Hike and Fly Scoop Mountain, 4 Mile Hike, 2 Hr Wait, 12 Minute Flight #99, Dumb Sheep, Sore Soak - Thursday

After a stop at the store in Deer Park yesterday morning I was headed for Scoop Mountain. The ridge looks over the plain of north Spokane County and southern Stevens county. It sits due west of the farm but is not visible to us due to us being in the river bottom.

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I was first to the LZ and went and put up my wind sock out on the hump. Chris arrived then Isaac and we were soon hiking the long trudge to the top.

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One section of bushwacking otherwise it was all dirt road hiking.

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Stopped off at the spot I launched from the first time and the wind measured a solid 20mph....

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Got to the ridge top in the saddle between the peaks and kept trudging to the north.

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The bowl is a straight funnel for the winds and the compression over the ridge top made for some seriously strong gusts.

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The Roundup truck is sitting on the ridge. We will have to be cautious of where they are spraying for next ventures.

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Finally made it to the launch after a 4 mile hike/trudge.

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One hell of a view from the top. Looking SE.

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Looking NE.

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Mt Spokane straight east.

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The wind was being a pain in the ass so we were parawaiting and I looked down to see a cicada on my pants. I got it on my hand then set it on a bush nearby where it right away sprayed. I just missed getting shit on by the bug.

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And here is the flight pics.

Chris had launched before me and he went straight up. He was a good 1000 feet over the launch when I took off and instantly sank. I tried flying along the ridge in hopes of lift but found shit all.

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I was not very pleased with the lack of lift but I did manage to get a boost off the hump below. It shot me up a couple hundred feet over launch but then it vanished on me.

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Finally at some altitude I flew back north in hopes of getting a boost off Bald mtn there to the right.

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With the winds from the east I thought Bald and its toe would have some lift but the toe ridge gave me zip.

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And then the hill itself had bupkis.

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So I gave up and glided to the lz.

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On the left of the trees, my foot is pointing at them, was a group of wild turkeys that ran off.

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Then the two deer got scared. The first bolted when I was a ways away but the other one took me getting a lot closer and yelling "BOO" at it before it took off.

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As I came in to land the wind sock was switching and about 3 feet off the ground it switched into my face and I had a perfectly soft landing on my feet.

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I was pretty pissed about the short flight so tromped back to the car, pulled out the chair and a beer and sat and watched the other 3 fly.

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A bit later Isaac took off and encountered the same trouble as me, just shit all for lift. Then Chris was skied out above him.

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Chris was way up there, his wing just visible behind the power line.

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Isaac got a harder landing as the same thing happened to him as me only reversed so the wind hit his back as he landed.

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Not long after Chris came down to land. The air was really rough even up at altitude and he had stopped having fun.

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His landing was harder as well. Willow had got his wing stuck in a tree on launch so he had to get it free but he got off launch and got a better flight than Isaac or myself. But damn he is a glutton, his landing was rather hard and unnecessary as he could have glided along the flat field and been fine.

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With us all down I went and dropped the pack of beer off at Duane's door then headed for home.

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I was unpacking the car and heard a sheep bleeting, looked out and saw it was stuck in the fence. Took me a bit to get out to it but the dummy was removed from the fence and she went hiking up the hill after the others.

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@stryeyz made fried rice while the boys had a fire going.

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Soaking was good but chaffing made it a short one.

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Today is farm work and garden work. PDC is on today, it's going to be warm and sunny, and I will likely grill for dinner.


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Manually curated by the @qurator Team. Keep up the good work!

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Curated by ewkaw

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Absolutely stunning photos my friend!!👍😀
Glad at least you had a soft landing, the wind can be so unpredictable.........
Looks like everything is drying out and warming up, I wish we were on the eastern side of the mountains!!😇😀

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