I arrived at launch at 9:00am.  The wind was blowing straight in to that huge south east face at 15 to 20 mph.  Occasionally the wind would blow ever so slightly cross from the right and lull a little.  Cumulus clouds were already forming to the east over the Donner Lake area and indicating the winds aloft were out of the south.  I launched immediately and  found solid lift in every direction.  

This was some big-time air that had my toes curled at times.  For the next three hours things were pretty solid on the east face and flying was a blast.  To land, I would dive below launch and float up while paralleling the access road to the left.   As soon as I got inches above the level of the road I just moved the Mongo Jr. over the road and in to the slight rotor.  I did one landing approach from the back but the nasty rotor was more than I wanted to deal with again.

By noon the cumulus clouds had advanced to Red Mountain and conditions on the east face were changing.  The crosswind component that was very slight and occasional earlier, was now prevailing.  I found myself level and sometimes below launch in 70 degree crosswind and was only able to get back up when a big thermal cycle moved through.  From noon to 1pm I kicked rocks and explored the top of the mountain.  That is one impressive looking lookout on the point, I have never seen anything like it.

By 1:30pm I was able to launch the west side!!  Thermal cycles that were so strong that they would shake the trees were occurring on both sides of the mountain.  My flights on the west side were basically a quick ride up when a thermal came through and then solid turbulent sink back down to launch due to the extreme crosswind from the south.  The south-east side was doing the same thing but if you launched in a cycle and headed south to the point you could get up is some booming thermals.  These were pretty much the conditions I was flying in until I left the top at 2:30pm. 

The last mile or so of road is exactly as you describe.  My Vanagon may never be the same.  It made the summit but only barely.  I needed a light jacket when I arrived but soon it was t-shirt weather. Red Mountain reminds me of a hang gliding site we fly in Trinity County, Weaver Bally (7,000 MSL).  Huge thermals rolling through, cumulus clouds swirling overhead and dust devils dancing on the top…it is beautiful. 

Phil Seargent

7/7/2000