Fridge on the Fritz

'twas the day after Thanksgiving...

and our refrigerator died :-(
At first the lights started to flicker,

then they all went out and it just stopped cooling.

So, I emptied out all of the food, and Keri took the opportunity to clean it from top to bottom.

Fortunately, we had a small extra freezer in the garage for the frozen meats, and the garage temperature was cool enough to serve as a refrigerator :-) It was funny how the boys would still, out of habit, open the fridge to contemplate a snack - only to find it dark and empty!

I was able to track the problem down to the main 4" x 5" circuit board/control module,

where it was pretty obvious that part of it was fried :-( Fortunately, it was still within the 5-yr warranty :-) Unfortunately, the circuit board was covered only for the first year :-( So I went to the local dealer, who told me that the part would cost $120, but he did not have it in stock, and could not order it until Monday :-(
So we made do with our garage-fridge until the part arrived on Tuesday :-)

I installed the new board, re-assembled the fridge (with no extra parts left over!) - and it worked!! (Tanner was simply ecstatic - can't you tell?) :-}

The service/parts guy said that the bulging top on the component in the center of this picture indicates power surge damage, which, apparently, is not uncommon for our city. A power surge can wreak havoc with any appliance that happens to have a computer controller, board, or chip (don't they all have at least one?!) He recommended that we spend $500 to surge protect our entire home at the breaker box (yeah, right!)

We opted for the cheaper $6.88 1,120 Joule outlet surge protector - a bargain at twice that price if it prevents another blown circuit board! I also purchased a few others to protect our other main appliances, and replaced the ones for our computers!

"Yaaaaayyyyyyy - Foooooood in the Fridge!!!!!"

Let it Snow!

Okay, okay...I suppose that since it is almost December, and we have had no measurable snow in the valley since last winter, it probably is about time we had some snow.

It didn't turn out to be much more than an inch here in the valley, but the mountains did get more.

I can't believe the snowplows were out to scrape off one puny little inch of snow! Two months from now, I bet they won't even come out unless more than 6 inches have already fallen! (Our tax dollars hard at work?!)

It would just be nice if the snow stayed above about 6,000' (so I could still drive to the Short Divide launch!)

The last time Clobberhead saw snow she was just a few months old.

Today she had to go work on her big plastic pumpkin - even in the snow!

"Must, Destroy...

...Evil Plastic Pumpkin!!!"

Sunrise, Moon-set

My last posting was definitely a bit wordy, far exceeding my normal text-to-picture ratio. I will try to return balance to my 'blog with this, mostly picture posting!

These pictures were taken a few mornings ago after returning from my paper route, as the sunrise in the east splashed a pink glow over the full moon setting in the west, directly over Short Divide.

My point and shoot camera did not exactly capture the entire beauty of the moment, but the shots are still worth perusing. Late last month I was able to watch an awesome meteor shower-show for a few days while delivering papers. Although it is not always fun to get up so early, it occasionally provides some intrinsic rewards which would otherwise go unnoticed!

You may or may not have noticed that I used this shot to replace my 'blog title background =-}

A Sort of Homecoming

...And you hunger for the time

Time to heal, desire, time

And your earth moves beneath

Your own dream landscape...*

Friday I was feeling a bit lazy, still trying to digest Thanksgiving, thinking about going flying, when Cody called with the same idea! Based on the current conditions and the afternoon forecast, we were confident that a drive to the north side of the Point of the Mountain would be well worth it. After helping Keri get out Christmas decorations so she could deck the halls, I met Cody at the park & ride where we joined forces for the drive to SLC. While we talked HG most of the way there, I realized that it had been over four years since I had last flown the Point - in June of 2003...

...I recalled how in 1986 I paid my dues on the south side, repeatedly carrying my glider back up the training hill after countless launches, sled rides, and landings. Gradually, eventually, I began spending more time soaring in the smooth morning air than on the ground, as my hard work began to pay off! Up to this point I feared thermals and only flew within a few hours after sunrise or a couple hours before sunset.

I progressed to the north side, where my bump tolerance slowly increased. It was there in the Fall of '86 that I "cut my thermalling teeth" and learned how to actually turn a complete circle in lift and climb high enough to bench up to the higher mountain behind launch. From that day on, the sky has been the limit, and the rewards have been incredible. Today was a "sort of homecoming" on the north side!

*Many people who read this 'blog know the Point better than me - but for the benefit of those who are not familiar with it, here is a brief history and explanation: (Those who already know all of this can skip ahead to the less boring "good stuff" - Or you can skip ALL of the narrative and just look at the pretty pictures - after all, it IS, thankfully, a FREE Country!!)

The Point of the Mountain consists of the east/west oriented Traverse Mountains and the terrace-like bench formation at south end of the Salt Lake valley, which run perpendicular to the main Wasatch Front mountain range. It was created about 15,000 years ago as a result of ancient Lake Bonneville, which covered much of the Great Basin. The prevailing north wind caused lake currents to deposit gravel and sediment, resulting in a geological feature known as a "spit," which was extended and built up as lake levels rose and fell (evidence of the existence of global climate changes long before man began spewing hydrocarbons.)

The Point was frequently soared in the early 1900's by sailplane pilots. From 1965 to 1988, the original "Widowmaker" motorcycle hill climb competition was held on the north side on the face of Steep Mountain. It was discontinued after crowds, reaching 20,000 people, reportedly became too much of a public safety hazard. I remember, as a kid, watching the event on "Wide World of Sports". Although I dreamed of flying as a boy, I never imagined that the same location would allow me to actually live that dream.

With the birth and development of modern hang gliding, the Point was a natural location, and soon evolved into a hang gliding and paragliding mecca. Today it is a destination visited by pilots from all over the world coming to learn how to fly and advance their soaring and mountain flying skills.

The Point is a unique inland anomaly yielding such consistent soaring conditions so many days out of the year, generally reserved for coastal sites. This is the result of a daily wind pattern driven by the Great Salt Lake. During the night the lake water temperature becomes relatively warmer, causing the air to rise quicker than that which is over the surrounding land, resulting in a morning south breeze as the air rushes in to fill the void. During the day, as the surrounding land is warmed, the wind shifts to an "onshore" flow moving away from the lake, resulting in an afternoon north wind at the Point. This is the typical daily wind pattern on a "normal" high pressure day.

If there happens to be an approaching front, it will bring pre-frontal south winds, and post-frontal north winds, which may enhance the typical lake-effect winds. What this all means, is that as long as it isn't raining or snowing, either the south or the north side (or both) will be soarable on a majority of any given day!

When I first flew the Point in 1986 it was wide open and undeveloped - other than a few power lines and a couple of small gravel operations. As excavation gradually ate away at the bench, and neighborhoods began encroaching on launches and landing zones, it became apparent that measures must be taken to preserve the Point, or free flight would soon become a fading memory. Through the efforts of many, today both the south and north side of the Point have been preserved as designated flight parks, a legacy which will, hopefully, be here for many generations to come. http://www.uhgpga.org/

Friday, as Cody and I arrived at launch, there were a few other pilots setting up, with conditions looking great - a steady north wind of 15+ mph. It was a brisk, sunny, blue-sky day with miles of visibility. The sun took the edge off of the cold, upper 30 temps, but the wind chill sort of negated that effect. We met up with Greg B. and some of the other local pilots jones-in' for some holiday airtime. We wasted little time with set-up and pre-flight, after which I added a number layers clothing - on top of what I already had - stuffed hand warmers in my gloves, and hooked in. As I joined the small queue leading to the HG launch,

I watched Dr. Craig with a passenger launch and quickly climb high enough to bench up over Steep Mountain. Although the wind was slightly cross to the east, today looked like a no-brainer! My turn quickly came and once in position, I leaned through the bar and eagerly ran into thin air. Greg and Cody soon followed, and within a few minutes we were all boating around over the upper mountain,

looking straight down on launch. Conditions were moderately strong but smooth with some gentle thermals mixed in, keeping the bag-wings to a minimum. Cody and Greg took turns inching up to my wingtip for a photo-op.

On one occasion, Greg nearly put his wing tip in my face (a slight exaggeration) when I was not quite ready to take the picture. As a result it was poorly framed and a bit blurry, but you get the idea!

We then took turns venturing eastward into the gap toward Corner Canyon,

testing the lift for a potential out-and-return to Lone Peak. It was apparent that there was just not enough thermal activity to allow this trip today, so we returned over the Point,

and took turns finding the top of the lift and practicing wingovers in the magical, uncrowded air and humongous lift band.

As the shadows lengthened, I set the bar at minimum sink and pointed toward Lone Peak again, "just for fun!" There seemed to be more of a glass-off this time, judging from the seat of my pants,

along with my constant view over the back toward Mount Timpanogas.

I slowly flew over the golf course until I was nearly over the new temple under construction. At this point I new I could make it to the ridge leading up to Lone Peak, but I wasn't sure of the route, and it was only about 10 or 15 minutes until sunset. I decided to play it conservative,

and returned to the Point to set up a bench landing, knowing that there will be future opportunities to fly to Lone Peak.

The sun dipped behind the mountains as I fought down through the lift to set up my final approach for a somewhat tricky, but successful bench landing,

just in time for the full moon-rise over Lone Peak.
On the way home, Cody, Greg and I met again to discuss the anatomy of a wingover and review the days' adventures over fried rice and kung pao chicken. On the way home Cody and I talked launches & landing zones, speed to fly & thermal trigger theories. I agreed to not let four more years pass before I return again to the Point!

...Oh don't sorrow

No don't weep

For tonight, at last

I am coming home

I am coming home!

Airtime: 1 hour 52 minutes!

*U2: The Unforgettable Fire

Happy TurkeyDayBirthday

Landon!

You Big Turkey!

I'm Thankful For...

"Lighter" newspapers? (Lighter than last year, that is!)

Thanksgiving Day is traditionally the biggest newspaper delivery day of the year - and today was no exception! The paper is about 98 percent adds and inserts for day-after-Thanksgiving holiday sales, and about 2 percent "news." (Can you believe that some store sales start at 4 am tomorrow?!!! How ridiculous is that!)

But at least this year the papers averaged "only" 2.7 lbs. each, (compared to 3.0 lbs. last year.) Our route has about 56 subscribers, so today the papers weighed a total of 151 lbs. - a few pounds more than ME.

The paper route began for Josh a number of years ago as a way for him to earn a little spending cash and learn some responsibility. That lasted a year or so, and then the whole family took turns, dividing up the income. Finally, everyone tired of the early morning delivery -

especially in the winter - everyone, that is, except me! I look at it as a way of getting paid a little extra money (I'm saving for a new hang glider :-]) to go for a brisk walk and get some exercise every morning, which I might not make the time to do otherwise.

The weekday papers have to be delivered by 6:30 am, the weekend by 7:00 am. I can do the route in about 25 minutes, so I roll out of bed at about 5:50 am, and am out the door by 6:05. Clover has been going with me lately. She enjoys the walk without a leash, and gets to sniff and explore every yard in the neighborhood - pausing to torment a few fenced-in or kennelled dogs along the way.

Last year I had to put the papers into two 2-sided delivery bags.

This year I crammed them all into one.

Keri had to help me get the bag on and balanced just right, before I squeezed out the front door. She actually offered to drive me (for a fee ;-]), but I told her thanks but no thanks. I could have carried half of the papers at a time, but noooooo. I think it was a combination of my ego, pride, greed, laziness, stupidity, or a combination of all the above which led me to do it all at once by myself.

But I "got 'er done" without falling over once! Now I can really be thankful that it is 365 days until NEXT Thanksgiving!

Three Hill High!

There is a potential launch I have been eyeing from our backyard treehouse for some time but, until today, have never taken the time to explore. It is a series of three small SW facing ridges identified on USGS quads as "Three Hill". The "launch" is a steep spot on the north ridge at 5,600', about 300' above a large bailout LZ at its base. I could not drive all the way to launch, so I ended up hauling my glider & gear the last .9 mile on my shoulders.



I arrived on launch by 13:00 as pre-frontal winds were already building, and I knew that a substantial front would arrive later in the afternoon. Conditions on this sunny late Indian Summer day were beautiful - a record high 66 degrees with SW winds of 18-22 mph. This would be the last of the 60's - or maybe even 50's that we would see this year, and could open the door to the winter snowstorms.



I set up behind a juniper tree, and by 13:30 was standing along a steep portion of the ridge, with Ol' Sport tugging at my hang straps. I always have a sense of excitement on launch, but today there were a few more butterflies of anticipation! Launch was an easy two steps, into my cocoon, and instantly soaring Three Hill. The "front" hill or ridge is about 75' lower than the north launch ridge, with the shorter middle "hill" farther east and of little consequence. I was able to soar back and forth between the two ridges until a bubble came through and took me about 400' over, allowing me to drift north over Hyde Park Canyon and reach the face of Cedar Mountain. I found little if any lift along the south canyon-facing side, so I flew around the front and found plenty of lift along the west face,



allowing me to climb over the top of Cedar to about 6,100' where the ridge lift was plentiful. I took a few pictures and watched one of the university trainer airplanes fly by in the valley about 500 vertical feet below me. With no instruments today I had a hard time staying with the gentle thermals which seemed to track up the main spine and release along the way or near the top. After taking a few pictures and marvelling at the miles of clear, blue-sky visibility, I started to focus on the lift and "tune-in" to my altitude in relation to the nearby ridge and mountains.



Relying on the visual cues around me, I soon found a large thermal in which I could climb and drift.



I arrived at the higher mountain range to the east at about 6,400' and found abundant lift along the face, with an obvious southerly component. I now had to stuff the bar to make progress to the south, but was gradually climbing with every spine and ridge along the way.


I soon found myself at the mouth of Green Canyon, with enough altitude to attempt the crossing! I lost about 800' beating through the venturi, but soon found lift on the other side which quickly took me up and over the next mountain,


topping out 500' over the microwave towers at about 8,000' MSL. From here I flew south until I was looking straight down on Logan Canyon and across to Logan Peak, where I took notice of a stronger funnel-effect. I decided that I would leave that crossing for another day, and pointed back north to regain a safer "glide cushion". I later found out just how prudent a decision this was when I saw that the Logan Peak wind gauge had registered a 60 mph gust from the west at 15:04 - no wonder the canyons seemed to be "sucking"!

The last seven years I have not only dreamed of flying this mountain range, but also of landing in the field behind my back yard. At 4,000' over the valley, I knew I had a chance to make it today, so I pointed west to go for it. By watching my goal, I soon realized that it was not to be today, due to the stiff headwind. With the bar stuffed, my ground speed was 2 or 3 mph, and my glide suffered greatly due to my light wing loading (about 1 lb/sq. ft.) and lack of VG. So I eased the bar out, climbed back over the mountain,



and just enjoyed the new, incredible view of the university and city laid out below.



I noticed the approaching front on the horizon nw of the Short Divide,


so I pointed north, raced back over Cedar Mountain, and began to fight my way down through the lift.


I thought about top landing, but decided to make a long, conservative final approach over the wide open bailout LZ, where I gently touched down at 15:30 into a nice 15 mph headwind.
I packed up, retrieved my pick-up, and made it home before dark. I know I fell asleep with a big grin on my sun-kissed, slightly wind-burned face - dreaming of the day's adventures.

Airtime: 2 Hours!