Pulpit 6/7

[XCanytime]

For those pilots not participating in the ECC, Monday is shaping up to be stellar at the Pulpit. Ward, Dan Tuckwiller, and I are on board. Taking the day off will be well worth it.

Bacil

[tomceunen]

I returned back from Europe today. From high up in Canada till Pennsylvania it was one long cloudstreet with perfect aligned clouds. Deeper in PA the weather got too unstable. Wish I was on the other side of the cloud without jetmotor.

[XCanytime]

Still looking stellar. I wouldn't be suprised if vacationers are treated to it raining many gliders on the beach Monday as well. Bacil

[chuckok]

After cleaning up my landings over the memorial day weekend, and a fantastic day hanging out under a vacuum cleaner cloud this past Wed at Blue Sky, I'm chomping at the bit for a "stellar" day in the mountains. Crossing my fingers for Monday if I can pull a fast one, and may join if you guys can watch over a ten hour H-2. Haven't been to the Pulpit since my first mountain flight.

[Roger]

Has anyone considered Woodstock? It looks good from here, but I've been wrong before. Even if WS is not in anyone's plans, may I ask for recommendations for or against from the pros/locals? (long drive, and I don't want to burn up the last of my wife's good will toward me, which has probably already happened)

[XCanytime]

The 3 of us going to the Pulpit are all planning to go XC and have a chase crew lined up. Woodstock should work tomorrow, but it will probably be very light to nil on launch until sometime in the afternoon, when enough of a breeze is switched on and can sustain ridge lift. Bacil

[Roger]

Thanks Bacil. Pulpit is out of the question for me, way too far to drive for a single day of flying. Good luck and go far!

Now if I could find out what WX site you trust for WS it would be a big help. XCskies looks good today for WS (800fpm climbs,top of lift 6700', but windy above 4k', but usaair.net looks cloudy and with lighter winds). So Bacil, I guess what I am saying is, what do you look for to call it a good WS day? Because my predictions suck, and after a 4+hr drive, I want/need all the help I can get.
Thanks in advance.

[brianvh]

Due we believe to the plateau in front of the woodstock ridge, winds are typically about 5 mph weaker than forecast. Since it's a shallow launch, you want to have a decent amount of wind. So a forecast of 15 mph is ideal for mid day flying, if the call is for 20 mph dropping off in evening it's good for evening flights. Slot launch is very directional dependent, so NW, not NNW or WNW.

maybe you knew all this and have just been unlucky, but if you keep making the wrong call it's likely because you don't have the inside information on the site.

[RichH]

Here is my 2cents worth on Woodstock.. Typically I've looked for a strong NW forecast on the surface at D.C...Since I lived in D.C. when I flew woodstock often I would find the winds at WS typically 5-even 10 mph lighter there..Don't think its because of the upwind ridge but more the typical wind patterns for the area..I often find the forecast here in central and western va typically is lighter after the passage of some cold fronts only an hour or two north the wind can be significantly higher..I also have found at WS that in lighter surface winds either from a more Northerly direction or from more of a westerly direction are channelled either up or down the valley. So if the forecast on the surface is lighter 5-10mph it can be an iffy call for woodstock..I find that wind forecast maps that give more detail such as NOAA's ADD's Winds and Temps.. can give you a better bead on whats happening..Again, typically look for a stronger pressure system with the center of the High more in the ohio valley.. Check detailed wind forecast for a NW forecast..WNW or NNW if lighter can channel down the valleys giving you a cross..Be awear that a strong W 280 or little lower may channel into launch and give the appearence of straight in conditions..Its always wise to climb the tower and get a better feel for true direction..Westerly winds at WS can produce rotor type turbulance clost to the mtn due to all the bowls that are cut into the Mtn from the river below..Rich Hiegel

[XCanytime]

Ward, Dan, and I arrived at the Pulpit between 9:30A and 10:30A. Ward's daughter Alexandra and her boyfriend Brendan were present as well and scheduled to drive chase for us. The skies were a combination of dark overcast with cumies under the overcast in spots. There was a lot happening due to the upper level disturbance that was plaguing the area. A brief rain shower drove us into our cars for shelter. Due to the less than stellar conditions Alexandra and Brendan left but promised to help us in the future. Around 12 noon the skies started clearing and the winds were picking up. Ward graciously offered to be our driver, so I set up and at 1:45P it turned on and it got strong on launch. I launched around 2P and got up easily in the pronounced north cross on the ridge. Got to 1400' over 3 separate times in the turbulent chop but the lift kept quitting. Got scraped off the ridge near Rt. 16 around 3:15P in a flush cycle, but pulled off a low save from 300' below the ridge to 800' above, drifting to the SSE. Dan ended up launching just after the low save. I headed back north and lost everything. Dan was doing better and was above the ridge down by Rt. 16. Got scraped off again and tried for another low save in the same spot as before. Gained 100' and then it stopped. Landed at 3:30P to the NNW in chest high wheat. Looked up and saw Dan about 1400' over above Rt. 16. Dan then headed upwind under a cloud street running over McConnellsburg and gained the whole way out. Ward elected not to fly and came down to pick me up. As we were guessing where Dan was, he appeared above us and landed in the chest high wheat. Back at launch it was still strong. Dan and I are returning tomorrow for hopefully better conditions.

Bacil

[DanTuck]

Interesting day at the Pulpit. Overcast and wet in the morning, quite nice in the afternoon, though it was a NNW cross. Weird cloud formations while the weather shifted which turned into streets as the day wore on. Bacil was off before I even set up and he easily soared while I got ready. I launched about an hour after him and didn't find much on the ridge. The thermals were trashy and I couldn't find anything cohesive for awhile. Then Bacil headed out to land while I was a few hundred over the ridge by Rt 16. Finally I found something that got me up about 1,400 over. From there I relaxed a little and noticed a nice street running toward the NNW over McConnellsburg. It wasn't too far from the ridge so I flew to it. Before long I got to the lift and started climbing. Rather than try to thermal in the lift, I just kept flying straight and by the time I was over town I had climbed to about 2,200' over launch. On the far side of town the street ended and so did the lift so I cruised around looking for something else. After searching McConnellsburg and coming up empty, I headed South down the valley over the giant fields next to Rt. 522, also in the direction of another cloud. I was down to about 900' over launch when I found the thermal that was feeding the cloud. It was by far the nicest climb of the day and I was quickly at cloudbase, 3,350' over launch. It was a steady 3-500 fpm. From there, I kept exploring the valley but seemed to find all the sink available and soon was setting up my approach. Landing was uneventful except that the field was chest high wheat. But we knew it so we both landed fine. Huge thanks to Ward for wiring me off and driving. I owe you one.

[mcelrah]

On the "Woodstock affect": I am starting to think it's "wave blocking". - Hugh