By Brian Webb

The day was good and the flight was great, but what made it really special was the journey, the journey and the company.

It was a good looking day in Bright, Victoria. Base was shaping up to 2000m plus, and thermals were working well by midday. It was going to be well flyable, but nothing to cast it as special. Well there you go, Fred and Craig had seen it differently, they had picked some particular signs and had already seen the potential. Light winds with that hint of south from the weak high pressure moving over us and a sign of development over the back ranges that suggested better still to come.

They put their heads together and called for Route 1 - Porepunkah Hill, Smoko, Pyramid, Porepunkah Roundabout then Mystic goal, but casually added that if Smoko delivered a climb over 2000m then perhaps we should abandon Route 1 and move onto Mt Feathertop.

We launched and climbed easily to 1600m over Mystic. As it slowed, we turned and headed straight to Clearspot. There we pushed up to 1800m, so Porepunkah Hill and back to Clearspot was a good glide. Another climb to 1800m on Clearspot gave us the height to bypass Mystic and take a climb on the backside of the Goldmine. We left that climb early and moved onto the Smoko turnpoint - decision time.

Lift was good, base there was 2100m, so Route 1 was cast aside and Mt Feathertop was the play for the day. Fred, Craig and Brett led out to the high points behind Smoko; I pushed on to a bowl in the sun, west of Harrietville. We all got climbs that gave us enough to glide onto the northerly slopes of Feathertop. Gingerly we took each scrap of lift and edged closer and closer into Feathertop; the deeper we got, the more awkward the glide out, but the cloud developing on that back range was looking firm and good.

Fred got a break and climbed well to drop high onto Feathertop. Craig followed suit. I didn't climb as well, but still edged in till eventually I ridge soared Feathertop, then got a good climb below Craig that put me up to 2,200m and into a good position directly on top.

Brett, Viv and Simon had been climbing over Smoko and were now gliding onto the Feathertop foothills. Fred, Craig and I were now soaring over Feathertop, climbing easily to 2,400m in regular good lift. The clouds looking south towards Mt Hotham and along the Razorback were developing well, but our track there would take us along the edge of the cloud line. A potential top landing on the Razorback and the beautiful but long walk out held me back, but Craig pushed on confidently. Fred and I climbed higher over Feathertop, enjoying improving lift and watching Craig get lower and lower along the crest of the Razorback. He eventually found a good climb to a base close to 2800m, then easily pushed on to Mt Hotham and climbed again to base.

Brett, Viv and Simon had now joined Fred and I on Feathertop and together we all followed Craig along the Razorback and towards Mt Hotham. Craig met up with us on his way back and turned again to join us along to Mt Hotham.

The clouds were now developing solidly and offering good climbs. Abundantly good air pushed us to 3100m over Mt Hotham, but the route further south to Dinner Plain and Omeo was over-clouding; lots of shadow and a lightly strengthening southerly persuaded us to take an easy glide back to Feathertop where we regrouped. The visibility now was excellent, and with our good height we took the opportunity to pose for some photos high above the range.

Next was a glide back to Smoko, where we met up with Tony Rocco. There a slow climb to 2800m allowed Brett, Fred, Tony and I to make Mystic; pub suck at Harrietville called in Craig, Viv and Simon.

A good day's flying, with an opportunity to explore some territory we don't often cover. Good conditions and a decision early enough in the day to gather us together and fly in a comfortable group. Thanks to Fred and Craig for seeing the potential; more thanks to Brett Robinson, Viv Williams, Simon Taylor, Tony Rocco, Fred Gungl and Craig Collings for the company and the memories.

Heaps of pictures and tracklogs at [www.alpineinfotech.com.au/Feathertop2005].

For the number nerds
Distance: OLC triangle 67km
Speeds: mean speed 37km/h, max speed 61km/h
Altitude: max height 3118m
Vario : max 5.4m/s , min -5.4 m/s
Thermals: number 20, time in 1:52:36, % of time in 48%
% Turning: turning right 77% (oops), turning left 22%