Woodstock, Saturday June 2nd

[jyoder111]

Who's interested in heading to Woodstock tomorrow? I'm planning on a 10:30am ETA but might end up waiting for a late afternoon flight if it's strong.

Jesse

[mingram]

I'm trying to make the same assessment and am tentatively planning a 10:30am arrival as well.

Matt

[g.sessa]

I'm interested in flying Woodstock tomorrow. Hoping for a morning / early afternoon flight as I will have to leave by mid afternoon for another engagement. Tentatively planning to arrive 10ish, but wIll check the weather in the AM and confirm....

[sailin]

I'm in. Planning on arriving 1030ish

Jon

[markc]

I'm thinking about it too..... Maybe a bit cross from the west, but WS might be the only option if it's honkin after tbe front pushes through.

MarkC

[mingram]

All the rain should mellow things out, right? Or at least make for a slower start to the day? I was thinking of arriving at 10:30, but will make the call at 8am. 

Matt

[Dan T]

I think it's going to be good all day. Will somebody please drag me off my couch!

Dan

[g.sessa]

Heading to Woodstock....

[jyoder111]

Heading to Woodstock as well. Eta 10-10:30am.

Get off the couch, Dan T. Grab your camera!

Jesse

[sailin]

i'm changing my tune.........again...

heading to the Pulpit today....probably be good at both....hope everyone has great flights, where ever you launch from!

Jon

[mingram]

Gonna arrive around 11-12

[g.sessa]

Changing my plans and direction, going to give the Pulpit a shot instead....

[markc]

Leaning towards Woodstock, given what looks like fairly strong conditions at the Pulpit. Wish that the 'cast for WS was stronger..... Hoping that the "day-after: Woodstock" rule of thumb will apply today.

MarkC

[rasmussenv]

.... Gosh, I'd really like to fly Pulpit, but more than that I'd simply like to fly ... just checked nostepper and winds aloft at Pulpit are 15-17 kts at 1700 feet and above. Doesn't sound TOO bad - on the edge of what I'd like ... but I've heard that Pulpit blows harder than forecast and Woodstock blows lower, so I'm thinking I'll head to Woodstock. Hope MarkC is still headed that way ..??

[g.sessa]

Back and forth... Pulled over to recheck conditions on the phone, and visibly noticed strong winds already on the ground. Sticking with my first thought, and going to woodstock.

[Dan T]

I'm leaving in a few minutes. I can't carry a HG to the top, but we could leave my vehicle at the primary for body rides after the flight.

If you want to do that please call me before 10:30 as I plan to drive up Fort Valley Road if I don't hear from anyone.

Dan
seven oh 3 772- five one 8 zero

[rasmussenv]

Woodstock was great. I met Mark C and Jesse at the PLZ and they left their cars and I took them up. There we found Greg Sessa and Alex T (from Kitty Hawk Kites and also VCU). I was the LAST of this 'early' crew to launch (was preceded by Jesse, MarkC, Greg Sessa and Alex). All had nice launches - I launched at about 1pm with the help of Dan T - some of the PG crew that had arrived, and Gary. I enjoyed a 95 minute flight, I got a max of 2000 ft above launch, there were periods of outstanding lift, but I also spent plenty of time just a few hundred over launch. When I left the mountain there were about 3 PG about and a couple HG somewhere - Mark C had disappeared. Jesse was on his 2d flight. If I have some details wrong, maybe someone can weigh in.

I landed when I saw that Greg S and Gary were about to leave the PLZ and I wanted to catch a body ride back to get my car at launch. There I saw Steve Kinsley - and don't know who else that made up a later wave of HG. When I left the PLZ later after retrieving my vehicle there were at least 8 PG in the sky and a couple HG. Before I left Jesse ended his 2d flight and PG Guy landed. When on 66 I heard from Mark C - Gary was on his way to pick him up - not sure where. Just a great day at Woodstock.

Jesse was captured some video, and Greg's Dad, Mel was getting a lot of photos.

Look forward to hearing how things turned out for others, and for those at the Pulpit.

[rasmussenv]

Oh - FYI - the bridge field has been planted with something, so we didn't land there. Looks like soybeans or something low, but didn't want to damage it. The grass in the PLZ was thigh high ... heard that John M might know contacts to request it get mowed ? ....

The family at the PLZ were having a picnic - they were happy for the extra entertainment we all were providing, but it was mostly the children that were interacting with us - at least when I was breaking down.

[markc]

Wow, what a fun day!!! I headed south after some initial zipper
issues, and for a change my head-banging against the west
cross at the edinburg gap paid off. Crossed with 4k over launch
and had visions of a fantastic xc flight.... But Short Mtn was
majorly soft and I was in a bit of a bind for a while. Luckily
I was able to head back from the end and find an lz. Thanks
to Gary for thepickup!!!! Too much to.relate from this stupid
smartphone keyboard, but what's imlprtant is that I'm
staying in ws tonight, so call if you qant a conditions report
tomorrow am.

[CraginS]

I returned to the mountains today, after a much too long hiatus. Launching about 4, with a good run in no wind, I never got more than 300' over launch. Arms were tiring with continuous action in the small bumps, so I landed in the knee-high grass after about 25 minutes.

I just checked my log - my last Woodstock flights were fall of 2008! Dang - that is way too long a delay in getting back.

Thanks to Gary S for crewing me off. Good to see lots of folks out, including Dan T, Dan Tuck, Jesse Y, Steve K, Skip B, Greg from Elsinore, Alex ,Ellis K, Lazlo, Randy W., et alia.

[SHORTCUT]

Woodstock rocks!!
What a gorgeous place....every bit as scenic as I imagined from Dan Tucks photos and vids.

Cycling NW to NNW...a bit strong for PGs 'til about 2pm...about the time I arrived. Nice flat bottom cumies at about 5500.
2 1/2 hr flight for me in my bag...got to 5100ft 2x...once by charging way out front and tracking a thermal to well behind the front ridge.

Big thanks to all the cool pilots, Dan T for the directions and site briefing, Jesse for the ride to launch, and especially the guy (someones dad?) who retrieved my brand new radio that took a short flight to the bottom of the launch slot from about 80 ft...I owe that guy dinner!. It's a miracle that the radio survived. Pleasant dinner with Dan Tuck, Craig, Alex, and Jesse....very informative...thanks for sharing.

A most memorable flight. lots of wings along the ridge.....and plenty of room for all. At one point (looking west) I imagined that I could see all the way to Kentucky.

Looking forward to flying there again soon!

Greg "From Elsinore"
Staunton, VA

[eggzkitz]

Indeed, nice day with lots of wings, 9 PG and 7 HG by my dad's unofficial count.

Greg, my dad told me about the radio on the drive home. I too was amazed when he told me it survived. Glad you were able to make it out on a nice WS day. When I moved to DC from CA I thought my flying would be done, but was pretty stoked to find out about places like Woodstock.

PG flying was good from about 1:30 to 5:30 once winds abated. Ellis and I tried to go XC, wandering north in search of a thermal that would take us over the back. We ended up at signal knob and landed in Strasbourg. With my dad poised as a retrieve driver I was itching to go OTB but the thermals seemed too light with too much slant, and I never committed to heading back, always hoping I would find one to cloud base before I turned back. But never got there. Oh well.

Matt - I've got your radio in my car. I can drop it off whenever. Im off this week.

Cheers,
Jeff

[g.sessa]

After suffering from indecision, back and forth deciding between Woodstock or the Pulpit, I ultimately made my way out to Woodstock. I arrived around 11 am feeling good about the decision, finding great conditions at launch, and several others pilots getting ready to fly. I took off after Jesse, Alex and Mark, all having great launches, and noticing that they had no problems finding lift. After I launched, I too was able to find good lift and circled right away to approximately 2,000 feet over launch. I then enjoyed about an hour and half flight hanging around the launch area, and landing in the primary. It was a great day, hit or miss at times with the big lift, but for the most part easily soarable. I will also be checking back with my Dad, who had a great time taking photographs from launch and the tower, and will post / share the pictures accordingly.

[jyoder111]

Great day at Woodstock! As I was driving out I wondered if anyone else would show. Then I got a call from Mark C and started getting stoked. Lots of pilots!
I got in two flights, one around noon and the second later in the afternoon for about 45 minutes and 25 minutes. Landed when I was tired each time. Had a good time hanging out at the pizza joint afterwards with Greg from Elisnore, Alex, Cragin, and DanTuck.

Videos:

[mingram]

I had fun. 2 1/2 hours, but only 3700 msl. Greg, you had the right idea! Nice hearing you got 5100 msl! I wanted to push out in the valley so I could do some turn versus just trying stay in front of the ridge, but couldn't find a good lift line or didn't commit. I pushed out to LZ and found a small climb and was finally able to do some turns, but it was drifting fast and I didn't want to lose my landing option. Nice day. I think it would have been more fun in a hang glider. It was great watching Dan wang it up! Makes me want to get a hang rating.

Matt