Who's on Baker?

Sure thing, Jibber.  In the meantime, a bit of Googling will get lots of info.  Plenty of clubs and commercial operations up and down both coasts and the desert West to check out (get an intro flight in a two-place ?).

An unstable atmosphere with sufficient solar power provides the thermals that sailplanes (and hangliders and birds, bugs and seeds) use for cross-country flights.  Spring and early summer are prime for these conditions, with cumulus clouds marking (being) the condensed moisture of a rising thermal.  Climb in it then glide on your route - repeat as desired and according to skill in locating more lift..  (record flight last June originating in Nevada is over 1400 miles with some 13+ hrs in the air - altitudes to 20k+)

Sam, yeah, he was on a mission..  thanks anyway!

Good thing there's a pic of snow in this thread, eh Marcus?  

Good thing there's a pic of snow in this thread, eh Marcus?  

Heh... there's a reason it's "Random" Tracks... great thread, I love the idea of the summit flyby.

(record flight last June originating in Nevada is over 1400 miles with some 13+ hrs in the air - altitudes to 20k+)

Awesome! I had no idea, and a fly along is going on the bucket list, but definitely over flat grain fields or a desert. Pretty sure being over mountains without a motor would put this jibber in a nervous frame of mind.

Talk about motivation to be skilled at locating the updrafts to stay in the air and stay alive when over remote mountains. Wow.