Activity: Snow kiting
A few people told me recently that the Clear Creek Reservoir is well frozen over, and that people have been ice skating there for a good few weeks. I talked to Eric, a snow kiter from Buena Vista, who's been kiting there quite a bit -- after more info from him, I drove up with all the gear to scope the place out.
I had missed him, but seeing the snow and feeling the wind I decided to set up. I chose telemark skis for easier moving around, and a 6M Naish Cult kite. The winds very gusty, probably 5-15 mph, and I knew that the 6M was going to be on the small side -- but wanted to play it safe, as it was my first time and I was by myself. I put an ice screw into the ice, tied off the backpack and the bar to it, and rolled out the lines. I pumped the kite up at the screw, left the pump there, skis the kite over downwind and attached it to the lines. Then I walked the kite to the edge of the wind window, towards the center of the lake.
The plan was to stand the kite up, ski back to the screw, transfer the bar to my harness, launch the kite and go ride. Didn't work out that way though... The kite was a bit underinflated, as it doesn't have the octopus inflation system and each bladder inflates separately. The cold air must have prevented the valves from sealing, and the small bladders were losing most of their air before I sealed their valves. I wonder if the elevation was making a difference too... and maybe this is why people like the simplicity of foil kites?
I messed around with trying to stand the kite up, tried moving it downwind to hot-launch it (not in a gust), but nothing worked. The winds were too light, and the under pumping of the kite certainly didn't help.
After over an hour of walking around with the kite trying different things I finally gave up and cleaned all the gear. In a few days I'll try again, and next time I'll bring a 9M kite.
Putting in the ice screw
Laying out the lines, looking West
Trying to stand the kite up
After many tries... still no luck
Gave up an hour+ later