Sky High Mud Low: A Weekend in the Life of Owens Valley Hang Glide Pilots [4K]

[@kylelawson]

This was hella fun. I love the video style juxtaposition between you and Soham.

[@scottturner6139]

Flew there from 1974 to1978. Pioneered Cerro Gordon on south whites. Best flight 35 miles with 16,500 gal. Amazing place to fly. Last flight there crash landed in foothill, Great memories there with Jerry Katz setting 80+ mile record.

[@RBWARNER]

So cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@lessainsbury8508]

Great story and very well presented. It is hard to create a video of this length and be able to retain your audience. You absolutely nailed it !

[@RBWARNER]

Thank you so much!

[@ecoturismovalle1570]

Excellent reporting. All that we do for our beloved sport huh? You guys are always welcome to Valle de Bravo in Mexico.

[@RBWARNER]

thanks, i'd love to go back to valle sometime.

[@flytavo]

Awesome work Rick! Great story. I enjoyed every minute. Also great to see all you sharing the adventure!

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks!

[@rsibley]

I don't usually like watching videos that are 20 minutes long.... but you did an amazing job editing this! Super fun to watch. I've never had so much fun watching a hang gliding video that had so little flying in it 😁

[@RBWARNER]

I'm the same way, and I didn't know if by the time I was done with this short movie on "hang waiting" that I would find it repulsive and throw it in the recycle bin (folder). Thankfully the cast delivered on spontaneously generating quality content, unscripted!

[@psycoticreaction9135]

Chasing wind. So many of my early hang gliding adventures turned out like that. Crosswind downwind too much wind. Time to drive home.

[@RBWARNER]

Making memories to laugh about.

[@D-Garck]

13:19 ... I appreciate the extra triple check of that extension loop, might I suggest getting yourself a main that eliminates the need for an extension, epic video dude! thanks for posting!

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I did my hang strap extension check with you in mind! :p At the time of this flight I had a new strap on order, as this was only my 3rd flight on the new-to-me RX4. Happy to report that a new correct length strap has long been in service.

[@FlyingFelix1]

Great video! Thumbs up for keeping a positive outlook, even though it looks like flying turned out to be less than hoped for. The life of a pilot :) Thanks for sharing.

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks Felix! I think it helped (speaking for myself) to have such low weather expectations going into the weekend. With the weekend less about flying and more about just being there, anything exciting that happened was icing on top! We were rewarded and thrilled to have outstanding flights on Saturday. We did get more than we could have asked for... and that seems to happen every Owens trip I have had.

[@sabhishek1]

Great Video, Rick! Very entertaining, allowing us to vicariously live the adventure. While you told me the story of getting stuck on road to Mazourka, I didn't realize it was this bad until watching the video. The valley is always amazing, even when flying is not so good. BTW, would love to see rest of your launch video 🥲

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I'll put that launch on video eventually...

[@dst0763]

Well done.This was one of the best hanggliding doku i have seen for a long time. You are really cool guys. I am flying since 1987 but we never took a chainsaw for getting to the starting place😂. Great respect.greetings from Austria 👍👍🙂

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🙏 One day I hope to fly in Austria, and I'm glad to know I won't have to bring with me a chainsaw. 🤣

[@rickmiller4110]

Always enjoy Owens Valley vidios. I used to fly there in late seventys each year at International six day meet in June.

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully it brought back some good memories.

[@andeurghl5574]

Brilliant, always wanted a video showing the ground work of hang gliding with all its ups and downs. It is always great to be out in the beautiful scenery with friends, flying or not.

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks, I concur!

[@adventureswitharizonaart6117]

I love this. The trips with my friends are as much fun as the flying. It's always an adventure.

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks for watching, and I'm glad you liked it. It's great to resonate good times with fellow pilots.

[@alanaldpal950]

Great, entertaining video

[@RBWARNER]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michelvliegt]

Awesome video! Breathtaking beautiful landscape, even when there is no flying! Fun to watch and the music fits well!

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@jonirlbeck]

Fantastic job Rick, what a great video and edit! Can't wait to fly there one day.

[@RBWARNER]

Thankyou Jon! I'm looking forward to your reaction when you get to fly it! 😋

[@Vl7248]

Nice🎉

[@davidmaule2045]

Great video Rick, awesome flying. Dave from Wellington New Zealand . See you all at the NZ Nationals if you all are entering

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks Dave! Glad you enjoyed it. NZ Nats was the highlight of my year and would love to go back sometime.

[@alexmark1982]

Nice video and great adventure!, man!

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks! Glad you liked it! Join us next time!

[@mexikids]

Best HG video I’ve seen in a while👏😀 A real adventure👍 Thank you for taking the time and effort to put this together. That’s a big time and creative investment. How long was your flight that one day?

[@RBWARNER]

ah thanks! I'm glad you liked it and yes it does take some time! I have to admit having lived through the events- while editing I burst out laughing to myself several times going through the memories so it was all fun. That day I flew for 4.5 hours. Of our group I think the shortest flight was 1.5 hours with most of us getting 3 - 4.75 hours... we had great conditions that turned into a beautiful glass off.

[@robertreiter6514]

Ahhh, brings back memories if flying there in the 80s. That road to Mazourka lives up to the meaning of the name-a Polish death march! And if you want some 18k glass off flying, try Black Eagle in the Inyos, out of Independence and to the south.

[@RBWARNER]

Nice to hear, it is a march! Black Eagle is one of the few launches I still haven't tried. I've also heard it's the scariest road in the Owens...

[@robertreiter6514]

@@RBWARNER Many scary roads in the Inyos…Mazurka, Cerro Gordo, Piute…

[@jonlindburg3277]

I really enjoyed this video!

[@RBWARNER]

I'm glad you liked it and I appreciate the feedback!

[@andymccann2716]

Enjoyable video, such a shame you didn't get to fly more days. It always amazes me that one of the best sports in the world, in my opinion doesn't get way more views on videos

[@RBWARNER]

Thank you for viewing. I wonder the same!

[@kathleenmckeon9926]

So here I am a Post Pound, Make that a Super Pound, anyways: I know nor if I will be able to Fly My Beloved Predator again. Nut I sure do Want to. Watching this Video depicting Pilots having to overcome being stuck in the Mud, and needing to use a Chainsaw to Cut Branches of a Down Tree that were blocking their Way, reminds Me of something that Our Dear Departed Friend once said regarding a Quite short, Well a Short XC Flight By Km's standard reply. anyways. I believe that KM only Flew like 20 or Thirty Miles that Day. I remember in Lake McClures LZ Once. I said to KM: "Ken; We all know how bad a Pilot that You are. Why is that You Fly so much?" KM replied while He chuckled: as He said: " Big Guy I know How BAD A Pilot I am, Bur I just love to Fly". As many of You who knew Km. KM was a great Pilot. But Km as a Person was a Much Better Person. than He was a Pilot. And that He was! Ok in closing these dissertations regarding KM as a Pilot and as a Human Being. So, all these Accolades on KM as a Pilot and a Person why they are True. But another reality regarding KM is that on a Flight back on January Twenty-eight, 2010, while flying, boating around, flying back and forth along the ridge up above Launch and along the ridge up at McClure. KM experienced a Muid Air. Well, the end result was that He succumbed to Blunt Trauma injuries to His Skull. I so Wish on that Day that Km had decided to head out and fly an XC route. For if KM had decided to Fly XC instead of Flying at the Home Site. Then undoubtedly KM would still be alive today. Gosh Darn, I sure do Miss KM!

[@RBWARNER]

Thanks!

[@markhoffmann5941]

Where's my tuna sandwich :)

[@marlinfitzwater7898]

Suggestion - your next video starts with a clip titled "Soaring at Weldon". Or maybe ends with it.

[@RBWARNER]

I reckon that would be exciting!

[@marlinfitzwater7898]

@@RBWARNER you guys should swing by next time you’re heading to or leaving Walt’s.

[@crsu9680]

16:28 WHAAACK!!! :)

[@mexikids]

Yep 😁 we’ve all done it, right

[@crsu9680]

@@mexikids yup just didn't hear anyone in the crowd say it so it felt needed.

[@RBWARNER]

well deserved :) it's not omitted for good journalism and more importantly- your entertainment. :)

[@builtart]

Ummmm you own a 4x4 so why did you drive on the road where it was a muddy hole? 4x4s are designed to go off the road..so you simply drive around the hole???? Or would that be a bit much outside the box

[@RBWARNER]

Must be too far outside the box for these sloped forehead hang glide pilots.