Post-Frontal at Woodstock, Thurs Jun 10?

Post by **markc** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:36 pm

It's a bit early, but there are some indications that it might be good at Woodstock
on Thursday, post-frontal conditions. Haven't flown in forever.... Anyone else
thinking of giving it a try, if the 'cast holds?

MarkC

Post by **markc** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:39 pm

I'll bring the beer!

And the snacks!

And the glider-up spray!

Post by **DanTuck** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:59 am

Mark,
I'm off all week. If it's any good, I'm in. I'll keep watching the weather.

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:06 pm

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, let it be good at Woodstock.

Post by **XCanytime** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:42 pm

Looks quite good at Woodstock in the PM. Roger, it will be well worth the drive. I plan to get there around 3P. Bacil

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:32 pm

Thanks Bacil. I'm going to wait until the morning to decide Tater or Woodstock. Both are four hours away, so the drive isn't the issue. But I'm joz'n for WS, (I used to live in Boone)
So I will probably come to WS (Tater looks good for the weekend)

Post by **XCanytime** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:43 pm

Roger I guarantee a great PM flight at Woodstock tomorrow. Remember the Risky Business movie line "sometimes you gotta say WTF, and make your move"

. You won't be disappointed. Bacil

Post by **markc** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:46 pm

Tomorrow looks like one of those days where it could be a bit strong at the Pulpit,
and a bit light at Woodstock.... But I'm still pretty sure I'll give it a go, somewhere.
Keep yer fingers crossed!

MarkC

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:09 am

I'm thinking Tater is blown out, and WS looks light and a bit westerly (early afternoon).

So, what's everyone thinking? Woodstock or honey-do list?

Post by **markc** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:54 am

The forecasts have been backed down a bit.... But Dan Tw and I haven't written a
Woodstock day off. Relatively cool, relatively low humidity : that's in our favor.
We plan to give things a couple of hours to develop, and will then make the call.

MarkC

PS: High Rock might be the best bet, but I'm not sure we have enough pilots
for the site (about 1.5 hours more for Roger, and don't know if Bacil would
have any interest).

Post by **silverwings** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:59 am

Re: High Rock
What about crop in the LZ? I am probably not available but wondering about it.

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 9:06 am

Thanks for the update MarkC.
Looks iffy to me, but what the heck, my glider is loaded now. So, I'm going to start making my way north (4.5hrs) and I will check back here (feel free to call me if you think I am wasting a drive, see my signature line )

Post by **markc** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 9:13 am

Yeah, the status of the field is the other question-mark for HRock.
Not sure I want to gamble on that, since we haven't heard from anyone
about the status of the 'landing strip' that was planned.

And things look pretty strong at the Pulpit. Tough day to call...

MarkC

Post by **Kurt Kemerer** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 9:52 am

Just flew high rock on monday had a nice evening glass-off flight of about an hour first flight in over 2 years - the field has just been cut and is in great shape I wish I could say that about the block at launch - it is one giant step up to the first step while holding a glider but once on top the launch is as sweet as ever - I think just some gravel at the front of the walk up area would fix this - good temp fix anyway. maybe another glass-off flight tonight

Post by **kcarra** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:10 am

What is the status of the High Rock repair?

Post by **markc** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:32 am

One of the winds-aloft forecasts has been updated, and it's now calling for
stronger winds later in the day. That, plus uncertainty about getting enough
for wirecrew at High Rock, has Dan and I leaning toward Woodstock. We
plan to rendezvous in the LZ at 1:30pm.

Keepin' our fingers crossed!

MarkC

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:04 am

I should make the lz rendezvous. But it will be close.

Post by **markc** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:14 am

Just come on up if you're late Roger, one vehicle will be enough....

MarkC

Post by **markc** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:35 am

Great day! Many hours of airtime had by all: Roger over 4.5 hours, myself with 4+ hours.
Bacil and Dan a bit less, with quick XCs to Front Royal. Will post some photos and more
details tomorrow.

First flight of the year without a jacket and gloves... Been a while!

MarkC

Post by **DanTuck** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:37 am

Yahoo!!! More tomorrow.

Post by **XCanytime** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:35 am

Oh the doubting!

Here I go again, advocating making the decision one day in advance, bypassing completely all the back and forth, GUARANTEEING Roger that he would not regret the drive

. What was I thinking?

Anyway, got there after haulin' butt at 4:15P. Mark and Roger were already loving life high above the ridge, and Dan was set up and ready to go. At 4:30 peak heating time it started crankin', and did so for an hour while I set up and Dan waited. After 5:30P the cycles simmered down, and I helped Dan in the air at 5:45P. I moved the glider carefully sideways down the slot little by little until it was directly opposite the runway start. Got hooked in, rotated, and waited for a lull. Picked a lull and went around 6P. It was dumping in the slot, so I was low for most of the trip out of the slot but kept the speed up and down near the bottom rose some and cleared the slot. Got hit by monster lift just exiting the slot, got pitched over the falls pretty good heading downward away from the mountain, then another cannon shot propped me up and sent me up above the ridge. Gained a few hundred, saw Dan heading NE at 1500' over, so I raised him on the radio saying I would be heading NE shortly. We had discussed making a run to the Front Royal Airport together. As I'm burbling to the NE, I see Dan and Roger pretty high up near the reservoir, and Mark heading SW at a good clip a few hundred over the ridge. I stop for lift, but it doesn't get me but maybe 1K' over max. I keep heading up to the NE. Just past the reservoir I hit some lift that gets me to 3200' MSL. I see good clouds upwind. I loiter and finally! find some lift that is going higher. I cling to it like a bee to honey and get to 4200'. I lose down to 3900' and I'm still trolling around under some nice looking clouds. Finally I find the ticket and climb to 4800', drifting towards Buzzard Rock. I squawk at Dan, who is above me and downwind, asking him what does he think about the airport? He is all for it. So I point it downwind, and find more lift SW of Buzzard Rock at the higher point of the second mountain. Get to 5140' MSL and spot Dan below me and off to my left. Now it is a leisurely flight to the airport, enjoying the view. Dan was number one for landing, so I just hung out above him as I watched him nail his landing in the grass just next to the taxiway. I come in and do the same around 7:15P. Dan and I have been planning this joint trip for 3 months, and today it came to fruition. Dan was stoked, and so was I. The airport was empty, so we took our time breaking down. My hat is off to Tony Dilisio, who I called up for a retrieve. Tony drove a half hour from his house just to get us and take us back to launch. Thanks a bunch Tony! Back at launch Mark and Roger were just loading up, and they were both stoked from 4+ hours in the air each! Dan and I led Roger out down the back side of the mountain to Rt. 55 so he could get back on I-66 to make the 4+hour trek back to his home in NC. We grabbed a bite at the golden arches just before they shut down at 11P. Dan picked the right week to take off of work. He has flown 3 sites in 4 days, with a PB gain of 6120' and an XC to Front Royal Airport. Not too shabby.

Bacil

Post by **DanTuck** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 2:51 pm

Another great day at Woodstock. I helped Roger and Mark off, both of whom had very nice launches. Bacil showed up shortly thereafter and I started to get hooked in. As soon as I was ready at 4:30, it ramped up beyond reasonable so I had to wait for an hour. Once I did launch it was really nice on the ridge, I went right up to 1,500' over in a few minutes. I hung around launch since Bacil had no crew, and once he was off, Roger and I started to head toward Signal Knob. We stopped for thermals a few times and got up there wth ease, passing MarkC on his way back. Once we got to the Knob, Roger turned back but I hung out for a little bit. I found a pretty good climb to 2,000' over launch near the tower and then decided to go ahead on back. As I got to the reservoir I saw Bacil coming up the ridge not too far away so I stopped and there I found a real nice thermal that I drifted back with to 4,100' over (6K MSL). I flew back out front and didn't lose a whole lot, down to about 3,700' over when Bacil called for the airport. I looked East and saw nice puffy clouds to follow and the airport looked very easy to get to. So I pulled VG, pointed towards it and didn't even have to think about stopping for lift. I got way ahead of Bacil because he had stopped at that ridge so I just boated around on the way doing circles in zero sink or whatever, waiting for him to catch up. Once he did I cored sink for a couple thousand feet down to the airport while Bacil reminded me of the rules over the radio. Then I set up a regular non-powered aircraft approach and set it down right in the grass next to the taxi-way and the giant windsock. A sweet no step landing to top it off. Bacil came in very shortly after me and had a real nice landing also. I have lots of video to go through. I'll post something. Great to meet you Roger and thanks Bacil for flying to the airport with me. But most of all, thanks Tony for coming to get us. Very much appreciated.

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 1:08 am

What an awesome day! It was the first time I soared WS in about 20 years, and that flight 20 years ago was my first mountain and first soaring flight. And it was just as fun!
Thanks Bacil for the guarantee, it was just what I needed to hear before the 4 hour drive. Still, until MarkC reported that the updated winds were more favorable, I was just expecting a sled run.
MarkC and I met at the lz, I solicited approach/landing advice and then we drove to the top together. At launch we found a nice 10-12 blowing in. WOO hooo! Mark took pity on me and helped me hike my glider in (thanks again Mark). Later Dan showed up and both helped me down to launch and offered me some very good advice for a safe launch. (Always listen to the locals)
Soon after take off, I find a nice ripper that takes me 1800' over launch and then turns rather nasty. After a quick wire slap/keel kick, I tuck my tail and run back to the ridge. (That would be the only really rough air for the day.) I must have lost 800' just getting back out front. Conditions mellowed out after 4:30 and I spent the rest of the day just running the ridge and thermaling. Hank's ole glider was back home and I was loving it. 4:39 flight time and 3.5k' over launch, and sooooo worth the 500 mile round trip!!!!!

It was great meeting all of you. You all have a great group. I check this forum often, and now that I can get an honest guarantee, I’ll check it even more!

And Dan, hurry up with that video!

BTW Within the first 5 minutes of launching, something bit/stung my left thigh. I have made it a habit to hang my helmet on the front flying wires and check it for critters before I put it on (ever since I had a spider in my helmet while flying at Tater). I guess now I’ll have to do something like that to my harness.

Post by **markc** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:42 am

I finally had a chance to web-ify and upload some photos from this flight of June 10, hope you enjoy them! Unfortunately, photos weren’t an option for the most interesting part of the day, read on for more details about that...

My flight started very well, with a climb to 3.2k above launch two fingers to the north. But I shoulda put all that altitude in the bank, because I was low-pilot on the totem pole for the rest of the day.

I had decided to play some games while pushing upwind under what looked like pretty good streets : pretending that 500' above was the ground, struggling to stay higher than that while searching for lift and punching into the valley, zigging and zagging to different clouds. Trying to learn something, I guess.

What I learned was that I still suck flying upwind! Finally gave up on that game and headed north, where I tagged the reservoir. And I never got high again the entire flight! It was really frustrating and broken down low, couldn't even get close to Dan/Bacil/Roger. As the day waned and the glass-off started, I headed back south and to Edinburg Gap. Now that was pretty cool : The ridge was super-solid, so I could fly to the **very** end (Waonaze Peak), tucked way back into the gap itself. I turned around and backtracked occasionally, just to be sure things were still ok (few LZ options at 800’ above launch in those parts). Eventually I hightailed it out of there, after wondering “What if it turns more NW and gets stronger?". OK, time to go!

I landed after over 4 hours of much-needed airtime. Roger had even more, making his long drive worth the effort, I’m sure. While headed back up top, we noticed that the bridge field was lighting up with many fireflies. So I delayed my trip down the mountain for a while, having a cold one and stargazing at launch. At about 10:30, I pulled onto the shoulder at the field, killed the lights.... And WOW! It was amazing, a swarm of fireflies were flashing away in the last five trees bordering the field, from the ground to the highest branches, and out into the field. Imagine multiple Rockefeller-Center Christmas trees covered with lights flashing insanely fast; that’s what it was like. I watched for 40 minutes, spellbound by the rippling, flashing glow. I tried to take pictures and shoot video on my compact camera, but of course got nothing. Ah well... I’ll just have to burn that night into my memory instead.

MarkC