Flight 59, Harvests, FIRESTORM - Friday

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So this is not going to be a very long post for words as we are sitting on the very edge of the level 3 (go NOW!) evacuation zones for a fire that started to our north yesterday. Spokane saw really strong winds, very low single digit humidity, and winds gusting to 40+mph. Both of the main fires went from 0-3k acres in a few hours and many homes have been lost.

Yesterday morning I went to try to fly before dropping off at the co-op but the winds were really blowing when I got to the hill at 7am.

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I hiked halfway up the trail and launched in what I thought was a lull. I got plucked straight up then pulled backwards up the hill.

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I was standing on my speed bar trying to top land when I got a partial collapse on the left side of my wing. I heard it happen but didn't see it when I looked up. I tried to brake to open side and weight shift but I apparently didn't let my left brake hand up and the wing swung to the collapsed side and sent me right at the top of the other ridge.

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I landed hard but ended up with just some scratches on my legs and arm.

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I gathered my wing and quickly packed it up and then hiked down the hill to my truck.

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I then drove to the co-op and dropped off the cucumber order then headed for home to tend my wounds.

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Once home and I had tended my scratches I went out to pick in the garden. The cucumbers had 17 and the squash had 12 pounds.

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My wing was a mess so I took it out to the driveway to sort it out and repack it nicely.

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The tomatoes had a bit heavier 4.5 pounds and I dug through the potatoes again for another 17 pounds.

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Soaking was nice despite the smoke everywhere around us.

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The Oregon fire is the one that has gotten huge and is heading our way.

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This is an article about the Fire Boss planes that are stationed in Deer Park just to our north.

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/24/this-is-our-family-fire-boss-crew-stays-ready-to-d/

Today we are hoping to not have to evacuate and that the fires are handled. We have things packed and ready in case but I really hope that the rest of the weekend will be spent UNpacking.


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Flight 59, Harvests, FIRESTORM - Friday | Ecency