SAFA Skysailor Magazine

14 SKY SAILOR May | June 2020 T he Buffalo circuit begins either at Nug Nug or the Buckland valley, depending on whether the prevailing wind favours a clockwise or anticlockwise circuit. This trip started at the south end of Demon ridge, crossing to the Buckland valley and onto Goldie Spur with a light south-easterly. Here at the southern end of Buffalo the fires had burned up to the crest line, but not with real intensity. These trees will recover. Getting high here is crucial to the circuit flight since the next good landing option near Lake Buffalo is a long way! The highlight of a Buffalo circuit is flying past the Horn, the highest part of the mountain at the SW corner. Here the fires were intense coming up the side of the mountain with the trees reduced to burnt sticks. Jason Fischer departing Mystic 2020 Fires around Mt Buffalo Mystic and the Ovens valley were closed during January and February due to the fires around Mt Buffalo and the associated helicopter activity. Last week, with a base of 2200m, I got to fly around the western end of Buffalo to see the effects of the fires. by John Chapman Goldie spur in the Buckland valley The Mt Buffalo Horn Anderson Peak