Sat Oct 23 : What are ya thinkin?

[markc]

I see SW surface forecasts for tomorrow, though with what looks like some
closer-to-west at the Pulpit, and maybe actual-true-west at Woodstock,
at various times during the afternoon. And the 3k forecast is W, strong.

Give the Pulpit a try, maybe????

MarkC

[carweill]

Maybe Pulpit. It looks like a small window of opportunity.
Willing to give it a try.

(I shouldn't have looked at the sky today)

Carlos

[Ward Odenwald]

Heading to the Pulpit, ETA 11:30.

[DanTuck]

I'll give Pulpit a shot today. ETA 11:30 - 12:00

[markc]

Strong to the north and light to the south.... But yeah, Pulpit is probably
the best of our options.

Carlos, are you still thinking of giving it a try?

MarkC

[carweill]

Mark and i heading to the Pulpit

Carlos

[DanTuck]

I showed up just after Ward around 11:30 and it was SW and light but there were cycles coming in here and there. Mark and Carlos showed not long after and we started setting up. Ward wasn't convinced and waited. Rich B stopped by for awhile. Then Mark Gardner showed up and got to settin up. It was definitely launchable but nobody could convince anyone else to go first. It wasn't soarable and I was hoping it would pick up some in the afternoon. Sometime around 3:00 I got impatient again and decided I didn't think it was going to get any better so I launched. And sledded straight to the secondary. Not long after I was done breaking down Ward and Mark G swung by and got me after dropping a vehicle in the primary. Once back up top it was getting better so I set up the U2 in record time. But by the time people were launching, it was not much better at all. I helped MarkC launch and watched him turn real tight into a tiny lift band right on top of the ridgeline. I could see it was working for him, maintaining at least, so I decided to pimp his style when I launched. Rich B had come back and he and Ward helped me off the new ramp into a good cycle. Thanks guys. I got in close and managed eek along not really losing anything, but not enough lift to turn in. Down by Rt. 16, where the ridge curves back a little, there's a little bit of a West, or perhaps even WSW facing spot that was "working". I clung to it right over the road for about 15 minutes before having to bail and head to the primary. Had a nice enough landing in the weeds. Max altitude - 23' over launch. Once we all broke down and got back up top at sunset, it was coming in pretty much straight and soarable. Of course. Speaking of the sunset, it was pretty spectacular.

PS - Big thanks to Ward for all the help.

[Danny Brotto]

On Saturday, I test flew a LS-1f (sailplane) that hasn’t flown in a while for a new owner just getting into single-place fiberglass. Towed to 3,000 ft agl from Fairfield at about noon to sort things out. It took about 500 ft to figure out both vario were FUBAR. Using the altimeter, I found wave over Carroll Valley pretty low at about 2,500 ft AGL. Wave was widespread and in the 100 to 200 ft/minute range. Topped out at ~4,500 ft MSL but after an hour I wanted to get the glider back to it's new owner. Other's that launched after me contacted the wave easily and stuck for over 3 hours. The rotor was moderate.

The guys at Frederick reported over 7K MSL in the wave later in the afternoon.

The wind was not strong; I estimate ~20K WSW. A hang glider towed into the local wave I experienced yesterday would of had no problem utilizing it.

Danny Brotto

[DanTuck]

Video du jour.

[markc]

Another great video, thanks a lot for putting it together Dan!!

Attaching a few post-sled-ride photos below.... My flight on Sat was short, but it was
still a very nice day to spend with friends who understand what it's all about. Big thanks
to Rich for taking the time to come up and help us launch, even though he wasn't planning
to fly himself.

FYI, there's now a decent wood pile near the fire-pit. H-2's who might decide to spend
the night up there, take note!

MarkC

Abusing Mark's 'company van'

STFI and soarable back up top after we all flew. Figures... Sigh!

A great sunset shaping up...

Going....

Going....

Gone!