Bill's Hll Weekend

[Matthew]

Looking East Sat and Sun.

Matthew

[mingram]

I got my eye on Saturday. I hear we need to bring pruning tools.

[wmelo]

I am looking forward to flying at Bill's Hill this weekend. I have not flown there.
walt

[Matthew]

Pruning tools--- we always need pruning tools.

Maybe we should get a heard of goats???

Maybe just a club goat?

Matthew

[dbodner]

I had once half-heartedly looked into a goat service for the Pulpit. I can't remember what figures I came up with, but I thought it was too expensive. Maybe I'll look again.

[pink_albatross]

the capitol hill cemetery is using goats to clear the brush this week (until August 17). There was a story in the post:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013 ... rial-areas.

They used EcoGoats (http://www.eco-goats.com/) based in Davidssonville, Maryland. They only travel 150 miles with their goats. So, Bill's Hill is just inside their operation range.

National Geographic (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... ington-dc/) reports that it cost $4000 to rent the 58 goats for one week to clear up the 35 acres of cemetery grounds. Goats eat broad leaves (i.e. not grass) and green stuff (poison ivy, brush). They also fertilize the area they are clearing, so it's often a good idea to spread grass seed while they are working. The seed gets pushed into the ground by their hooves and also gets fertilized.

[mingram]

That's awesome! We need this for Daniels!

[Rod H]

in the meantime while this whole goat thing is being worked out, I will bring a weedeater tomorrow. if nobody has been there since I saw the site a month ago, probably need a second trimmer as well. waist-high grass. bring tick repellant.

I can arrive late morning. when are people planning to go up there?

Rod

[Matthew]

Also planning on arriving late AM. Will bring cordless weed whacker and a pruners et cet.

Matthew

[markc]

Looking pretty light for we hangies, but the slot needs work, and ya never know, could be cycles good enough to keep plumbing aloft. I'll try to be there by 11-ish.

MarkC

[mingram]

Traffic on 270 exit 18

[markc]

Wow, that slot is in need of serious work. Gave it a go for 5+ hours, and hardly made a dent. Decent cycle and a single-surface.... Maybe I would have considered it. I think Dave B had a flight along those lines, but seemed like it might have just been a sledder.

The PGers, OTOH, had an epic day! I had some fun filming a bunch of their top-landings, very cool to watch.

MarkC

[Matthew]

Awesome day at Bill's-- tons of PGers flying (Ellis, Karen, Ben Brooks, Rod, Lazlo, Jim M., Tom C., Krista, Eric, Jeff E.). Several pilots had multiple flights and a couple went XC. David Bodner was the only Hangie to fly (and also did a lot of work on the slot!). Karen and I did about 40 minutes of slot clean-up before I decided to fly. Got 4+ hours and 4400 over launch (approx. 6300msl). Flew down to the turnpike and upwind over the new rest stop. Went up North and across the little gap. Spent most of the time on top of the stack-- except when I bailed on a thermal drifting too far over the back for my comfort level and Matt Ingram topped out in it at base-- that Bastard!!!

I top landed after a couple of times coming in too high and flying back through launch-- the new glider has much more of a glide than my old wing. Anyway, third time was a charm for a nice on-feet top landing.

Big thanks to Mark C. for all of his super hard work on the slot. We really need to do a major clean-up there. We need PG George to come out with his chainsaws!


Matthew