First Ridge Traverse - Wyoming Range, Wyoming

Like first ascents in climbing, first ridge traverses in soaring can be challenging. We had the pleasure today to do a first traverse on the Wyoming Range in western Wyoming, just south of Jackson Hole. Many years ago I pioneered the ridge run on the Salt River Range, it took several years to work out the details. The Wyoming Range is just 15 miles east of the Salt River Range and runs parallel to it. It has always been extremely tempting, but just out of reach as there was no safe landing spots in the valley between the two ridges. The valley is mostly forest and river. A new development, Renegade, was just opened this last year and it includes a runway wide enough for gliders. With at least one landing spot in the valley we had to try the ridge. Today was perfect with west winds about 10 to 15 mph and plenty of CU to mark climbs back off the ridge. York Zentner in a ASG-29 and I, flying my Ventus 2a, dropped in from the south end near Wyoming Peak and soared north to appropriately named Deadman Mountain. It was a beautiful run with good lift along most of the ridge, at one point we had over 20 knots on the netto. This is definitely not a beginner run and there is only one landing spot in the entire valley until you can reach fields south of Jackson Hole. Hope others give it a try. Flight trace was posted today for the flight out of Logan.