Shabbos here at Cabezon Peak was cold but peaceful.

This morning I launched flight #101 at Cabezon Peak.  The launch at 6,200 feet was a bit challenging, but after a couple attempts I realized that I was applying very slight brake pressure at launch.  At lower altitudes this isn’t a problem, but at high altitudes the wing needs all the help it can get to stay aloft.  Once I realized the problem, I successfully launched:

I did just barely clear this cholla cactus on takeoff:

My goal was to fly over Cabezon Peak, so I had to climb about 2,500 feet above the ground.  Looking south, Cerro Chato is in the foreground, with Cerro de Santa Clara behind and to the left, and Cerro de Guadalupe behind and to the right:

Flying over Cerro Chato:

Getting high:

Looking down on Cabezon Peak:

Looking down at Cabezon Peak.  I’m at 8,700 feet above sea level, 2,500 feet above ground level and 1,000 feet above Cabazon Peak:

I descended as I flew north towards Rio Puerco:

I flew over the ghost town of Cabezon.  It’s on private property, so the best way to get close is from the air:

Flying back to the RV:

It was a bit of a challenge finding a landing zone amongst the shoulder-high cholla cactus:

M photographed his R/C car here:

Trish made another amazing breakfast:

So long, Cabezon Peak:

We drove back to the highway, then headed North until we reached New Mexico 57, a badly potholed paved road for the first couple of miles, then dirt for the next 13 miles.  Along the way we passed a herd of wild horses:

After the better part of an hour, we found this great dispersed camping spot on BLM land, adjacent to the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area:

M photographed his R/C car here.  I wonder how long he will keep this up:

Barak, my PPG friend from Salton Sea met us here along with his son.  Barak and I both launched what for me was flight #102:

Barak had engine problems so he landed shortly after takeoff:

I flew out over the amazing badlands of the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area:

It’s hard to see, but there are hundreds of hoodoos in the yellow layer above the black layer:

Coming in for a landing:

Sunset:

Tomorrow we plan to explore Chaco Culture NHP.

See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.