Launch Mtn Toluca at 14,200" Jan 7 report

Our day started with a waked up call at 4:30am that was Daniel Pedoroza banging on the metal door at Casa Del Piloto eager to go. Still dark we dragged our butt’s out the door in to 2 vehicles for the 2 hour drive to the Mt Toluca Nevado Volcano. Lovely Christine joined us as our driver in the 2nd vehicle. We wiggled our way up to the entrance of the Toluca Park and arrived at the parking lot at 4000 meters.

We walked for 1 hour to the east side of the mtn were we have scoped out a launched at 4300 meters. Yep, another 300 meters straight up and Norman Lawlor was not impressed, but he knew in the back of mind that the possibility was excellent so he slogged his way up. I had been there 3 times over the years and have been unable to fly and today looked like it was going to happen….

Finally with everyone at on top, at 11 am we decide to launch on the north side with the prevailing wind at a perfect 5-10 k and fly around to the east side for thermals and to our destination a small town called Zaragoza 9 km as the bird flies. We launched in order with Jack a guest pilot, Scott MacAllister, Bob Stockman, Norman Lawlor, Doug Marshburn and I last as the safety. With the high altitude you had to run hard but everyone launched without a hitch.

The flight was smooth, maybe too smooth, tweaking the every fart thermal we could find. The views were expansive and awesome. We landed in the same order we flew with safe landings. Eventually we all re-grouped, high fived, passed around beers and roasted chicken. Our turn around ride was 2 hours, long trip and logistics for a 30 minute high mountain flight!

Brad