Tales of Yosemite
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About this ebook
“The Condor Suit” tells the story of Tim whose life-long dreams of flying prompts him to move to a small town in the foothills of the Sierra to pursue his quest: building a bird suit and flying into the Park. In “Dog Lake,” a young boy on a Yosemite camping trip falls into the lake and disappears, only to discover another
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Tales of Yosemite - Jonathan Williams
Condor Suit
Not a single sound could be heard on top of Half Dome. With each breath, Tim exhaled warm air, briefly obstructing the magnificent views of the valley below with its towers of moonlit granite. At this elevation, the clear, starry skies and slight breeze made for a chilly night. But despite the cold, he was warm, and took in the views in all directions. For Tim, this was a majestic moment. A dream he risked everything for, and that no one had ever attained. Of course, thousands take this same hike every year, taking in the same unparalleled vistas. Many even hike or camp around Half Dome at night. The difference was Tim flew to the summit.
He had chosen Groveland, CA as his place of residence to pursue his project. Groveland, a small town with a population of about three thousand, is located in the foothills of the Sierra. About one-third of the residents are seasonal, and head off to other dwellings in warmer climates during the colder months. The house he leased rested on the local golf course. A large four-bedroom home, it provided ample room for materials. And because it was on a golf course, it allowed him space to test his work. Testing would have to occur in the evenings when no one was playing golf. More importantly, at night there would be no spectators.
Tim understood many before him were unsuccessful in their attempts to mimic the flight of a bird. Though the odds were stacked against him, Tim hoped to prove that man could fly similar to a bird.
He chose a California Condor as a model. He was fascinated with its size, with its wingspan of nearly ten feet, the largest bird in North America known to fly up to fifteen thousand feet. It saddened him to think that the California Condor was nearly extinct. In the mid-eighties, several birds were captured from the wild as part of a controlled breeding program and later had been reintroduced into the wild. He often wondered about all the species that did not survive.
Tim would require some assistance for his project but he did not want too many people knowing of his plans. He studied and researched as much as he could on his own. The bird’s technique for flight was his primary focus. Without understanding this fundamental technique he would never be able to fly. He sought videos to study the motion of the wings and its impact on the body. He read up on wind currents, crucial information needed if Tim was to go the distance. A miscalculation could impair his flight, and he memorized the location, elevation and speed of existing wind currents. He also met with a local ornithologist to discuss some of the flight paths the birds use in the area. In the end, the only component missing was a welder.
While gathering materials and researching the flight of the Condor he would frequent the few neighborhood restaurants and bars. In small towns like Groveland, these hangouts provide fruitful information regarding the community. After a few visits, Tim became part of the local crowd. He inquired about people’s professions and found most intriguing. It did not take long before he ran into Johnny at the local saloon.
Johnny was a man in his sixties with a stocky build, and stood five foot six inches tall. His long gray pony tail dangled to the middle of his back. Not only was Johnny a welder but he also sculpted, using stone, wood, and glass.
At first, Johnny thought Tim was crazy. He said that he would never succeed. Tim offered to buy him dinner if he would listen to his ideas and take a look at his designs and materials. Johnny would never pass up a free meal.
Upon arriving at his house, Tim led Johnny to the garage where most of the hardware was stored. Impressive,
Johnny said,