I am thinking Woodstock this weekend. Originally I was thinking Saturday (mostly cloudy, NW), but now I am thinking Sunday (Sunny, WNW). Both days look nice and unstable, but Saturday would be closer to the front...
Could be a good X-C weekend!
The forecast does not look like they are expecting too much snow tonight, so I am hoping the road will be open.
Just picking brains out there. Any thoughts?
Woodstock 3/17 or 3/18?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
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Ashley Groves
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:01 am
Lets see, I have to attend (wife insisted) my father-in-law 75th birthday on Sunday. And I am using a funny statement said by Steve K. some time ago as we stood at WS one winter or so ago "I am going to start flying when the temperature is equal to my age". Really, he wants us all there. 
need to see where I rank in his Will.......Ha Ha. Have fun flying.
Gene
need to see where I rank in his Will.......Ha Ha. Have fun flying.Gene
Will evaluate in the morning whether to participate Sunday. If yes, Jeff Abramson, a newly arrived California pilot, may accompany me to see the site. He wants to go to the training hill before launching at a new site, so will be vulnerable for driving and glider hauling duties (building up good karma - yes, I know, Karma, you're always good). Given the probability that the Woodstock road is closed, I am encouraged by the possibility of having help hauling up. The countervailing factor is the raw blustery weather we have had today even in the flats - BRRR! - Hugh
Happy to help drive and haul
As Hugh said, I'm happy to help out tomorrow... (unless someone is heading to a training site where I can get some rust off, then I'd love to tag along for that).
Hope to meet some of you tomorrow.
-Jeff
Hope to meet some of you tomorrow.
-Jeff
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Ashley Groves
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:01 am
Jeff and I, then Bacil and Stave (his driver), Bruce, Joe, Gary, Ashley and Carlos. Noah (PG) arrived later. Bacil launched first and reported rowdy conditions, so the rest waited, made trips back down to the vehicles to retrieve minor items in order to keep warm. Joe finally launched about 4:15, got turned 90 degrees left coming out of the slot, but recovered. I launched next, had the same scare (pull in more, duh!). Once away from the slot, conditions were strong but not too rowdy, with abundant lift to 3000 over launch. Joe, Bruce and Gary landed in Strasburg, Carlos and I in the primary. Ashley didn't fly because he discovered a missing tip batten. Noah elected not to fly. Gorgeous day, but frigid: 33 when I launched, 29 when I landed after 90 minutes. I found those chemical heat packs in boots and barmitts a great source of comfort... Jeff, Ashley , Carlos, and I went to Cristina's for dinner. Hopefully the last time we hike up the back of Woodstock for awhile... - Hugh
Wheww
Man !
Sounds like an interesting day for all you guys...
Rhonda and I were enjoying the warmth of
my aunt's house, fixing her computer and fooling
around with a new camera....
Doesn't sound like it was much of a "falcon day"
anyway..... hopefully soon I'll be getting a double-
surface and a set of bar-mits...LOL
Gotta run
'Til then, Mike
Sounds like an interesting day for all you guys...
Rhonda and I were enjoying the warmth of
my aunt's house, fixing her computer and fooling
around with a new camera....
Doesn't sound like it was much of a "falcon day"
anyway..... hopefully soon I'll be getting a double-
surface and a set of bar-mits...LOL
Gotta run
'Til then, Mike
Mike Lee
How 'Bout That
How 'Bout That
Brrr Woodstock
Arrived just after 11A with my driver Steve (not Stave, must be my West Virginia hillbilly accent ). Hugh and Jeff were already ready for the .6 mile hike to the top. Joe Schad pulled up just as Steve and I started hauling my gear up. About 3 inches of snow on the NW side of the mountain. Set up leisurely as the sky filled in with beautiful cloud streets upwind of us. Some really strong freight trains blew thru just as Joe arrived in the setup area. The rampup and rampdown was gradual, not abrupt. Gary Smith, Bruce Engen, Ashley Groves, and Carlos Weill rounded out the die-hard pilot contingent. I listened to the cycles for a good while before deciding to take off just after 2PM. Got shot up big time just exiting the slot and made sure I was flying fast to get out in front of the mountain. Once out of that cannon column of air it was at least a 20 knot headwind aloft. Got up easy and headed north towards Signal Knob. Very slow going. Got up to the Strasburg Reservoir and decided not to go any further since I was at 2700' MSL or so. Turned around and slowly headed SW. Just before launch got in a huge area of lift and gained to 4300' MSL. A huge cloud directly upwind was dumping huge amounts of virga, so I ran from the easy lift fearing cloudsuck. Raised Steve on the radio to start down the backside of the mountain. Flew down to the Edinburg Gap and hung out down there trying to gain enough altitude to jump onto Short Mountain. Spent 20 to 30 minutes not able to get above 3600' MSL. At this point I was tired, cold, and ready to land. I set my sights on the Karmy airstrip where I have landed 3 times before. It is pretty far out from the ridge with lots of trees in between, so I worked my way "upwind" against the WNW flow with a field just to my right within easy reach for backup. Got over the airstrip with 1500' to spare. Spied the windsock and it showed lots of activity going on (it's just after 4PM). Landing was somewhat comical. Came in just by the windsock, got popped up a few feet, and pulled in and came down. Started moonwalking and gently raised the nose to flare. The right wing was a little up, and the glider gently rolled slightly left with me trying to stop it. It gently nosed over and I tripped over the basetube and got a little snow covered. 
. As I stood up the wind switched and started to try to turn over the glider. I quickly grabbed the side wire and rotated the sail broadside into the wind. Got disconnected and "flew" the glider in the gusty winds to a wind-shadowed area to break it down. My driver found me with no problem. Mr. Karmy came out and opened the gate for Steve to drive all the way up to where the glider was parked. What a nice guy! After breaking down we met up with him in his private hangar where he was doing some engine maintenance on his Cessna 172 in preparation for the annual on the plane. He gave us his business card and said to call him anytime we need driver access to his property! We thanked him and stopped by the LZ to maybe catch a landing since this was Steve's first glimpse of hang gliding. Hugh had already landed, but Carlos obliged with boating around above the LZ before coming in to land. Then it was off to the traditional treating the driver to dinner at Fox's Pizza in Strasburg. Steve wants to do it again, drive retrieve (right on!), but when it's warmer. I think I can accommodate him .
Bacil
). Hugh and Jeff were already ready for the .6 mile hike to the top. Joe Schad pulled up just as Steve and I started hauling my gear up. About 3 inches of snow on the NW side of the mountain. Set up leisurely as the sky filled in with beautiful cloud streets upwind of us. Some really strong freight trains blew thru just as Joe arrived in the setup area. The rampup and rampdown was gradual, not abrupt. Gary Smith, Bruce Engen, Ashley Groves, and Carlos Weill rounded out the die-hard pilot contingent. I listened to the cycles for a good while before deciding to take off just after 2PM. Got shot up big time just exiting the slot and made sure I was flying fast to get out in front of the mountain. Once out of that cannon column of air it was at least a 20 knot headwind aloft. Got up easy and headed north towards Signal Knob. Very slow going. Got up to the Strasburg Reservoir and decided not to go any further since I was at 2700' MSL or so. Turned around and slowly headed SW. Just before launch got in a huge area of lift and gained to 4300' MSL. A huge cloud directly upwind was dumping huge amounts of virga, so I ran from the easy lift fearing cloudsuck. Raised Steve on the radio to start down the backside of the mountain. Flew down to the Edinburg Gap and hung out down there trying to gain enough altitude to jump onto Short Mountain. Spent 20 to 30 minutes not able to get above 3600' MSL. At this point I was tired, cold, and ready to land. I set my sights on the Karmy airstrip where I have landed 3 times before. It is pretty far out from the ridge with lots of trees in between, so I worked my way "upwind" against the WNW flow with a field just to my right within easy reach for backup. Got over the airstrip with 1500' to spare. Spied the windsock and it showed lots of activity going on (it's just after 4PM). Landing was somewhat comical. Came in just by the windsock, got popped up a few feet, and pulled in and came down. Started moonwalking and gently raised the nose to flare. The right wing was a little up, and the glider gently rolled slightly left with me trying to stop it. It gently nosed over and I tripped over the basetube and got a little snow covered. . As I stood up the wind switched and started to try to turn over the glider. I quickly grabbed the side wire and rotated the sail broadside into the wind. Got disconnected and "flew" the glider in the gusty winds to a wind-shadowed area to break it down. My driver found me with no problem. Mr. Karmy came out and opened the gate for Steve to drive all the way up to where the glider was parked. What a nice guy! After breaking down we met up with him in his private hangar where he was doing some engine maintenance on his Cessna 172 in preparation for the annual on the plane. He gave us his business card and said to call him anytime we need driver access to his property! We thanked him and stopped by the LZ to maybe catch a landing since this was Steve's first glimpse of hang gliding. Hugh had already landed, but Carlos obliged with boating around above the LZ before coming in to land. Then it was off to the traditional treating the driver to dinner at Fox's Pizza in Strasburg. Steve wants to do it again, drive retrieve (right on!), but when it's warmer. I think I can accommodate him . Bacil