5000 meter height gain

The easiest way is to go to Minden in most any season and just do it!

WRT equipment, cannulas are illegal above 18K' in the U.S. Also, a mask
must be available to be legal in the U.S. I know several pilots that have
gone to some very impressive altitudes with just a cannula both with and
without the Mountain High controller, but I think they were being
dangerously stupid.

For my own flying I have made the decision to not go over 18K' again, and my
gliders have 20K' altimeters. Been there, done that (highest 30K' in a
freezing cold Schweizer SGS 1-34 with 2 tanks, 2 regulators, and 2 masks).
The fun part of wave flying, to me, is rotor rooting into it. Climbing high
doesn't take much additional skill.

It is also possible (but difficult) to do diamond altitude in the off season
at Crazy Creek or Williams without going over 18K', and it is just barely
possible in the Sierra. Ask Sergio how to do it!
-Bob Korves

"Hal" wrote in message
om...
How do most pilots go about the 5000 meter height gain in the Sierras?
Somehow getting in a glider on a cold/windy Minden winter day does
not sound like me. During the summer I stumbled across a wave
condition behind Mt Rose but I was not sure about how the O2 system
worked and where/whether the wave window was open so I stopped short
of 18k If I was ready this would have been a perfect opportunity.
Seems difficult to know when these conditions will exist.

Another question is if you use the M&H O2 and you are staying below
24k do you use the cannula or the face mask? I think I know the legal
answer but it seems that the cannula is actually the preferred option.

Any advice would be appreciated.