High Rock Cube

[stevek]

I think that like Woodstock, getting a permit to do something very ambitious up there is probably not going to happen. We need to figure out how to shore up the cube.

I of course expect to be thanked profusely for separating these threads.

Need another one on club priorities

[mcelrah]

Profuse thanks duly delivered. Why not present Patrick Terry's Woodstock proposal, which is pretty well developed with drawings, and see what they say? (Suggest deleting metal windsock poles, though.). (I heard it WAS presented, but they were busy with fire season and couldn't engage, true?). Nothing about that should slow us down from mobilizing to fix the cube. Anybody got a clue how to start? Contractor? Stone mason? Radial ramp made out of fireproof synthetic lumber?
- Hugh

[stevek]

Dan Tuck did some great plans for HR. I think we even submitted them to the county. I don't think anything ever happened tho. (?) I think it would be wonderful if we could do something like Dan proposed but I just can't see the county approving a permit for us to build something like that on public land.

But I could be wrong. It has happened before.

[mcelrah]

My recollection is that the county was enthusiastic about our plans, especially the part about us funding it. They were supposed to handle the permit and the demolition of the cube. I think it stalled when Dan moved to CA. Also, his employer had scrap material we could use and crews whom we could hire. He didn't burn any bridges when he left - he has been back - was that just a visit? Maybe this could be resurrected... Anybody able to add to or correct these musings?

[stevek]

A curious silence. Perhaps we been unfriended by everybody and nobody knows we have posted anything.
I think that it was more that it stalled and DT left.
Anyway, I admire your youthful optimism.

Listen to my NEW PROPOSAL: The problem with the Dan Tuck version, IMHO, is that the county is not going to permit us to build something that is clearly dangerous on public land.. We need a different concept. Bulldoze the cube and the several feet of rocks down. Put in a huge gently sloping dirt mound. Put in a walkway around it -- it would be below the slope of the mound like the trail at Dickey Ridge. It would take a Lotta Dirt. It would disappear the parking lot (or most of it). But if it was landscaped properly it could look like a natural feature. I think the county would jump at this. We would have a permit in no time.

[mcelrah]

Well! I admire YOUR youthful enthusiasm! That is indeed an ambitious proposal - I guess it would be paraglidable? Please draw it up and let's present it to the clubs and the county. My position is that we should not self-censor good ideas on the basis that the authorities won't buy it or it will cost too much. We'll never know until we cost it out and actually ask them. (Might get some agro from hangies (including myself) who actually like cliff launch...)
Meanwhile, does anybody have any dirt on Dan T. so we can blackmail him into resuming his efforts?
Keep that "youthful" stuff coming: I just got my first Social Security check.
- Hugh

[FlyingFelix]

Since a lot of time and money has been spent on HR already, why not keep it a cliff launch (only one around!),make sure it's secured properly and will be there for many, many years?
I doubt the HG club(s) will have enough money in the budget to support major changes to both HR and Woodstock.
I vote for leaving HR as it is (cliff launch) and fix it so it's sound; then keep Woodstock close to what it is and perhaps improve in a "natural" manner.

[dbodner]

Steve K's proposal won't work. The county will never allow the historic rock foundation structures to be disturbed. Remove a bunch of trees just to the north of the cube, and you have a nice PG/HG launch. That's Maryland DNR land, though.

The county may well agree to Dan Tuck's proposal. I recall there being some initial enthusiasm at the official level. If they agree, and if we still have a line on materials, we might want to go for it. However, the stairway to heaven wasn't there when the plans were drawn up. They might be in the way. Even if not, I hate to see that investment go to waste.

If Dan's proposal won't work now for whatever reason, I say we shore up the current cube as best we can. I seem to recall one of the H2s had some masonry expertise and was going to inspect the situation. I don't recall who, now.

[stevek]

I wasn't totally serious. Pretty sure my proposal would cost several times what we could afford. Still, I think that is what really should be done up there. Maybe the county will have some money some day and we could partner with them.

[Matthew]

Mercury said he was going to give us an estimate on doing masonry work to shore up the cube. Haven't heard from him regarding this matter.

Matthew

[davidtheamazing1]

Thank you for creating a discussion topic. I think the club could afford modest changes at both HR and Woodstock, as long as there is continued financial support from the membership and the FFF. Priorities for HR I see are:
1. Ensuring permission to land in 2013!
2. Integrity of the cube so that it will not crumble away.
3. Coming up with a plan to bring PGs to the ridge
4. Long term planning for safeguarding an LZ

[mercury]

i more than llikely have the knowledge and ability to "fix " whatever happens to need fixing at the site or know people that can however my ethusiam has waned with the club I don't like hearing people laugh at my desire to fly over their radio that apparently they forgot they had on

[Dan T]

Mecury,

Whoever slighted you surely didn't speak for the club. We all sometimes say things we come to regret, just ask Mitt Romney!

Anyway High Rock is as close to a "sacred" site as a hang gliding site can get. If you can help us return the cube to a safe launchable condition all of us would be indebted to you. How about letting someone on the CHGPA Board of Directors know what it would take to reengage you?


On a somewhat related note, does anyone know what the surface dimensions of the cube are, to within about 3 inches? Also how far in from the sides of the cube are the edges of the metal grate out front?

Dan Tomlinson
Co-Director
USHPA Region 9

[mercury]

thx dan but ive decided not to fly with this club at the sites owned by them until I can attain my h3 as to not have to deal with it again thx tho gl with your projects

[deveil]

I hope someone reaches out to Matthew and, with all due respect to you, Dan, the High Rock cube is a completely separate and unrelated matter now . I'm sure you'd agree about that.

It's my thinking that Matthew needs to be made welcome and comfortable and part of this, our local "sky tribe" (as John Bishop phrased it). That's not only important for him but important for the whole.

I'm also thinking that there's no benefit to any of this being done here on forum.

I'm just quick jumping in here so I hope that all came out as I'm intending it.

[Danny Brotto]

Dan,

You wrote about wanting to “return the cube to a safe launchable condition” in this and other threads. Has something changed at HR in recent months? I think the repair we are talking about is to the rear left side of the cube where the packing has eroded leaving an unsupported ledge. This is not at the business (launching) end. This repair is for much needed maintenance to prevent further erosion and potential collapse of that ledge (and should be completed ASAP to prevent further erosion.) I don’t think this repair has anything to do with safe launching.

Am I missing something here?

Thanks!
Danny Brotto

[deveil]

might best keep things in terms of prudent repairs/upgrades as opposed to making judgements as to what is or isn't safe when talking about such a situation as this.
'just saying ( place self-mocking smilie here )