02/11/12

November 26 Saturday -- Anapra Mesa delight & the E. Potrillo Mountains -- Visiting pilots Gingher Leyendecker, Jim MacKenzie, Christoph Clemens, and local instructor Had Robinson hit the jackpot at Anapra today! Winds were perfect for soaring this east facing site: 9-12 mph right out of the east.  Gingher was able to discover "The Second Wave", an atypical wave lift event that occurs much higher than the ridge lift normally occurs at the mesa.  Various pilots were able to top land but all except our heroine Gingher got tangled in the bushes in one way or another.  The US Border Patrol -- as usual -- was entertained to see the largest number of paragliders ever in the sky over Anapra!  Christoph also flew in the E. Potrillo Mountains earlier in the day -- we think he is the first ever to fly Anapra, N. Mt. Franklin, and the E. Potrillo Mountains all within a three day period.  Congrats to Christoph!

Christoph (from Koblenz, Germany) hiking up to a spot near the Torrey Paso launch in the E. Potrillo Mountains.  He was fascinated by cactus -- to the right is a small Barrel Cactus.

Looking northwest from Torrey Paso launch over the back with Mt. Cox in the background.  Christoph noted that he was "too busy to take photos while he was flying in the Potrillo Mountains."

Jim (foreground) and Gingher scramble to set up and get in the air.  Because there is a barb wire fence right behind the top of the mesa, it is always safer to set up just below the ridge -- in case there is a mishap while launching.

Gingher, a skilled PG pilot, was the first of our visitors to launch.  Christoph provided some help as we always have to deal with the bushes....

Jim does a hard left turn in the strong lift over the Mesa -- we haven't had safe and pleasant flying conditions for months and months at Anapra.

Christoph getting high over Anapra

Gingher was able to locate the jump point to get into the Second Wave at Anapra -- less than a handful have ever done it.

Christoph (top) and Jim soar the ridge -- old Mexico is in the background.

Gingher parked in the "Second Wave" above Anapra.  Lucky girl!!! When the wind sock is straight out -- you KNOW conditions are GOOD!

Christoph with Cristo Rey in the background

Jim (left) and Gingher out in front of the Mesa.  Conditions were outstanding for visiting pilots today.

Shadows are getting long.  We had almost two hours of flying at the site.

It's almost 6 PM -- time to come down.  What a day we all had!  Gingher was the last to land.