Spring Weekend in February

[Matthew]

So what is the prognostication for the weekend-- Daniel's Saturday, Pulpit Sunday -- Both???

Matthew

[mingram]

I just looked and couldn't believe my eyes. Upper 50's and high pressure! Sweet!

[wmelo]

And, Woodstock on Monday ?

walt

[FlyingFelix]

Probably Pulpit on Sunday...
Whatever the action is, I'm in!

[markc]

I'm thinking of a t-hill day at Taylor on Sat, and then a soaring day at The Pulpit on Sun (if the west actually materializes up there).

Bring it on!

[XCanytime]

Now looks perfect at the Pulpit Sunday. Enjoy! Bacil

[markc]

Though the NWS surface hourly doesn't agree, the NWS text forecast is calling G25 at Taylor on Saturday. Which isn't exactly the type of t-hill day I was hoping for, not much point unless you have to run hard, eh?

So I might be leaning toward just the Pulpit on Sunday..... We'll see....

MarkC

[Matthew]

Looking like High Rock on Sunday to me now-- Thursday night. But I'm sure that will change.

Matthew

[ryanlds]

Anything look good for this Saturday?

[Matthew]

Might be Daniel's if the forecast backs off. I've gotta commit to something on Saturday by noon on Friday. Last forecast showed gusts to 30 for Daniel's on Saturday and 3K winds in the upper 40s-- too strong for PGs. Will check the 11am Friday 'cast for final decision.

Matthew

[Matthew]

NWS is still calling for gusts to 25 on Saturday for Daniel's with strong 3K winds. So I'm opting for Sunday.

If anyone likes wine and kayaking (or canoeing), we're planning on going to the Magruders Wine Tasting in DC, near Chevy Chase, at around 2:30 followed by the Circle Wines Grand Tasting at 3pm-- and then working off the wine kayaking at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. You need your own boat.

Give me a holler if interested. mcgraham20 at hotmail dot com

Matthew

[wmelo]

I am trying to see from where senior pilots get their weather forecast. Regarding Daniels this Saturday I got a couple of forecasts.

Using Intellicast, I got

Partly cloudy skies. High 64F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph"

From NOAA hourly weather forecast, I got similar info, which naively looks pretty good for HQ, does not it?

However, using NOAA Text Zone Forecast, I got

SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 60. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH
WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

It looks too strong due to the gust winds.

what other sources do you normally rely on to use at Daniels?

Walt

[mingram]

Always check winds aloft at 3k feet to see if there's any strong winds at altitude. The way I check this are through these two resources:

NoStepper - this site has our flying sites listed and will show hourly winds aloft at all altitudes and will show a thermal blip map to indicate thermal strength
http://weather.nostepper.com/

ADDS - set altitude to 3000 feet
http://aviationweather.gov/adds/winds/

[wmelo]

NWS removed the gust winds from Daniel's text weather forecast.

SATURDAY
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.

However, I am not sure about the winds aloft.

Thoughts?

Walt

[FlyingFelix]

Hmmm, so it kinda looks better tomorrow at Daniels than Sunday at Pulpit...what to do?
Who's in for what?

[markc]

The gust factor has been removed from the surface 'cast at Taylor, so I'm more optimistic about a training hill day than I was last night. Hopefully followed by a soaring day at the Pulpit on Sunday, could be a very full weekend! Tomorrow's casts & maps will hopefully agree!

MarkC

PS: Kind of tired of Daniels, thinking Taylor's tomorrow even if Sunday's 'cast goes downhill.

[FlyingFelix]

A training day sounds good but it's been super wet for a while, isn't it going to be extra muddy at Taylor? A good dust-off and workout is good but if it'll get everything (glider, harness, etc) muddy I'm not to keen on doing that.
Daniels actually looks pretty good - even though I am kind of tired of it as well, and it's very far, if it's good flying it might be worth it.
Sunday it's looking more and more grim as of now. Monday is beginning to be nicer but not many are up for week-day flying...

[markc]

Yeah, I agree, the snow/melt is definitely a concern. OTOH, it's not like Smithsburg, which can become a muddy mess given that it's in crop every year. Still, bit of a gamble at TH.... Guess I'm thinking that, if I'm going to burn a day at the t-hill, then I won't exactly be missing epic conditions tomorrow! *smile*

Hey, if some PGers also go, we could come up with some sort of contest???

MarkC

[mingram]

A few PGs are interested in Daniels if the wind forecast remains mellow. Waiting for the morning update.

[ryanlds]

Let me know! I would love to do any kind of flying at this point, even TH sled runs.

[markc]

9:30pm NWS text 'cast for T-Hill:

SATURDAY
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.

Can't get much better than that for a brush-up/rust-off type of day.

Yeah, it could be muddy. So land well! *smile*

Sheesh, I think my last flight was nearly 4 months ago! And those before it weren't exactly frequent, fall/early-winter kinda sucked.

So if things hold, I'm thinking Taylor on Sat. Tomorrow's casts will tell the tale....

[markc]

Though the NWS surface has been up'd to SW10-15 at Taylor, the ADDS 3k shows things lightening up by 2-3:00pm. So I'm hoping that will translate into some light-ish, run-hard conditions at the hill in the afternoon. We'll see, no way to know.

Planning for an arrival at noon or so. Anyone else definitely "In!" ?

(Will call John later to see if he's planning to teach out there today)

MarkC

[ryanlds]

Mark,

I would love to head out. I tried to login to the member only area to get directions to Taylor Hill but am unable to. How far is it from Falls Church and how do I get out there?

Sincerely,

Ryan

[FlyingFelix]

Maybe I'm crazy but it does look really good at Daniels today. 65 degrees, 10-15 mph ssw winds, thermal forecast around 300-350 fpm... Anyone wants to go up there? I wouldn't want to do it alone again...
I really don't want to mud out at Taylor.

[markc]

Will post Taylor directions shortly....