visitor introduction; Daniels question

All things flight-related for Hang Glider and Paraglider pilots: flying plans, site info, weather, flight reports, etc. Newcomers always welcome!

Moderator: CHGPA BOD

Post Reply
sandy-hi
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 2:27 am
Location: O'ahu, Hawai'i
Contact:

visitor introduction; Daniels question

Post by sandy-hi »

Aloha!

I am a P3 pilot (200+ flights, 180+ hours) from Oahu, Hawaii, with experience at a variety of sites, mostly ridge-lift, but many (40+ hours) thermal flying.

I'll be visiting family in the Shenandoah area (Elkton) June 25 - July 3 and am hoping to fly somewhere in the area on the couple of days when I can get away from family activities.

I will happily exchange the promise of future Hawaii-site-guiding for any local Virginia-site-guiding I can get :D
My cell phone when I am in the area will be: 540-405-9826

Burning question as I prepare for my trip:
How often do you fly Daniels? As a visitor staying for a week, what are my chances that that's the site you'll be flying? Essentially -- should I be sending $50 to NPS on the chance that I may fly there?

Thanks very much,
Sandy

ps. Jeff Eggers: Hi! remember me? (think Chamonix 2004!) Aloha!
P3 / H1-wannabe residing in Hawaii, but visiting VA this summer
Matthew
Posts: 1982
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:10 pm
Location: Tacky Park

Daniel's in the Summer

Post by Matthew »

All throughout the summer we have big Bermuda Highs sit over the mid-Atlantic generating miserable hot days in Washington, DC. However, the heat comes from South to SW winds, which are perfect for Daniels. Hence, there are plenty of days to fly Daniel's in the Summer.

And when it's NW, you can fly Woodstock.

Matthew
User avatar
eggzkitz
Posts: 368
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:48 pm
Location: McLean, Virginia

Post by eggzkitz »

Sandy.... Hey!!! Of course I remember you. And miss all you guys (and gals) too! I'll be around so call anytime. I'm not the east coast expert on sites but I've been to most of them by now and there is a great group of pilots out here who love to fly! I'll probably be flying the Sunday you are here, but not the Saturday, as I have a memorial function that day... but I can put you in touch with some of the regulars and gurus. 808-779-5759... Travel safe and hope to see you when you get out here.
Aloha,
Jeff
Jeff Eggers
CHGPA President
USHPA 82627
FCC KK4QMQ
sandy-hi
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 2:27 am
Location: O'ahu, Hawai'i
Contact:

Post by sandy-hi »

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm really looking forward to a chance to fly above mountains that I've been looking up at since I was little.

I just realized I goofed about Daniels -- I think I got it confused with Dickey Ridge, which according to the site guide needs NPS waiver and fee, but judging by forum entries probably isn't flown as much. Just a little unnecessary trip-planning panic.

See you soon I hope.
P3 / H1-wannabe residing in Hawaii, but visiting VA this summer
brianvh
Posts: 1437
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: manhattan, New York

Post by brianvh »

Ooh...H1 wannabe? It's rare to see an experienced PG pilot interested in making the transition...it's usually the other way due to convenience. As an HG pilot I'm kinda interested in what's motivating you to check out aluminum.
Brian Vant-Hull
sandy-hi
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 2:27 am
Location: O'ahu, Hawai'i
Contact:

Why would a PG HG?

Post by sandy-hi »

Hi Brian,
HG was my first interest from when I first saw it on TV ~1976.
I started with sand dune lessons at Kitty Hawk while down there for windsurfing safaris around 1990.

Upon moving to Hawaii, looking at the steep ragged mountains with very few open spaces, I resigned myself to giving up that dream. Then I saw paragliding, a doable and very reasonable alternative, perfect for Oahu.

Still, I have one windcheck from Kitty Hawk that I keep thinking I'd like to use. Why? I still see HG as more bird-like flight, quicker response time, birds-eye view, more L, less D. PG is a great approximation of the dream as well as much more practical. HG *is* the Icarus dream, a bit closer to actually strapping wings on your back.

Similar differences are also incorporated in my experiences with windsurfing and kitesurfing. I've windsurfed for many years and still consider that my favorite sport (great exercise, high thrill/risk ratio, speed, grace (most of the time :-P), mental challenge, out in the elements). Kitesurfing takes less gear, is easier to learn, and is growing rapidly, with many of my windsurfing friends converting. It's a more practical alternative to WS, but still, I loathe the delay to my control inputs. The power source is a floppy bag 30m away. I am a creature with a rigid frame, extending my reach into the elements with another rigid frame seems most natural.

Now having been paragliding many years, I do appreciate the many practicalities of it.
And I also fear many of the more daunting aspects of hang gliding: faster speed and reaction of the glider requires quicker and more accurate control inputs and responses; cliff-ramp launches =-0 yikes!; the size and availability (or lack thereof) of safe LZs.

So, since the opportunity presents itself, I will try to take a few more steps down the path toward learning HG when I can. Weather permitting, I'll spend few days with Steve Wendt, and then on to Point of the Mountain, Utah. But of course, since I won't be able to get very far with that in my limited vacation time, I'm really looking forward to using my bagwing to get soaring above the beautiful Blue Ridge.
P3 / H1-wannabe residing in Hawaii, but visiting VA this summer
brianvh
Posts: 1437
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: manhattan, New York

Post by brianvh »

That's probably the best compare/contrast bit of writing about the two styles I've read, Sandy.

Hopefully at some point you'll be able to do a cliff launch, and after that you won't think of them as scary at all. Just gosh-dern cool.
Brian Vant-Hull
deveil
Posts: 1336
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:13 pm
Location: garyD - Falls Church, Va

Post by deveil »

durn tootin!
an analytically poetic analysis of a thing poetic!
this gal is gonna rock! soar! make a rigid wing fluid!
okay, i'll stop now.
(stay cool brian :wink: - and when in doubt, remember,wear black. :roll: )
garyDevan
brianvh
Posts: 1437
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: manhattan, New York

Post by brianvh »

...??!!??...
Brian Vant-Hull
deveil
Posts: 1336
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:13 pm
Location: garyD - Falls Church, Va

Post by deveil »

brianvh wrote:That's probably the best compare/contrast bit of writing about the two styles I've read, Sandy.
how about - amen to the eloquence - and just leave it at that.
garyDevan
mcelrah
Posts: 2323
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:30 pm

Post by mcelrah »

Sandi/June - it's Dickie's you need a NPS pass for. Daniel's is a privately owned site. You just need to be a member of either CHGPA or CVHGA (the central VA club) and go with an experienced guide. N.B. the road is in bad shape, so you either have to catch a ride with a friendly 4WD owner or hike your glider up. - Hugh
sandy-hi
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 2:27 am
Location: O'ahu, Hawai'i
Contact:

who you callin a garrulous gasbag!?!

Post by sandy-hi »

Thanks for your kind commentary guys! After I hit the Submit button I was thinking perhaps I had gone a bit overboard over-romanticizing it all. I probably should have at least sent it over to the hang-gliding forum side. I don't want the PGers to think I'm not one of them. Hiking to launch, Hugh? No problemo with a paraglider.
P3 / H1-wannabe residing in Hawaii, but visiting VA this summer
mcelrah
Posts: 2323
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:30 pm

Post by mcelrah »

Ya, and I guess you are down with hiking in humidity, too. Ya gotta be tough to live in this swamp! But it grosses out all the westerners... - Hugh
User avatar
eggzkitz
Posts: 368
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:48 pm
Location: McLean, Virginia

Post by eggzkitz »

Sandy,

We flew at Dickies yesterday but it was too stable... really weak and tight lift, but still a good day in the mountains.

I have to work through Saturday, but I will be up for flying for sure on Sunday, so hopefully you will still be in town.

Give me a call if you need help and I can put you in touch with some of the local gurus or you can check here to see if anyone is flying mid week. Lazlo is your best bet since he doesn't have a real job -- he works at the world bank...

Aloha,
Jeff
808-779-5759 (yep! still got the 808 code)
Jeff Eggers
CHGPA President
USHPA 82627
FCC KK4QMQ
Post Reply