Well, today certainly didn't pan out for Woodstock, the frontal passage
was just too slow. But tomorrow looks like it has at least some potential,
for either High Rock or the Pulpit. I plan to take a look at things Thurs AM,
and I know that Janni is hoping to be able to get away as well. Post or give
me a call if you're thinking along the same lines.
Cheers,
MarkC
301-807-5414
Still hoping for a mid-week flight! Thurs?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Still hoping for a mid-week flight! Thurs?
Janni, Glen, myself, and Steve are going to give it a go today.
I don't think it looks all that great, but given that the weekend
looks pretty iffy.... Might as well try!
MarkC
I don't think it looks all that great, but given that the weekend
looks pretty iffy.... Might as well try!
MarkC
Re: Still hoping for a mid-week flight! Thurs?
Wow, an unexpectedly good day! Who woulda thought?
I whiffled and waffled and eventually called Janni to say that I was
gonna bail.... But he pointed out that the weekend forecast was
looking marginal, so why not give HRock a try while there are still
some NW winds to be had? Thought about it, weighed the downside
of taking a vacation day if things sucked.... But then decided
"What the hell, let's try!"
Only three of us: Steve K, Janni, and myself. We launched Steve first
and he beamed up immediately after launch. Turned to Janni and
suggested we flip for the next flight... But he offered to go last, with
wuffo help. So I was off next, with Janni and one wuffo, and beamed
up just like Steve. Sweet!!!!
Janni was off next, and had to take a very light cycle because the
wuffos weren't the best. He fought valiantly and caught a
thermal down low which got him back above the ridge, but it
wasn't quite solid enough to keep him in the air. It was a day that
was half-winter and half-spring, with occasional sunny breaks.
More sun and he would have pulled off a long flight, but conditions
down low were fickle, so he eventually had to head out to the LZ.
Steve called it quits fairly early because of the cold, after topping out
at 2800' over. I stuck it out for close to two hours, but could only get
2350' over. Damn that Steve and his "Glider Up" spray!!!! Gotta get
me some of that!
Bullet thermals, half the time I couldn't hook 'em, but those that I
did grab had solid 600fpm up on the averager. I flew out into the
valley towards the end of the flight and got clobbered by sink. Ran
back to the ridge full-VG, got flushed, clawed my way back up to
500' over, got flushed again.... And that was all she wrote
When I landed I had no feeling in my hands at all, in spite of gloves
and bar-mitts; I blame my crappy flare on that. Woooo, hurt like hell
when the blood was flowing back, talk about memories of cold days
at Woodstock!
We visited with Emma Jane after flying, and I can tell that she's
looking forward to more company when the flying and the temps
get better. I don't think I've had a flight at the Rock in close to
six months, so it was really fun to be back there and to catch up.
Still jazzed about flying, spring conditions are nearly here!!!!!
MarkC
I whiffled and waffled and eventually called Janni to say that I was
gonna bail.... But he pointed out that the weekend forecast was
looking marginal, so why not give HRock a try while there are still
some NW winds to be had? Thought about it, weighed the downside
of taking a vacation day if things sucked.... But then decided
"What the hell, let's try!"
Only three of us: Steve K, Janni, and myself. We launched Steve first
and he beamed up immediately after launch. Turned to Janni and
suggested we flip for the next flight... But he offered to go last, with
wuffo help. So I was off next, with Janni and one wuffo, and beamed
up just like Steve. Sweet!!!!
Janni was off next, and had to take a very light cycle because the
wuffos weren't the best. He fought valiantly and caught a
thermal down low which got him back above the ridge, but it
wasn't quite solid enough to keep him in the air. It was a day that
was half-winter and half-spring, with occasional sunny breaks.
More sun and he would have pulled off a long flight, but conditions
down low were fickle, so he eventually had to head out to the LZ.
Steve called it quits fairly early because of the cold, after topping out
at 2800' over. I stuck it out for close to two hours, but could only get
2350' over. Damn that Steve and his "Glider Up" spray!!!! Gotta get
me some of that!
Bullet thermals, half the time I couldn't hook 'em, but those that I
did grab had solid 600fpm up on the averager. I flew out into the
valley towards the end of the flight and got clobbered by sink. Ran
back to the ridge full-VG, got flushed, clawed my way back up to
500' over, got flushed again.... And that was all she wrote
When I landed I had no feeling in my hands at all, in spite of gloves
and bar-mitts; I blame my crappy flare on that. Woooo, hurt like hell
when the blood was flowing back, talk about memories of cold days
at Woodstock!
We visited with Emma Jane after flying, and I can tell that she's
looking forward to more company when the flying and the temps
get better. I don't think I've had a flight at the Rock in close to
six months, so it was really fun to be back there and to catch up.
Still jazzed about flying, spring conditions are nearly here!!!!!
MarkC
Re: Still hoping for a mid-week flight! Thurs?
Mark said it all, my wuffos weren't really experienced or useful (one pulled my wing down with all his might) so I backed off from the edge, waited for a lull, watched them let go and went for my sure sled. Still managed to get above the ridge but nor for long, one turn in sink had me head for the LZ. Got a ride back to the ridge that, very unfortunately, due to drift and lack of longevity only delayed being claimed by gravity by another 10 minutes. I still flew for like 20-30 minutes and would have been happy if I hadn't had a harness malfunction. Couldn't get upright no matter how hard I tried to push myself up from the basetube, had to flare fully prone and crashed, of course. Luckily my belly hit the ground before the glider, so my downtubes were spared. Ugly!
#1 Rogue Pilot