Jacks 8/21

[XCanytime]

Looking like another Jacks day setting up this Saturday. Now that the launch is clear and the LZ parameters are known, who's interested? Bacil

[XCanytime]

Real nice later day at Jacks. I took the scenic route over Shade, Blacklog, and Blue Mountain, arriving at launch just before 1P. Found Pete Lehmann, Pat Brooks, Shawn MacDuff, Joe Gorrie, and Spoons setting up. Conditions were a little light at launch, with the sun trying to peek through the upper stratocumulus. Dave Black showed up a bit later and rounded out the pilot contingent. Joe launched first around 1:30P, went right, and managed around 20 minutes before landing in a rolling strip in another field to the SW of the main. Pete launched next around 2P, went left, and managed to hang on in the very evident east cross for a half hour before landing next to Joe. It picked up a little, so I took off just before 3P and turned left. I dolphin flew until I got above the ridge and continued dolphin flying all the way up to the power line. Never got more than 200' above the ridge. Didn't have the altitude to cross over the lines, so I turned around and screamed back towards launch with a vigorous tailwind. Got below the ridge a few times before gaining back up to launch level. Smoked by launch and continued heading SW towards the area where the ridge curves more to the east. As luck would have it, I climbed back up above the ridge flying directly over Jacks Mt. road and dolphin flying next to the steep part of the ridge above the road. Went a few miles south and found some rockpiles opposite the last landing fields in the Ferguson Valley that were pumping off some lift. Loitered in the area and gained up to 600' over. Went OTB in search of an airstrip that Spoons had mentioned, but didn't make the airstrip and put down around 3:30P in a nice field opposite crops right next to Allensville. I had an audience again as Pharis and Alvin Swarey and their little sister came over to chat with me. They were pockmarked with blue paint, having just finished a painting task. I finagled an Amish buggy ride with Pharis up to the mountain to a trail that the Amish folks use to hike up to the Jacks launch. As I was enjoying the nice ride through the farmland, I radioed Pete, who was a few hundred over directly opposite us as we rode straight at the mountain. Pete radioed back that he could see the buggy. I committed to hiking back to launch. Let's just say that it was too exciting. It took me 2:15 to hike back to launch. Along the way I spooked a full grown timber rattler who, thank goodness, gave me early warning. He was sunning himself on top of a rock in a massive rockpile; I did not see him. The weirdest thing, I had just thought to myself that I hadn't seen a rattlesnake yet, then the very next instant, I hear the distinctive rattle. I stop dead in my tracks, and 6 feet away is an coiled, angry rattlesnake. He struck at me; I'm very lucky I was plenty far away. I froze, and he slowly slithered back into his lair through a crevice, all the while rattling. I hate to think of what may have been had I been struck. I finally reached the parking lot, completely exhausted, legs cramping up. It had turned on later, and Pete ended up landing down near Mt. Union 9.8 miles SW of launch. Pics of the Amish buggy ride to follow.

Bacil

[XCanytime]

Looking SW into the haze.

Pharis, Alvin, and their little sister.

A few more curious onlookers.

Looking back at Jacks Mt.

My ride is ready.

[XCanytime]

A nice ride through the Amish farmland.

Tethering the horse before hitting the trail.

[lplehmann]

I love it: a 1 HP retrieve vehicle that produces recycleable exhaust products.

[brianvh]

where's the picture of the rattlesnake?

[XCanytime]

Camera was laying by the rattlesnake. It fell out of my helmet I was carrying when I came to the sudden stop . Bacil

[Dan T]

Great write up and pics as always Bacil.

Ellis nearly stepped on a rattler at Daniels last week. It must be their season to be moving about before the cold weather hits. Anyway I think we are all well advised to make a fair amount of noise and don't move too quickly. Rattlers will warn you off given a chance.

I was surprised that the Amish would let you photograph them. That was a special treat.

Dan