Daniels Saturday 8/31

[mingram]

Krista is calling for a competition at Daniels on Saturday! We're hoping we can run an early task...maybe a few points on the ridge, the LZ, and back to the ridge for P2s and the others a drive downwind to Sperryville. It's optimistic, but would be super fun to try. Anyone else interesting in joining? I'll even try to score it if we can pull it off. HGs welcome.

[jmcclave]

Matt - I'll give it a try. It sounds like fun.

Jim

[FlyingFelix]

I'm back in the US and eager to fly!
Any other HG's interested in Daniels tomorrow?
I'll keep an eye on the weather, if conditions aren't spectacular I may wait and see of other possibilities, Daniels is a long haul away...

[dbodner]

Someone must've flipped a switch, because it's now looking better than it did yesterday. Considering it.

[mingram]

The forecast keeps changing slightly, but continues to look good.

We're planning to meet in the LZ at 9:30 to get everyone up the hill and ready so we can launch between 11-12 and start a task as early as 12 or 1.

Waypoints can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eei7m0yc4cin3 ... -30-13.wpt
https://www.dropbox.com/s/czh71gqztqsh5 ... -30-13.kml

[krista]

On August 31, there will be a mini XC Comp for open and sport paragliding. (Welcome a HG route to the comp as well if someone can put together a suitable task.)

Get ready. Whoop whoop. Please let us know if you can start EARLY. We can always push it back, if necessary. Please specify interst for sport or open class.

Don't forget to upload your way points. Will send out task later TONIGHT, so that you can upload it tomorrow morning...

Get excited.

Krista

[Rod H]

I am planning to head down to work on my flying, but no XC comp is in my near future...

lets hope the weather cooperates

Rod

[markc]

Sheesh, a solidly SW cast all weekend, and the best of the days (tomorrow) probably strong at Highland, and light everywhere else (at least for HG). Major sigh!

I'm thinking of giving Daniels a try tomorrow, as the-best-of-a-bad-lot option. Prob wouldn't bother on a 2-day weekend, but with the holiday.... Ahhh, why not give it a go, what the heck?

Will decide for sure tomorrow am. Doubt I'll worry much about the comp aspect given how light things look for the plumbing...

MarkC

[mingram]

Tom and Laszlo flew today and are camping out tonight. I'm planning a 10am arrival with Reinhard. Krista too. Hope to be in the air by 11:30.

[krista]

All -

So there are about 10 pilots so far slated for the Mini-XC Comp this weekend for both Open and Sport. Of course, few people specified their preferences for either (though we can make assumptions about most folks). Be at the LZ at 1000. Below are the potential Tasks - which will be confirmed tomorrow morning along with the radii for each way point. We will make a determination tomorrow morning based upon the weather forecast.

Arrive at LZ: 1000
Potential Gate Opening: 1100
Potential Start Time: 1130/1200

Sport Class: You may think the distances are short, but you're still going to have to work for it.
- Start: DANLP (Start Cycle Radius: 0.2 km)
- WP1: S3 Homestead
- WP2: S2 Old Mountain
- WP3: DANLZ
- WP4: DANLP
- Goal: S4 Rt 810
- If you're feeling lucky: Go OTB or to Stanardsville.

Open Class: You may think the distances are long, but you're going downwind and you have lots of latitude (technically longitude) to pick your own route. So suck it up.
- Start: DANLP (Start Cycle Radius: 0.2 km)
- WP1: S3 Homestead
- WP2: S2 Old Mountain
- WP3: DANLZ
- Goal: S11 Graves Mill
- If you're feeling lucky: Go to Old Rag.

Don't forget: Bring your radio. Drink water. Wear sunscreen. Ensure people have your cell number. Fly safely. Be nice. Learn something new. Show someone else something new. Have fun.

[mingram]

Jeff's previous waypoint file was corrupt. This one works
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzmz3fatbuseu ... -31-13.gpx

[markc]

Heading out... Will re-check the weather at the halfway point, and either continue or bail...

MarkC

[dbodner]

I didn't sleep well last night. I'm out.

[mingram]

Good group of PGs eta 10-10:30

[krista]

Thanks to everyone who came out to Daniels today and for those who participated the mini-XC competition.

Unfortunately, the conditions did not support the Open class's task over the back, but the Sport class was able to get in some good practice. If you would like your scores to be calculated (just for reference and to see how it works), please send your track log to Matt Ingram.

If you have feedback about how to make the next mini-XC event better, please let me know. Looking forward to the next task!

krista

[markc]

I decided to drive down to Daniels in spite of the light 'cast, hoping that the skies would stay clear long enough for the typical mid/late PM increase in wind strength. Alas, it was not to be.....

After setting up I put in some time clearing a section of the slot. Lots of PGers who needed to get off the hill for the start time, and I'd just be slowing 'em down, so why not get something productive done...

Back up top at 2:15, hooked in and ready to go.... But I hadn't been watching conditions closely enough: the clouds were pushing in over the Blue Ridge, and as I potato'd on launch the winds went to near-nothing. Stuck it out for nearly an hour (no pushes from the PGers) and ultimately decided to back off, after hearing some thunder to the West.

Everyone bailed off the mtn by 4pm or so. And whoa! Things went south in a hurry! On the drive out I turned around at Stanardsville and beaded back to Rt 33, and then south on 29 hoping to miss the worst of the squall.

Well.... That sure didn't work out! In fact, I was watching tendrils of cloud dropping down from the clouds... And then more tendrils rising UP from the ground to meet them!! No visible rotation, but it was WAY tornadic-ready, and the closest I've ever been. Huge branching lightning bolts striking down.

So what did I do?

Turned around and drove back to the cool stuff of course! *smile *

Nothing quite as cool on the drive back, so I headed to the Early Mountain vineyard once it was clear that the weather was improving. And wow, that place is frickin' awesome! Great tasting room, decent local wines, guest wines too, and a menu that goes far beyond the usual cheese plate. Very much worth a stop!

So, no flying for me, but I'm not all that bummed out!

MarkC