What can I say? COOL!!!!!
So my birthday rolled around and my Dad asked what I wanted. I'd been thinking about Amtrekker and admiring his resolve to just do the things he's always wanted to. Well, I think I'm going to start living like that.
I've grown up here, I know the fun things to do here (even if I haven't done them), and I know what I'd like to do... one day.
One of which is soaring high above the Sierras in a glider. So enough of One Day... Let's do it Today!
And I did.
We arrived at the Minden Airport at 10:30a, a half hour too early, so we grabbed a quick bite at the Taildragger Cafe - a restaurant we were entirely clueless about until just then, and then headed over to the office of Soar Minden and checked in.
Outside, we watched some skydivers and other gliders take off and land around the valley. Then, my turn. I get strapped into the glider, waited as we were pushed into position and latched onto the tow plane. The line grew tighter and soon we were rolling faster and faster down the runway.
Take off!
The ride was absolutely incredible and the views were breathtaking! I've never seen the mountains nor the Lake look so remarkable. Words failed me about halfway through the flight as I could only sit dumbfounded and staring out the canopy.
Course, I ended up with the stunt pilot. As we released and hung 13K above sea level and a mile above the lake, we did a slow spin to get the full panorama of the lake. Then, as we smoothly glided over to Spooner Lake, Jon asked if I was ready (silly me said Yes) and we nose dived straight towards Spooner, pulling up into a tight turn and headed back to Freel Peak. WAHOO!
Then we did it again, providing a sweeping view of all of Lake Tahoe!
Then again as we skated along the ridge of Genoa Peak to head back out into the valley and make our approach towards Hot Springs Mountain.
I'd been warned. I knew this, but I'm a glutton for punishment.
Jon asked if I was ready for some whoop-di-dos. OF COURSE!
Dive, dive, and pull up into a steep turn, before plunging down again into a spiral, nose up, and dive again into another turn. Brief level off as we're both cheering and laughing, then do it again, DIVE! Whoo hooo!
Third time - then all of a sudden my brain and my stomach got into an argument. I felt it coming on and refused to get sick in the cockpit. I froze in the seat, closing my eyes, and eliminating the twisting ground beneath me until I regained control of my reactions. It was close, but I found my limit (course, knowing me, that'll only provide me reason to find a way to push past it).
We swung around towards the runway and brought the glider in for a smooth landing that felt WAY to close to the ground. That's the difference of being only a foot or so off the ground rather than in a seat high above the tarmac in a commerical flight.
We finished off the day by heading out to b0neZ parents where hotdogs, cake, and ice cream awaited us. I passed on most of it as my stomach was still rather grumpy with me, but all in all, I don't care.
I had a BLAST!
10/25/2008
NevadaWolf found Carson City Freeway, Is It Becoming A Pipe Dream?
So my birthday rolled around and my Dad asked what I wanted. I'd been thinking about Amtrekker and admiring his resolve to just do the things he's always wanted to. Well, I think I'm going to start living like that.
I've grown up here, I know the fun things to do here (even if I haven't done them), and I know what I'd like to do... one day.
One of which is soaring high above the Sierras in a glider. So enough of One Day... Let's do it Today!
And I did.
We arrived at the Minden Airport at 10:30a, a half hour too early, so we grabbed a quick bite at the Taildragger Cafe - a restaurant we were entirely clueless about until just then, and then headed over to the office of Soar Minden and checked in.
Outside, we watched some skydivers and other gliders take off and land around the valley. Then, my turn. I get strapped into the glider, waited as we were pushed into position and latched onto the tow plane. The line grew tighter and soon we were rolling faster and faster down the runway.Take off!
The ride was absolutely incredible and the views were breathtaking! I've never seen the mountains nor the Lake look so remarkable. Words failed me about halfway through the flight as I could only sit dumbfounded and staring out the canopy.
Course, I ended up with the stunt pilot. As we released and hung 13K above sea level and a mile above the lake, we did a slow spin to get the full panorama of the lake. Then, as we smoothly glided over to Spooner Lake, Jon asked if I was ready (silly me said Yes) and we nose dived straight towards Spooner, pulling up into a tight turn and headed back to Freel Peak. WAHOO!Then we did it again, providing a sweeping view of all of Lake Tahoe!
Then again as we skated along the ridge of Genoa Peak to head back out into the valley and make our approach towards Hot Springs Mountain.
I'd been warned. I knew this, but I'm a glutton for punishment.
Jon asked if I was ready for some whoop-di-dos. OF COURSE!
Dive, dive, and pull up into a steep turn, before plunging down again into a spiral, nose up, and dive again into another turn. Brief level off as we're both cheering and laughing, then do it again, DIVE! Whoo hooo!Third time - then all of a sudden my brain and my stomach got into an argument. I felt it coming on and refused to get sick in the cockpit. I froze in the seat, closing my eyes, and eliminating the twisting ground beneath me until I regained control of my reactions. It was close, but I found my limit (course, knowing me, that'll only provide me reason to find a way to push past it).
We swung around towards the runway and brought the glider in for a smooth landing that felt WAY to close to the ground. That's the difference of being only a foot or so off the ground rather than in a seat high above the tarmac in a commerical flight.
We finished off the day by heading out to b0neZ parents where hotdogs, cake, and ice cream awaited us. I passed on most of it as my stomach was still rather grumpy with me, but all in all, I don't care.
I had a BLAST!
10/25/2008
NevadaWolf found Carson City Freeway, Is It Becoming A Pipe Dream?
1 comment:
Sounds like an incredible experience. I may be getting too old to experience that kind of craziness.
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