I miss Fisher

[hanging3]

S 12

But, I was on Google maps and it looks like a short ridge that also faces s with about the same verticle drop just north and east of Wells Tannery. Looks like a flat top. Anyone ever check it out?

[charlieg]

See my post in the Paraglider section on exploring the possibility of reopening Spring Run, a SW site near Pulpit.
Charlie

[XCanytime]

Spring Run is a SE site. Bacil

[charlieg]

Ah, yes, thank you. That's what I meant to say -- SE, the same as Fisher. Anyone know the scoop on why Spring Run went out of favor, and if it's possible to reopen it?
Charlie

[deveil]

'saw the place with keith ford who opened the site. never flew it myself but i recall billy bennet say he and some guys flew all up and down the ridge there, possibly with the gardinator. not much to it as far as being developed. it's an over-the-guard-rail-and-there-you-be kind of place. nothing in the way of parking.
garyD

[deveil]

it may have local historical and archaeological significance as a trash dump from back when people had to be resourceful and self reliant (and they ran out of room in the back yard).
garyD(evilish)

[deveil]

in all fairness, it was standard practice for the times and certainly less abusive to the landscape than some of todays practices such as flattening ridges and filling in the valleys. though if you find any containers with 'use by dates' it means the ways of our forefathers have not been totally lost.
garyD

[Dan T]

Would it be worthwhile to approach the land owner of the original primary LZ? The last time I saw it, admittedly some time back, the planned for development of that piece of property had not occurred. There were rumours floating around at the time that the land owners got upset with us and used that as the reason to revoke our privlege of landing on their property.

Perhaps a humble effort at diplomacy would yield results? Does anyone know the facts and are there any suitable volunteers?

Dan T

PS I got my USHPA membership card in the mail the other day. It has Region 12 and my Baghdad address on it! I am told I'm the only USHPA member registered in the country.

[RedBaron]

Perhaps a humble effort at diplomacy would yield results? Does anyone know the facts and are there any suitable volunteers?

I would. But I'm neither humble nor diplomatic. Also, as we all know, my English kinda sucks so I'm afraid I'd do more damage than good or might even wind up shot in my head. Seriously, if they are the type of country folks I think they are they will hang up on me as soon as I say "Zis is Jani from ze hang gliding clup coarling in reference to landing in ze feeld...
However, it's beyond me that we are even having these issues. If we can take time off from work and drive to "feel-good" meetings in WS to fight evil wind turbines I don't understand why we can't call the land owners and come to an agreement. Money always talks guys!!! That's the type of stuff we should be having a club, membership fees and Fly-Ins for, bribing power! Throw some money at them and you'll be surprised how quickly they come around.
Last, just because we are not allowed to land there doesn't mean we can't fly there! Lot's of nice(r) fields down the ridge I hear. Just make sure you've got enough cash on you in case you sink out.

PS: I'm willing to write a letter and make them an offer. How does $10 per pilot per landing and a singular installment of $500 by the clubs sound for a first offer? Cragin? Bob?

[deveil]

. . . if they are the type of country folks I think they are

this is not a criticism, other than of myself, and i appreciate the qualifier of "type of" which indicates that no one is 'painting with a broad brush' here. and i Know that everyone, including all the 'posters' here, are certainly appreciative of All of the 'country folks' who are very generous with their properties, so please don't get me wrong here.
i just feel responsible for having turned the discussion in a certain direction with my casual but disparaging humor. i wanted to recast the impression that i may have left, if for no other reason than to affirm the respect and appreciation that i know all of us have for the aforementioned 'country folk'.
you know, before shawn feels a need to come on and start singing the theme from Dukes of Hazard again (not that there'd be anything Wrong with that) and also in the case that keith ford would happen to enter this thread - perhaps He could be of help, i don't know. i should still have his phone# if anyone wanted to pm me for it.
'hope i've covered eveyrone's toes that i may have stepped on. . .
garyD(ufus)

[deveil]

gheez. i realize i'm being somewhat defensive, paranoid-sounding, and narcissistic-appearing here , but just to be thorough - i should specify that it's Obvious that Janni only used His joking characterization as a set up for his Own self deprecating humor and it probably didn't have a damn thing to do with me.
garyD(one)

[RedBaron]

I don't know Gary. Hillbilly Bacil makes fun of my accent all the time. I've got low self-esteem issues because of it...My therapist thinks that's why I feel the need to fly a topless...

[brianvh]

I heard we were kicked out on account of horses being brought in. Though that may have been a cover for the real reason: the Dukes of Hazzard kept being interrupted by folks flying into their power lines.

[deveil]

and thus we now return you to the originally scheduled program - I Miss Fisher, starring Joe in the role of Hanging3, as he scours the country side in search of a southeast facing site . . .

[Flying Lobster]

Spring Run is more like ESE. Many many moons ago we reopened the site after spending quite some time clearing the launch to make it feasible for paragliders and Hang gliders. The problem was the site had very limited area for HG setup and required frequent maintenence to keep the launch clear--and the place was just never used enough so became overgrown. The main HG LZ was pretty reachy--about a 7:1 glide as I recall.

I had some nice PG and HG soaring flights from there--in particular I recall me and Mitch Shipley had an interesting xc heading to the north with the intention of hooking up to Jack's. Keith Ford is the man to talk to about flying there (though Art Barrick would be even better). Don't know if they are still around.

marc

[davidtheamazing1]

Lets not post anything on here that we wouldn't want a landowner to read.

If a group or club wanted to land gliders in my backyard, I'd use my hillbilly dial-up and see what was on their website and check out the public forum. If not the landowner, perhaps their NYC-lawyer-type son would look online for comments. If forum comments could be perceived as insulting or elitist, I'd be more inclined not to allow it. Given that they wouldn't know us and it's sometimes hard to tell if someone is being a wise-ass in their writing.

I agree that it would be good to open a site and the reasons our arrangement may been nixed might be less important if there was a new financial arrangement. How about $10 per regular pilot landing or $200 per power-line landing.

[deveil]

okay let me try again, as *I* started it (and shut-up this time brian ).
when i was last in woodstock i bought 15 pounds of locally processed sausage, meat pudding, scrapple and pon-hoss - because it tastes better than brand name stuff and I can tell the difference.
i've courted and spooned on a porch swing and a hay loft, went to a square dance at a fire hall and listened to polkas (although That was under duress). i've chewed tobacco and spit tobacco, both snuff (copenhagen, skoal) and side tobacco (redman and mailpouch) as well as plug tobacco.
i've helped butcher chickens, pigs and cows and collected eggs, made sausage and eaten stuffed pig stomach (not as bad as it sounds).
i've helped tear down barns, build barns, bale hay, combine oats, and cut corn for silage. helped feed cows, feed chickens, and feed horses. i've shoveled cow sh*t, horse sh*t, chicken sh*t, pig sh*t, and bull sh*t (no bull).
and where i came from that was all considered honorable work and an honorable way of life (though i hid the tobacco stuff from my parents).
those credentials hadn't been prefaced in my posts but may have something to do with my having been so casual about my humor.
and shut up brian because, regardless of your accomplishments, i Know you don't have Those kind of credentials. i'm ethnically half german and a lot of the people in that area are also of german descent. so Janni you're not off the hook regarding how you'd be welcomed - you may have a better 'in' than the rest of us. but be careful about throwing money at them because That may get you thrown out on your ear(!).
that's the best i can do (but Now i've probably ticked off brian and janni ).

[deveil]

i apologize for the diversions and hopefully Now you all can get back to the actual and important topic, because I myself put in a lot of hours at Fisher Road (as We called it back in times of yore) and i know it would have put a big hole in My fun if a SE site weren't available.
garyD (forgot to sign the previous post)

[deveil]

oh, if Fisher Road were to again become available, King Newman showed me the trick to getting up on light days - immediately upon launching one sort of pushes out (but be careful with that) and 'backs up' to the right onto the ridge in a crabbing fashion. but only in a lower performing wing.
you guys probably already knew that but i thought i'd at least Try taking a shot at contributing something of a positive nature (before i went off to church and tried to more thoroughly wash off my sins). but man, i'm now Exhausted. might just go take a nap instead, then start the day all over again.
garyD

[RedBaron]

Would someone please provide me with the contact info of the landowners?

[Dan T]

King Newman showed me the trick to getting up on light days - immediately upon launching one sort of pushes out (but be careful with that) and 'backs up' to the right onto the ridge in a crabbing fashion. but only in a lower performing wing

GaryD, Tucking in to fly close to the trees and pushing out to get right at min sink will certainly give you a shot at getting up when you might otherwise have sunk out. It certainly is a bold move. It also gives you a good shot at putting yourself in the trees about 1/2 second after any misstep or unexpected change in the wind. Nearly everyone in this club can tell you a story about getting pushed into an unintended turn by some sharp unanticipated thermal or some similar "not in control" moment. Someone once said there are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots. You will have a lot more fun in this sport if you leave yourself a little room for error.

Dan T

[deveil]

yep, all true.

garyD

[brianvh]

Hey Dan;

What you said is worth saying for the newer pilots: it's an advanced technique for proper conditions. Gary's not a newbie - stopped flying before any of our generation had even started, yet still has more than the average flying experience. He was on the training hill with Christie.

[deveil]

but that brings up a broader point (at least to me) - i shouldna had not even stepped into that territory. my bad. seriously.

and then there's the more obviouser point - 'can't seem to stop stepping in it here, as i'm either scuttling the future of hang gliding or talking someone off toward sure ruin and mayhem.

however, if i were current (which i'm Not) i might be inclined to explain why i find such a pat, broad and all encompassing response to be a bit, what? tiring? but it certainly is Eminently defensible so you're on most solid ground. and sure, that's provocative. but hey, have at it. i'm a bit fatigued by all of this. so 'scuse me while i just sorta tippy toe off over here a little ways.

But, offering flying 'tips' ? shouldn't have gone there. so i'll cede the ground.
garyD

[deveil]

i didn't see you jump in there before i hit the submit button, brian.
gary