Monday Flying

[mcgowantk]

I am off from work until Thursday and want to fly. I am considering Monday at Woodstock. Anyone else interested? Did anyone notice whether the road to launch was open?

Tom McGowan

[chuckok]

I may be in. Looks like the 31st has possibilities too, with being a hair warmer.

[sailin]

I'm in. Pretty cloudy for most of the day but it is looking like the best show in town. ETA on launch 11am.

Jon

[Rich E]

Will see you at launch around 11am.

Cheers

Rich

[FlyingFelix]

I might join in. Is anyone else thinking Pulpit though? According to Dr. Jacks Blip maps it might be a tad better thermals there with similar winds as Woodstock.

[mcgowantk]

The Pulpit might work too. I will check the weather in the morning. From my experience, Woodstock can be a good winter thermal site due to the SW facing fingers on the ridge but who knows for sure.

Tom McGowan

[FlyingFelix]

You sure got a good point with the sun facing surfaces at Woodstock, Tom - I just don't wanna drive that far... (3 hours to Woodstock for me) The expected cloud cover might kill any possible thermals anyway. Winds tend to be generally stronger at the Pulpit, so if it gets light that's the better pick.
Anyway, I'll be checking to see where everyone's going and join in.

[Rich E]

Will go to either, will check in in the morning

[mcgowantk]

I think it may be a bit of a toss up between Woodstock and the Pulpit/High Rock. I am leaning towards Woodstock because it may be blown out at the Pulpit and the forecast for snow showers. However, Woodstock may be north cross and light. I also think earlier will be better than later at Woodstock.

My eta is around 11:15 and will go to Woodstock unless I get convinced other options look better.

Tom McGowan

[sailin]

Woodstock bound as well. Should be there just before 11am.

Jon

[FlyingFelix]

Looks a bit too light today at Woodstock to me. Without sun, a sledder is all we'll get. Unless I can I can convince y'all to try Pulpit I'll stay home. Pulpit shouldn't be blown out, but hey, ya never know...

[Rich E]

Woodstock for me too

Cheers

Rich

[FlyingFelix]

I'll stay home. Hope you guys get some sweet air time!

[Rich E]

Surprisingly good day at Woodstock. Arrived at launch around 11am, Jon was pretty much all set up and just doing final bits and pieces. He launched soon after, good one, and quickly got a few hundred feet over. Amy stayed around up top to help me launch (thank you again!) with my father-in-law, John also doing his first wire crew launch (John lives in Big Spring TX and I may just have convinced him to take up hang gliding...). Had a good launch and like Jon also got a few hundred feet over pretty quickly. It looked like 10/10ths cloud cover with a pretty low cloudbase but there were a surprising number of thermals and good ones too - I saw 800 up a few times. Surfed the ridge, went up, went down and landed just short of an hour. The air was pretty smooth, a few raptors around and landed in the bridge field. Jon got really quite high at one point south of launch. Tom also turned up and flew.

A great day, and a great way to end what has been my first year of flying.

Cheers

Rich

[sailin]

Rich summed it up nicely. Great last flight of 2013! Abundant smooth light lift everywhere with an occasional something stronger. I saw 400fpm a couple of times on the 15 second averager. Maxed out at 1500' over and where I found it to be cold enough Big thanks to Amy and Rich for the launch assist and a special thanks to Amy for braving the cold with me.

Jon

[FlyingFelix]

Wow, that's excellent. I should of been there! Oh well.
Happy New Year!