Chicken Creek with Crazy LoopS 13m 12m Feb 8
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:42 pmAs indicated, I went to Strawberry and pulled into the River at 1035. Crazy LoopS McBlunt was an hour or so behind. The river was light, so I went to Chicken Creek - 11-13m wind. NICE! Sky was pretty clear, and I figured 3 hours or so of decent visabilty in the future. Went to the view area quick. Even windier, but the west facing hills didn't have much snow.
I launched 13m at Chicken Creek at about 1130 and kited until about 3. Highlights included...
1) Decent snow. Not great, a wee grabby, some pockets of soft stuff
2) East Northeast Wind which opened up the west faces of the hills. This is where the snow had loaded from the last few days. The back (west face) of Chicken Creek was a disaster. Not even kiteable - no snow
3) I went all the way to the ladders and then played on all the stuff by the highway. It was gusty, but not really THAT gusty. Maybe I have been in Utah too long. I had plenty of fun and thought about trying to gap the huge cut in the dirt, but by myself - not a good idea.
4) Andy and I rallied the crap out of the West side of the main hill. The small cornice was very firm and became a bitchin' rail slide several hundred feet long.
5) Crazy LoopS gets the plural name for a reason. At one point, he had a ton of height, looped the kite, and with plenty of remaining air, decided, "hey why not loop it the other way?" A flawless S-Bend was the result. Shortly thereafter he beat the living crap out of himself trying something else. But is was a hoot to watch.
6) I had a few good crashes and had to do multiple passes through the center lines and twisty maneuvers to get my lines straight again.
7) It started to snow and the clouds closed in as soon as we left at about 3.
A great day for sure. I think the east faces at the view area would have been good if you had tiptoed into them, but I think the wind would have been more gusty.
9) I'm very tired. Monday looks really good. Pray for snow and wind!
I launched 13m at Chicken Creek at about 1130 and kited until about 3. Highlights included...
1) Decent snow. Not great, a wee grabby, some pockets of soft stuff
2) East Northeast Wind which opened up the west faces of the hills. This is where the snow had loaded from the last few days. The back (west face) of Chicken Creek was a disaster. Not even kiteable - no snow
3) I went all the way to the ladders and then played on all the stuff by the highway. It was gusty, but not really THAT gusty. Maybe I have been in Utah too long. I had plenty of fun and thought about trying to gap the huge cut in the dirt, but by myself - not a good idea.
4) Andy and I rallied the crap out of the West side of the main hill. The small cornice was very firm and became a bitchin' rail slide several hundred feet long.
5) Crazy LoopS gets the plural name for a reason. At one point, he had a ton of height, looped the kite, and with plenty of remaining air, decided, "hey why not loop it the other way?" A flawless S-Bend was the result. Shortly thereafter he beat the living crap out of himself trying something else. But is was a hoot to watch.
6) I had a few good crashes and had to do multiple passes through the center lines and twisty maneuvers to get my lines straight again.
7) It started to snow and the clouds closed in as soon as we left at about 3.
A great day for sure. I think the east faces at the view area would have been good if you had tiptoed into them, but I think the wind would have been more gusty.9) I'm very tired. Monday looks really good. Pray for snow and wind!