Karen, Mark and I are still on for High Rock. Daniel B. plans to come by after Smithsburg. Come join the fun. Clocks change tonight-- spring forward. So we will probably get there around noon-thirty.
Matthew
HIgh Rock Sunday
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
I am loading up the truck. My guess is that all three NW sites will work today but I am leaning toward High Rock/Pulpit. The current forecast shows more wind at High Rock than Pulpit. I may decide on the way up which way to go.
Tom McGowan
703-501-9532
Tom McGowan
703-501-9532
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
I'm looking at things now, no decision yet on which site....
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
Complicated day..... Wave everywhere on the satellite. 3k winds supposed to lighten a little by 4pm. G20 on the hourly up at High Rock. Not so the Pulpit, but it will likely be very NW cross. NW5-10G20 forecast down at Woodstock, but don't know if the road is open.
Shoot, I dunno. Thinking maybe wander up toward Pulpit, then bail to HR if it's too north?
MarkC
Shoot, I dunno. Thinking maybe wander up toward Pulpit, then bail to HR if it's too north?
MarkC
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
I am heading to the Pulpit, and will make the call to either stay or divert to High Rock once there (or earlier if flags/forecasts argue for it). Long day, lots of sun, plenty of time to check out both.
MarkC
MarkC
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
We're off to chase the winds. Still thinking High Rock.
Matthew
Matthew
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
As of 11;50 it is blowing 20-25 at the pulpit with some north cross.
Tom McGowan.
Tom McGowan.
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
average wind speed 12mph at Smithsburg, rusts around 18mph. Too much for paragliders.
We will do another try later this afternoon around 4h30.
Olivier
We will do another try later this afternoon around 4h30.
Olivier
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
Fun day at High Rock. I got 2+ hours and 2K over launch. Tom McGowan also got 2 hours and 1500 over launch. David Bodner flew for about 40 minutes, 1200 over and Mark C. flew for maybe 90 minutes or so. It was a bit cold. 37 F at launch and 31F at 2K over. Karen decided it was too cold to fly. John Middleton showed up after being at Smithsburg with students but also decided not to fly-- as did Daniel Broxterman who was tired from flying all afternoon at Smithsburg in the strong winds. Bacil also showed up to help out with launches.
Karen, Mark, Daniel, David and I all went to Casa Rico for dinner afterwards just like in the good old days.
Matthew
Karen, Mark, Daniel, David and I all went to Casa Rico for dinner afterwards just like in the good old days.
Matthew
Re: HIgh Rock Sunday
Up to the Pulpit, in spite of the crazy-strong flags along the way.... Figured "ehh, why not at least check it out?"
Ward had gotten there early enough to scope out the LZs (the upper field is apparently looking good, not much snow) and put up streamers. Then Tom, then myself, then Bacil a bit later (major kudos to him, coming on out with no plans to fly, two days in a row, just to help people get into the air!).
It was CRANKIN' at launch, OMG! And the road was interesting, with a nice glaze of ice and snow, still deep enough to spin-out in. I did a couple trips, and that was actually pretty darn fun, with the truck sliding around, stalling out a few times. Couldn't actually get into the parking area, even in 4W-low. But it was fun trying!
Winds were a very solid 20, with gusts to 26, or maybe 28+. Interestingly, my Kestrel wind meter was reading 2-3mph less than Ward's, consistently. So it's hard to know exactly how strong it was up there, but suffice it to say that an unprotected face was numb within minutes. Gusty. Nasty. None of us were chomping at the bit.
We bailed around 2pm after getting a report from Matthew and Karen that there were some decent lulls at High Rock : Ward couldn't go, but Tom, Bacil, and I made the trip across the valley.
(BTW: Consider Leitersburg Pike to Ringold Pike the next time you are heading from Pulpit to High Rock. I've taken the route a couple times, and it's WAY more fun/scenic than 16).
Things were definitely on the sporty side at High Rock. Not exactly what I was hoping for, as it's been a while since I've launched there in strong conditions. But luckily, John M had come up from teaching at Smithsburg (students Anthony and Attila), and Bacil had made the trip across the valley, so we certainly had enough crew to get everyone in the air.
Matthew launched first, then Tom, then Dave B, then myself (last to arrive and set up). After helping with launches, and answering wuffo-questions, and seeing both strong-ish and mellow-ish launches, I had the joy of being up on the cube when things started getting gnarly again. Probably should have waited it out.... But you know how it goes : "Will there be a few more reasonable cycles? Or will it just go downhill from here?".
So I gave it a go in stronger air than I really wanted, and got a good pop from the west when I launched. I'm in "oh cr@p!" mode, but my crew (John, Bacil, Karen, and our new pilot from Sweden, Johan) didn't seem to think it was all that bad. Still....
It was tough down low, significant W cross for quite a while, couldn't get more than a few hundred over. Finally dialed-into the day, and started connecting with thermals for more than a turn or two. But didn't get anything like Matthew and Tom, topped out at only 975' over. On the plus side, it was a bit warmer down there!
Had a very enjoyable flight overall, best part was taking some light thermals over the railroad tracks and back to the ridge. Buzzed launch a time or two at the end of the flight, and had fun throwing the wing around the sky.
I heard later that Dan Broxterman and Wesley both had good flights at Smithsburg. But apparently it was too strong/cross for John's students.
Overall, a very mixed bag, and certainly nothing like the 60+ degree day that we had yesterday.... But given that it's been 4 months since my last soaring flight, I'm not complaining!!!!!
MarkC
Ward had gotten there early enough to scope out the LZs (the upper field is apparently looking good, not much snow) and put up streamers. Then Tom, then myself, then Bacil a bit later (major kudos to him, coming on out with no plans to fly, two days in a row, just to help people get into the air!).
It was CRANKIN' at launch, OMG! And the road was interesting, with a nice glaze of ice and snow, still deep enough to spin-out in. I did a couple trips, and that was actually pretty darn fun, with the truck sliding around, stalling out a few times. Couldn't actually get into the parking area, even in 4W-low. But it was fun trying!
Winds were a very solid 20, with gusts to 26, or maybe 28+. Interestingly, my Kestrel wind meter was reading 2-3mph less than Ward's, consistently. So it's hard to know exactly how strong it was up there, but suffice it to say that an unprotected face was numb within minutes. Gusty. Nasty. None of us were chomping at the bit.
We bailed around 2pm after getting a report from Matthew and Karen that there were some decent lulls at High Rock : Ward couldn't go, but Tom, Bacil, and I made the trip across the valley.
(BTW: Consider Leitersburg Pike to Ringold Pike the next time you are heading from Pulpit to High Rock. I've taken the route a couple times, and it's WAY more fun/scenic than 16).
Things were definitely on the sporty side at High Rock. Not exactly what I was hoping for, as it's been a while since I've launched there in strong conditions. But luckily, John M had come up from teaching at Smithsburg (students Anthony and Attila), and Bacil had made the trip across the valley, so we certainly had enough crew to get everyone in the air.
Matthew launched first, then Tom, then Dave B, then myself (last to arrive and set up). After helping with launches, and answering wuffo-questions, and seeing both strong-ish and mellow-ish launches, I had the joy of being up on the cube when things started getting gnarly again. Probably should have waited it out.... But you know how it goes : "Will there be a few more reasonable cycles? Or will it just go downhill from here?".
So I gave it a go in stronger air than I really wanted, and got a good pop from the west when I launched. I'm in "oh cr@p!" mode, but my crew (John, Bacil, Karen, and our new pilot from Sweden, Johan) didn't seem to think it was all that bad. Still....
It was tough down low, significant W cross for quite a while, couldn't get more than a few hundred over. Finally dialed-into the day, and started connecting with thermals for more than a turn or two. But didn't get anything like Matthew and Tom, topped out at only 975' over. On the plus side, it was a bit warmer down there!
Had a very enjoyable flight overall, best part was taking some light thermals over the railroad tracks and back to the ridge. Buzzed launch a time or two at the end of the flight, and had fun throwing the wing around the sky.
I heard later that Dan Broxterman and Wesley both had good flights at Smithsburg. But apparently it was too strong/cross for John's students.
Overall, a very mixed bag, and certainly nothing like the 60+ degree day that we had yesterday.... But given that it's been 4 months since my last soaring flight, I'm not complaining!!!!!
MarkC