Moose lives east of the Black Forest in what I call the "mimi black forest". The Black Forest is a band of trees that extends eastward from the Palmer Divide where the elevation is just high enough to support conifers. The mini black forest is a smaller wooded area capping a rise in the eastern plains were the elevation scrapes enough above 6000 feet for a less dense grove of pine trees to grow. Moose has a nice plot of land there nestled in the trees with a long grass strip oriented to the northwest / southeast.

The local community has been towing there all summer, but my work schedule has kept me from flying anything but oil burners. I finally got out one Sunday in August. The day looked promising with a good lapse rate, wispy cumi's, and light westerly winds. The drive to Moose's a journey through the two worlds of Colorado from the urbanized foothills to desolate plains. The small towns that dot I-70 are nothing more than a hand full of buildings huddled together to avoid the relentless wind like the beef cattle surrounding them.

A Lone Prong Horn

When I got to Moose's everyone was rigged and Grant had been in the air for 45 minutes coring well marked lift under nicely formed cumis. I rigged quickly and talked with Jim and BJ about the route they planned. It was a 100 mile triangle to the east, north, and back. Since I was they were on rigid wings my plan was to tow up first and get a head start. When they caught me hopefully we could work together to stay airborne over the no-mans land below.

Rigged

Tim, Moose, and Grant

Jim

I pinned off in textured air and soon found a descent climb up to 9000 feet. I was still a couple thousand feet below cloud base, but was confident I would get a boomer. I worked several more disorganized thermals fighting increasingly strong west winds aloft and my confidence faded. I had plenty of glide to work up wind over the field while waiting for the boomer, but it never came. The trend was deteriorating, I decided to push south where the clouds looked better.

Towing

I didn't know it at the time, but the window was closing. BJ towed up next and found a climb to cloud base and the window was closed. Everyone else found themselves on ground after pinning off. I continued to work my way southeast in deteriorating conditions. I knew if I could just get high the thermals would become more organized, but below 9000 feet it was giant mixing bowl. With nothing to loose I worked east getting lower and lower with each climb until I pushed a last ditch glide landing about 10 miles to the east.

Flying Over the Mini Black Forest

And the Plains

BJ managed to stay above 10,000 feet and patiently flew most of the triangle in about 5 hours! I made it back to Moose's with time to rig again, but the day was done and both my tows were extended sled rides.

Landing Back at Mooses

It was a great break from the monotony of work and a reminder that I am still a hang glider pilot. I can't wait until fall when the air will get better and hopefully my schedule!