Edith's Gap followup

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Dan T
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Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

I sent of the signed paperwork today. The Forester who is working with me will be out of town for two weeks. There is some chance that another one will stand in for him, but more likely we will have to wait until he returns to complete the next step.

The next step is to mark off the perimeter of the slot we want to clear. I will try to make it as wide and long as we reasonably can. I'll emphasize the safety aspects of wider-longer launches.

Dan
lbunner
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by lbunner »

Dan, when do you plan on marking off the slot?
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Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

I'm going to try to do it early in the third week of April. The Forester doesn't get back until then. We could go early and reconnetier it. This might be a good idea. I could do that sometime on or after Wednesday of next week. Would you like to arrange to meet me there?

I'd like to get a few more people involved in this portion of the work including getting some face time with the USFS, so they know we have a real organization behind the effort. It might not be important but I don't think it will hurt either.
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uplandann
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by uplandann »

For what it is worth, I am available durring the week, and also have a good pair of loppers that will cut 1.5 inch diameter stuff.

Ann
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Flying Lobster »

Good work Dan. Make sure you get "lardman" Pete Schumann out there to help--he loves hacking things to bits. : )

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mingram
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by mingram »

I bought a pair of loppers myself. Ann, I took out the smaller sticker bush in the LZ at Daniels last Sunday. I should have used them on launch because I got tangled in a few sapling to the left.

Look at the SE flow we're getting for Friday and Saturday! The Gap is calling us!
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Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

The local office of the USFS just reached me. They are putting a roll of flagging with my name on it at their front desk. We simply have to pick up the flagging and mark off the area we would like for the launch. We are invited to mark off the trees outside the original perimeter of the slot that we would like to have removed in order to make the slot wide enough to safely launch our modern gliders including the PGs. He will then arrange to view the launch area with us.

Is anyone interested in going there with me in the next day or two?

Dan
deveil
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by deveil »

Dan T wrote: ...We are invited to mark off the trees outside the original perimeter of the slot that we would like...
Is anyone interested in going there with me in the next day or two?

Dan
that's great news isn't it!

i'll be glad to help out

yoo da man!
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deveil
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by deveil »

hey :idea: if they are going to allow us to cut trees on either side of and below the original slot … we may not have to carry the invasive stuff up and out. maybe we'll be able to to just carry off to the sides and below. the invasives would still be out in the clear so as to be treated now and in the future?
mAn, the whole job would be SO much easier :shock:
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markc
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by markc »

Do you have a definite date/time Dan? I could maybe get off work on Friday... And Saturday would of course be pretty wide open.

MarkC
Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

Saturday looks promising for flying at Woodstock. I can stop by the USFS office in the late morning then we can check the site out before or after flying depending on conditions. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there from Woodstock.

My suggestion is to caravan from Woodstock at Noon and fly in the late afternoon. We should easily be back by 2:00. If we plan on doing it after flying it's liable to get preempted by good flights.

I'd like to invite any pilot/spouse who wants to come.

Since we don't have any registered chain saw operators in the club, the Forest Service doesn't want us cutting the trees that require a chain saw. They want us to mark them so they can cut them down themselves.
deveil
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by deveil »

since you're doing it on a weekend, i'll suppose that you'll have the help you'll need...
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markc
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by markc »

Hey Dan,

I hate to be a weasle..... But I"m looking to back out on Saturday, because of an opportunity to thrown-in for a paid driver tomorrow, and hopefully an XC flight from the Pulpit. I know, I know, I shouldn't have said anything if I wasn't willing to truly commit to helping you out. :oops: My apologies my friend! But I just can't refuse what looks like a good day, and unfortunately, it's not going to be at Woodstock. :(

If things change I'll give you a call tomorrow AM.

MarkC

(slinking away...)
Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

Mark Cavinaugh and I marked off the desired slot at Edith's gap yesterday. If we get it as wide as we marked it off, it will be a really nice launch site. The prior slot is deep enough that we should have no trouble setting up a PG downslope away from the power lines.

We also checked out the new LZ I've arranged. It's easily big enough to handle a PG but it's going to be a highly technical LZ for a HG. It will definitely be a bail out field for any HG pilot flying anything faster than a Falcon.

Dan
Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

The Forest Service representative contacted me yesterday. He said he'd walk the perimeter in the next couple of weeks that Mark C and I taped off last weekend. He will let me know the next step after that.

I am hopeful that we can get enough people together to do our part of the cleanup up in one day. It will take at least 10 of us. The USFS chainsaw effort will be significant as well, particularly if they agree to take down all the trees that we have proposed for removal. I haven't seen the LZ access road at High Rock but from what I've read I think it should get our attention and investment, if any, first.

Dan
deveil
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by deveil »

i remember someone saying something about the slope invaders living on borrowed time and then someone else saying that they couldn't wait to get their hands on the b*st**rds. something like that.
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mingram
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by mingram »

What's the latest news on this project?
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Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

Matt,

The USFS guy promised to get back with me once Mark C and I finished marking our desired perimeter. He hasn't done so. That doesn't mean much other than I need to follow up. I've been a little remiss in doing so partly from laziness and mostly from the fact that the LZ is going to be very technical for anything higher performing than a Falcon.

I'll call him later today and see where we are at.
Dan T
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Re: Edith's Gap followup

Post by Dan T »

Pilots,

I'm leaving town for a month early Monday. My point of contact's first name is Cameron. He is at the USFS office in Edinburg. If one of you could volunteer to follow up it would be greatly appreciated. Having more than one person from our club engaged will demonstrate that it has wider support than just one individual too.

Dan
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