Smithsburg 1/16

[XCanytime]

Looking like another cold NW day this Sunday. Another opportunity for warmth, exercise, and honing ground handling, glider parking, and launch/landing skills. And High Rock is only 15 minutes away. Jon, Eddie, and I are planning to be there. Bacil

[A0213]

... And Amy too

[A0213]

I am ready for some more air time!!!!!!! :):)

[mcgowantk]

I am thinking about coming out too - but more likely going to the Pulpit or the Rock. Maybe even Woodstock!

Tom McGowan

[jyoder111]

work on sundays, bah.

[XCanytime]

May do double duty and head to the Pulpit also. Conditions may be right for a local first mountain flight. Bacil

[uplandann]

Might be interested in Woodstock. Anyone else? Is the firetower road open (the snow should be gone)? Or do you have to go "the back way" in winter no matter what? If so, how do I use the alterate route? Never used before.

[jyoder111]

Went to Taylor Farm today for the rowdiest day yet I've had there. John Middleton showed up with some students and after some runs on the flats they ended waiting the whole day for it to calm down and it didn't. I got 10 bumpy flights in, a couple in which the bottom dropped out when I was 50+ feet up and I had to round off in ground effect. Got more practice parking the glider and ground handling! A good training day.

[uplandann]

Well I was considering a trip to Smithsburg, wind looks great and perfect... but then looked at the temps

Hmmm It's looking to be mighty cold for a mountain flight (31 on the ground at Smithburg, so with higher altitude and wind, brrr)... Think I might opt to go to Longs Hill in Luray, VA supposed to be a balmy 37 degrees with NW 7mph...

Ann

[carweill]

Heading to Smithsburg for PG
if too windy will wire crew

Carlos

[cthornberger]

Will also be out there around 1400. Good day for some hill climbing.

[XCanytime]

Great day at the burg. Got there at 11:20A to find Jon and Amy setting up. Multiple flights were done during the day from hang gliders and paraglider alike. Even Doug Rogers from the Hyner club drove all the way down from near Reading PA just to test fly his T2 after some sail patch work! It was good to see Doug, Danny Brotto taking a few hops in his Falcon after flying his sailplane in wave to 10K MSL, Ward Odenwald after checking out the 21 degree temps and constant winds of 18 MPH with gusts to 26 MPH at the Pulpit, Jon and Amy in their respective Falcons, Carlos kiting his paraglider, and Peter from Charles Town WV, doing passes in his paraglider. I just helped out when it was needed. Didn't even take the glider off the truck. Conditions were initially straight in at 12 to 18 MPH at the top. As the day went on it went north, then west at times, and lightened up. The lightening up gave Jon and I hope that the Pulpit had settled down enough for him to do a late day mountain flight. Jon, Amy, and I got to the Pulpit around 3:30P, and Carlos 10 minutes later. It was cranking at 18 MPH constant with gusts to 22 MPH, and the gusts in the trees were ramping up and down quickly. We elected to retire to the warm bar for some food and drink. There will be a warmer, less windy day in the future. Bacil

[pch]

Nice day at Smithburg today, sunny, windy. First time at this site. Got there at 11:30am Bacil was busy setting wind socks, thanks Bacil. Met Jon & Amy, Ward, & Chris. Left at 3:30pm, 12 flights. Lots of kiting, I'll be back!

[sailin]

Fun day again at Smithsburg! It was cool meeting some new people and spending the mostly sunny day outside with all the pilots. A big thank you to Bacil and Carlos for driving over to the Pulpit with me to check conditions for a possible flight. Like Bacil said....it was still cranking over there.
All in all a good day.......except that I realized when I got home that I had left my heavy winter fleece jacket at the Mountain House Restaurant (the one by the Pulpit launch).......uuuuhhhhhhggggg Hopefully I can get a hold of them tomorrow and get it back.........even better... if it is sweet Pulpit conditions this coming weekend and I can pick it up just before flying

Jon