Forecast looks promising. Anyone interested?
Jesse
Thursday/Friday WNW
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
I'm thinking about Friday Jesse. Looking like a Woodstock day at the moment....
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Friday looks pretty breezy, even for Woodstock, with high velocity winds aloft. Thursday looks much more doable, but for the chance of rain.
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
On the fence for Friday--
Current forecast for WS--
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S. WEST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
Don't like gusts to 30 part.
Matthew
Current forecast for WS--
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S. WEST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
Don't like gusts to 30 part.
Matthew
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Might be able to soar Smithsburg even.
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
The gusts predicted by the NWS hourly surface forecast are supposed to back off at 2pm, and then conditions are supposed to be W@14 by 4pm. That's pretty benign for Woodstock (assuming that it actually comes to pass). Since I've got the day off, I'm planning to give it a go (assuming no big changes as of tomorrow AM), with an ETA of around 1pm or so. Maybe earlier if I decide to do some hiking.
I'm hoping that things will mellow after that predicted 10am - 2pm window with the strong gusts. Definitely a gamble, and maybe there won't be any flying.... But then again, maybe there will!
MarkC
I'm hoping that things will mellow after that predicted 10am - 2pm window with the strong gusts. Definitely a gamble, and maybe there won't be any flying.... But then again, maybe there will!
MarkC
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Oh yeah, phone number: 301-807-5414 . Will be looking at the forecasts by 8am Friday.
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
The gusts on the NWS hourly map are now predicted to back off at 1pm, an hour earlier than yesterday. And the ADDS 3k forecast shows the strong stuff sliding out of northern VA by 4pm. This has me thinking that the drive out to Woodstock is worth the gamble, anyone else game?
MarkC
MarkC
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Nostepper is showing winds aloft in the 30s (mph) range till very late tonight. Looks too risky for me, plus I need to take my H3 test..
I'm up for heading to Smithsburg for some fun, but I won't go alone.
Jesse
I'm up for heading to Smithsburg for some fun, but I won't go alone.
Jesse
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
I've had about 50/50 success with the winds aloft forecast to be in the 30s at Woodstock (flying U2-class wings). With the surface gusts forecast to start backing off at 1pm... I'm willing to drive out and take a look. Trying to convince Dave B, Ellis, and Matthew to come out too (such a beautiful day!), they're considering, will decide a bit later.
My ETA is noon-ish, but will be taking my time on the way, maybe a Starbucks stop or two along the way.
MarkC
My ETA is noon-ish, but will be taking my time on the way, maybe a Starbucks stop or two along the way.
MarkC
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Our gamble *did* pay off! But it was fairly late in the day when conditions started to back down.
I had a leisurely drive, stopping at the Front Royal Starbucks for a weather-check, hot chocolate, and breakfast. Then I headed to the Woodstock Cafe & Shoppes for lunch, and to pick up some excellent brews, an ice wine, and a bottle of port. The cafe also has free wifi, music on Thursdays, wine tastings... Definitely a cool place to hang out on a windy day.
I headed up top around 1:30, and got a call from Ellis letting me know that she & Dave B were on the way. Woo-hoo!
Conditions at launch were pretty strong, so I did a half-setup, then hung around with Dave and Ellis, killed some time in the parking area, and then helped build a windbreak on the right side of the slot. Didn't really think that it would be flyable, but puttered around, tweaking this-and-that. (Oh: I've got a few climbing loops and a 'biner in the harness again. Yet to come is a 75' length of rope, weighted dental floss, etc).
And then.... Around 3:15... We started getting some bonafide lulls! I hustled to complete my setup, and then the three of us were on launch at 4pm, looking at conditions.
Which of course had started to build again. Major sigh! But as it turned out, that was the last gasp of the day. After some EXTREMELY polite "No, I insist, you must fly first!" back-and-forth with Dave, I decided to give it a go. Launch was still a bit strong, and I chose a cycle that perhaps wasn't the best, and had bit of a waffle toward the right side of the slot. Not an "Oh shit!" moment by any means, but enough to get feedback from Dave and Ellis at the end of the day. Lacking video, our guess is that I was kicking into the harness a bit too early, and I might have let the pitch out a bit, and/or shifted right, in the process. On a strong day with a west cross, the first and only thing you should focus on after getting airborne is to exit the slot, as super-clean & super-smooth as possible.
I recovered from that bobble, turned into the west cross, and zoomed out of the slot and into the air. Great sky, great clouds, with a great sunset starting to set up. My flight was maybe 45 minutes or so, and believe it or not, conditions REALLY backed down, to the point where you had to work to stay up. I played around in the sky, buzzed the tower a few times, and flew with Dave for a while... Then headed toward the LZ as the sun was touching down. Winds in the LZ were pretty minimal, and the toughest part of the landing was trying to figure out which way the cows were going to run.
We owe a major thanks to Ellis, who came out (with the doggies) without really expecting to fly. With her launch help, and then a pickup in the LZ, she really made the day possible for Dave and I. Thanks Ellis!!!
MarkC
I had a leisurely drive, stopping at the Front Royal Starbucks for a weather-check, hot chocolate, and breakfast. Then I headed to the Woodstock Cafe & Shoppes for lunch, and to pick up some excellent brews, an ice wine, and a bottle of port. The cafe also has free wifi, music on Thursdays, wine tastings... Definitely a cool place to hang out on a windy day.
I headed up top around 1:30, and got a call from Ellis letting me know that she & Dave B were on the way. Woo-hoo!
Conditions at launch were pretty strong, so I did a half-setup, then hung around with Dave and Ellis, killed some time in the parking area, and then helped build a windbreak on the right side of the slot. Didn't really think that it would be flyable, but puttered around, tweaking this-and-that. (Oh: I've got a few climbing loops and a 'biner in the harness again. Yet to come is a 75' length of rope, weighted dental floss, etc).
And then.... Around 3:15... We started getting some bonafide lulls! I hustled to complete my setup, and then the three of us were on launch at 4pm, looking at conditions.
Which of course had started to build again. Major sigh! But as it turned out, that was the last gasp of the day. After some EXTREMELY polite "No, I insist, you must fly first!" back-and-forth with Dave, I decided to give it a go. Launch was still a bit strong, and I chose a cycle that perhaps wasn't the best, and had bit of a waffle toward the right side of the slot. Not an "Oh shit!" moment by any means, but enough to get feedback from Dave and Ellis at the end of the day. Lacking video, our guess is that I was kicking into the harness a bit too early, and I might have let the pitch out a bit, and/or shifted right, in the process. On a strong day with a west cross, the first and only thing you should focus on after getting airborne is to exit the slot, as super-clean & super-smooth as possible.
I recovered from that bobble, turned into the west cross, and zoomed out of the slot and into the air. Great sky, great clouds, with a great sunset starting to set up. My flight was maybe 45 minutes or so, and believe it or not, conditions REALLY backed down, to the point where you had to work to stay up. I played around in the sky, buzzed the tower a few times, and flew with Dave for a while... Then headed toward the LZ as the sun was touching down. Winds in the LZ were pretty minimal, and the toughest part of the landing was trying to figure out which way the cows were going to run.
We owe a major thanks to Ellis, who came out (with the doggies) without really expecting to fly. With her launch help, and then a pickup in the LZ, she really made the day possible for Dave and I. Thanks Ellis!!!
MarkC
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
I launched soon after Mark, but the winds had greatly lightened. I got up easily and headed down to meet Mark a couple of fingers upwind, toward the South. Lift was adequate, if not ample. Having trouble making out the trees in the late-day light, I thought of Bacil. I also couldn't see the fields nearby very well, so I headed back to "home" bowl. As soon as I crossed the last finger, I lost lift. Very little was to be had anywhere, even against the North finger. As I fell below launch level, I hit some rotor from the left-cross wind crossing the South finger. Not having much fun in the rotor, and wanting to break down before dark, I headed out to land.
After breaking down, I had my first senior moment of my 6th decade when I couldn't find my fluorescent orange nosecone in the grass. Finally, Ellis found it tucked inside my wing--right where I had put it away.
Ellis and I had carpooled, but she aborted our plans for after-flying beer and dinner. She suddenly remembered she had to drive her roommate to a party somewhere--she wasn't sure where. I don't think I did a very good job of hiding my disappointment at having to rush home.
The party turned out to be at my house where a bunch of people--including many pilots--were waiting for my surprise birthday party. My devious Jodie hits me with one every 10 years, but I still didn't see it coming. At least the shock diminishes with each passing decade. Thanks to who came or who wanted to come, and my greatest thanks to those who participated in advancing the conspiracy. I don't know if I want to credit my naivete or your skill and cunning, but it worked.
After breaking down, I had my first senior moment of my 6th decade when I couldn't find my fluorescent orange nosecone in the grass. Finally, Ellis found it tucked inside my wing--right where I had put it away.
Ellis and I had carpooled, but she aborted our plans for after-flying beer and dinner. She suddenly remembered she had to drive her roommate to a party somewhere--she wasn't sure where. I don't think I did a very good job of hiding my disappointment at having to rush home.
The party turned out to be at my house where a bunch of people--including many pilots--were waiting for my surprise birthday party. My devious Jodie hits me with one every 10 years, but I still didn't see it coming. At least the shock diminishes with each passing decade. Thanks to who came or who wanted to come, and my greatest thanks to those who participated in advancing the conspiracy. I don't know if I want to credit my naivete or your skill and cunning, but it worked.
David Bodner
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Thanks for sharing details! Happy belated b-day Dave!
Re: Thursday/Friday WNW
Thats great!! Happy B-day Dave!!!
Jon
Jon