Pulpit Saturday July 8th

[XCanytime]

Looking great again, and with the hay baled no main LZ issues. Let's try to get more than 5 pilots to show up this time. Bacil

[XCanytime]

"The early birds get to the site early and get set up before the midday throttleup makes launch conditions out of hand for hours. The latecomers help the early birds launch before the midday throttleup sets in. By the time the latecomers are ready to launch (or not), the midday throttleup has set in and taken hold, blowing out the launch for hours. The latecomers sit around for hours, waiting for it to back down."

Gonna apply again this Saturday . Bacil

[Brit_in_SoMD]

When does the build up normally start?
When does it normally reach the too-strong-to-launch level?
What about conditions in the air & at the LZ when it's too strong to launch?

[Ward Odenwald]

The “Brit” has touched on an important issue that we are all faced with repeatedly - landing is mandatory! Yes, an early start at the Pulpit on Saturday is most likely a safer launch decision in view of the current forecasted stronger afternoon conditions but what about landing safety after conditions ramp-up? If you are confident that you can avoid the thermal triggered valley turbulence by flying elsewhere then okay but if you’re staying local - you could be in for a long wait.

[XCanytime]

When does the build up normally start?

Usually by 10A-.
Check the hourly forecast for Hagerstown.

When does it normally reach the too-strong-to-launch level?

After 10A+.
Check the hourly forecast for Hagerstown.

What about conditions in the air & at the LZ when it's too strong to launch?

The strong winds at the Pulpit launch are caused by the local topography. Most often the winds at launch do not reflect what conditions are like in the air. The surface forecast is W @ 10 to 15 MPH. It is July 8th. By this time of year the summer doldrums are just around the corner, so it's not like it is spring, fall, or winter. Bacil

[Dave Gills]

Any observers going to be around?

[Dunegoon]

ETA Pulpit 4-5 PM. I don't know who is available to observe. Looks like the group is split between Woodstock and the Pulpit.

[Dave Gills]

Heading to Templeton
ETA 1:30

[bustedwing2]

5 pilots at Pulpit, 2 can observe. 3 in the air an hour ago when I left,step on the gas!

[XCanytime]

Arrived just after 9A to find Blaine and Walt already there, soarable conditions on launch, and a cumie filled sky. Rich Bloomfield arrived just before 10A to help us launch. Matthew Smuts and John Dullahan rounded out the AM pilot contingent. I led the charge from the newer ramp at 10:45A and got up easily. Blaine and Walt joined me some time later as I spent a good amount of time down close to The Corner hoping to go XC to near a buddy's house party just west of Frederick. Couldn't find a climb above 3500' MSL down there, so I headed north back to the launch area. Flew around with Walt for a little while and still couldn't get above the 3500' marker after 2 hours of trying. Spied the elementary school and went OTB at 1300' over. Found a lee side thermal on the east face of Cove Mountain and made it to 3900' MSL directly above the elementary school. There are very few fields w/o crops, so I flew towards a large cut field SE of LeMasters. By this time down to 2100' MSL, so I radioed John that I would be landing there. Found some lift and gained 300' but it quit so I committed to landing to the huge cut field and pulled off a good landing in breezy conditions. John fetched me, and back at launch it was moderate to strong. Walt, Matt, and I helped John launch for the first time in almost 2 years. Welcome back John! He got up easily so I went down and got some well deserved food after a 2:45 flight consisting of lots of turning . After some Mickey Ds, I met up with Jon Brantley in the main LZ. As we were chatting I got a text from John that he had landed in Williamson, ~ 10 miles away. So back at launch to drive John's car, where I ran into Mark Gardner. Went to fetch John just as a rain shower passed over launch. By the time I got to where he was, it was pouring and he was using his glider as a large umbrella . We parked at a pulloff to wait out the rain. 30 minutes later it lightened up enough to allow John to continue packing up his soaked gear. Got back to launch just after Matthew took off. He beelined it to the main LZ for a good landing, even though it was soarable. Bacil

[Dunegoon]

Arrived at 4pm. Watched John D fly around and then go OTB. Questionable conditions. After waiting, radar confirmed heavy rain was on the way. It would have been poor judgement to launch or continue flying. Left after 5 PM just as it started to downpour. It is doubtful that conditions were soarable later in the evening as reported wind speeds were minimal.

[XCanytime]

It was soarable when Matt launched around 7P. I was on the ramp and it had picked up to moderate to strong conditions. And turkey vultures came flying by above us. It had cleared upwind enough that another wall of air moved in. Bacil