Minden  -  Standard Course "J"

750 km FAI Triangle      Photo & GPS      7.5' Quad    v2.1     05-06

Typical Flight Path:   The usual tactic on the first leg is to head for Boundary Peak on the north end of the White Mountains, a significant deviation to the east of course line.  Leaving Bald Mtn. #1 (at the south end of the Pine Nut range) reach for East Sister Peak at the north end of the Sweetwater range, then to Bald Mtn. #2 (at the south end of the Pine Grove Hills).  Then reach for the high ground south of Aurora Mine or the range south of Lucky Boy Pass, then across the flats to the low escarpment at the north end of the Owens Valley and on to Boundary Peak.

On the Whites, fly down the range, deviating a bit to the east at Westgard Pass, and on south on the Inyo range to the first turn.  On the second leg return up the Inyo's and across Westgard Pass.  Work to the east side of the White's (where they are broad at the south end) and jump across Fish Lake Valley to the Silver Peak range.  Work past Coledale, across the wide flat area, toward the south end of the Toiyabe range and to the second turn.

On the third leg, move west, passing Mahogany Mtn in the middle of the Toiyabe's south end and on to the south end of the lower Shoshone range, across the flat past Paradise Peak Mine toward the east end of the Gabbs Valley range.   Continue west along the Gillis range, north of the highway from Luning to Hawthorne, leaving with enough altitude to cross Walker Lake and achieve the west side of the Wassuk range north of Mt. Grant.   The Wassuk can yield the final climb allowing for final glide through the gap on the Pine Nuts north of Mt. Siegel.  Otherwise, use a southerly deviation to use high ground at the north end of the Pine Grove Hills and Desert Creek Peak to reach the gap south of Bald Mtn.

 Note: Cloud patterns often dictate significant deviations from this "typical" flight path.  The primary go/no-go decision point is on the second leg where the jump is made to the Silver Peak range.  Aborting the task is encouraged if there isn't good cu over the Silver Peak range and cu markers on the remainder of the second leg and along the first half of the third leg.

Airports near the course (keep at least one in reach):  Flyin' Mouse, Sweetwater Strip, Flying M (Hilton Strip), Bryant Field (Bridgeport), Hawthorne, Bishop, Independance, Lone Pine, Circle L, Tonopah, Hadley, Gabbs, Luning Dry Lake (not an airport), Hawthorne, Hilton Strip, Yerington, Rosaschi Dusters.

Some possible weather peculiarities:  Cu-nim blow-off from the Sierra and other high ground; horse shoe shaped convergence line around east side of Mono Lake, often moves east during the day; lift band over the Whites may be displaced east or west of the ridgetop depending on the shoving match between air masses on the two sides of the range; a southerly wind on the east side of the White & Inyo ranges can bring a hot but dry and stable air mass north out of Panamint and Death Valleys (this results in a large cu-less area in & out of the second turn); cool, stable airflow at lower levels south of Walker Lake; strong southwest wind at lower levels at Wellington and Smith Valley late in the day.

Traffic cautions:  High speed, head-on glider traffic in the lift band over the White Mtns., any day ... but worst on Saturdays. Before flying in the "White Mountain Corridor," brief yourself on PROCEDURE ALPHA.  [ http://www.soaringsafety.org/presentation/safety.html ]   When not flying over the White or Inyo Mountains, and you hear position reports from pilots flying over these ranges, switch to another frequency or use 123.5 very sparingly!
Southern part of course transits BISHOP MOA, SALINE MOA and OWENS MOA.  Third leg transits GABBS SOUTH MOA and GABBS CENTRAL MOA..

Course Design:  Bob Semans