IRON MAN HANG-GLIDING: Who does XC in November in New England?!?!!?

I had been doing a new workout (Cross-Pit) for a few weeks that was really whipping me into some awesome shape. I was feeling like some adventurous exercise to test things out. Flying Mt. Tom has been on my agenda for a while now. Mt. Tom is a site often exclusive to Para-Gliders due to the hike up a 70 to 80% grade on loose shale.

J-J and I starting up the trail.

I was up for some rigorous training but 60lbs. of glider and 40-50lbs of gear is a bit beyond my limits without an all day event up such a steep climb. If I was going to fly Mt. Tom, I was going to need another pilot to assist with the hike. I called J-J as he's always up for an adventure. J-J was on board and looking to fly there as well. We both had morning activities in the way so we decided to meet around noon and head out.

The Summit!

After rendezvousing at the meeting point, we had both been doing some quick calculations and realized with the allotted time, only one pilot was going to be able to fly. J-J was fine with sitting this one out, and offered to go along and help me out. We embarked and arrived around 3pm at the base of Mt. Tom.

J-J looking thrilled after the hike.

We quickly unloaded the car and I put on some cold weather gear for the flight. We hit the trail and made it to the summit in 30 minutes. If I recall, we stopped once or twice to revitalize. The killer wasn't the hike, or the rocky trail, it was the thousands of leaves lining the trail that made for some slippery climbing.

Launch. Not a fun one!

We quickly set up my glider and I did a pre-flight. Then we inspected launch and came up with an idea of how to approach it and where J-J was going to be on the wing. The wind was blowing about 15 to 20 mph but everything seemed manageable.

Times ticking. Not much daylight left.

As I approached launch, the sculpture of the cliff gave the wind plenty of opportunity to make things difficult. The air was gnarly and J-J had to jump from wing to wing to assist me in keeping the glider on the cliff. In retrospect, I will not launch here again without a 2 or 3 person wire crew. At one point I felt like I was going to be sucked over the edge. As my nerves wound up, my patience grew thin, and the pucker-factor was way beyond 10! I decided the safest thing to do was get into the air by any means necessary.

Mt. Tom Range, Connecticut River, Skinner State Park in the distance.

The terrain was too slippery and steep to back off launch with just the two of us. I waited for the glider to stop moving (on the ground), lifted the wing slightly to test the air. I felt the wing stabilize so I pulled in, and ran like a demon from hell, leaving the sun lit red brimstone of the mountain in my dust.

Full moon on one side.

Once I was in the air I relaxed and settled in to the screaming lift coming off the ridge. I zipped up so I would stay warm, buzzed launch to thank J-J, and headed North to get some pictures. As I returned to launch, J-J had already left and began the descent. The plan was for him to get the car and meet me at the pre-determined LZ.

Sunset on the other.

I began exploring the ridge and realizing I could do a bit more than just stay at Mt. Tom. There were small ratty thermals poking up, and I was able to get 700 fpm up in a few of them. I topped out at 2076' but had plenty of altitude over the 1100' ridge. I began to eye Mt. Holyoke in Skinner State Park to the North, another site I have flown.

View from aloft.

Sunset.

Affectionately known as 'The Rock', more appropriately named 'The Radiation!'.

As I flew the ridge and pondered trying to jump the gap to Skinner, I bounced back and forth between laying out my strategy, and fighting the inner turmoil in my head that was going to send J-J to the wrong LZ waiting for me to land, and then finding no sign of me. Plus I would be on the other side of the river which was not an easy hop skip and a jump (unless you're in the air).

I had left the radio behind as it was added weight. So I had no way of communicating my intentions with J-J. Eventually I decided, flying two sites in one day without touching the ground, and making an attempt at something I had yet to try but chomped at the bit to do, was far more important than a little stress and out of the way driving for my compatriot. Off I went.

Almost there! A little closer...

I gained as much altitude as I could, topping out at a little over 2k feet. I setup my course, had my bailouts if I didn't make it, pulled the bar in to best glide, and lunged forth into the unknown. Visor was down, I tucked my arms and elbows, and streamlined my body as tight as I could get it. I stayed ever vigil on bar position the entire way as I had no room to spare - this was going to be tight.

MADE IT!!! Skinner Launch fly by.

There was no margin for error if I made a mistake, or got lazy on my glide as there would be no lift in between. The late day and lack of thermal activity meant I that whatever altitude I left with, was all I had in the bag.

View of LZ after passing by launch. Plenty of ridge lift here too!

I made it! I came in to the ridge and picked up the lift band climbing back out. I arrived about 200' over launch with a huge ass grin on my face. Followed by a few hoots and hollars. By now I had completely forgotten about my hesitation and inconveniencing my friend. The party was on!

The Skinner State Park Summit House - Proof of Flight.

I soared the Holyoke range soaking in the glory and then proceeded to do a few wing overs to celebrate. As I simmered down, I noticed the view settling in over the valley.

Hard to go land when you have a view like this!

As dusk quickly approached, I soaked every last minute I could get of the spectacular view then peeled out to make my final approach. I flew down the riverbed and came in to the LZ with a nice no step landing to a few cars that had stopped to see the show.

After snapping a few pics I called J-J and gave him my location for retrieve. He quickly got on course and arrived 25 minutes later to pick me up. Thanks go out to him for his support!