Woodstock tomorrow 3-31-14

[garys]

Thinking about throwing the glider on the truck when the rain stops this eve and taking it to work tomorrow for a run to Woodstock in the early afternoon. looks pretty good. ETA 1:00. Any interest?

[FlyingFelix]

I'm in!
Jon, are you coming?
Let's get some sweet airtime at the best mountain site around

[sailin]

Absolutely ! Count me in.

Jon

[dbodner]

Hmm, maybe I can go, too.

[markc]

I'm thinking about it, but will probably depend on whether the G35 that was in this morning's forecasts gets dropped to G30, or less. Regardless, planning on working a halfday, then making the call on whether to hit the road by noon or so. Hopefully the snow won't have closed the road????

MarkC

[FlyingFelix]

Getting ready, ETA 12 PM

[sailin]

ETA 1230ish

Jon

[markc]

Still on the fence... Will wait for forecast updates and watch conditions for a while before deciding yay/nay.

[garys]

Road is open. Just called. ETA for me is still 1:00. Looks great right now.

[FlyingFelix]

Just got here, clear skies, winds 10-12 mph straight in or a little from the right (N) at times. Looking great

[markc]

Unfortunately, too many weekend fires had to be put out at work this AM, and I wasn't able to get away. Sure hope that the day turned out well for those who went, looks like a great day out there!

MarkC

[XCanytime]

Yeah it turned out pretty nice for all, especially after 4PM. Looking forward to the flight reports. Bacil

[FlyingFelix]

'Twas spectacular! I'm too tired now to post more, enough to say I made my highest flight today to 8982' MSL - but I'll call it 9000 :^), got sweet , strong thermals and was chased by an eagle family on top of the Strasburg radio tower...
Pics (video?) tomorrow.

[mingram]

Holy shit! New site record???? Congrats dude!!!

[sailin]

Felix that is AWESOME!!!! Very cool man!

Yesterday was a lot of fun at Woodstock but I didn't get anywhere near as high as Felix. There was a north cross for most of the day and initially the thermals were a bit ratty and drifting. All of us spent most of the time in the 500'-1500' range. The birds were out in force yesterday. The highlight of my flight was spending a few minutes with a pair of mature Bald Eagles , up close and personal. Beautiful. There was were several immature Balds out as well. After heading, south and then north to the reservoir, and then back south again, I headed out to land, just before 4pm. I topped out at 3200'msl and saw some blasts of 500fpm on the averager. Joe S. landed shortly after. Sounds like the lift got infinitely better not long after we were both on the ground. As Gary was heading out he hit a nice one and then Felix got the climb of the day.........maybe the season?

This past week at Woodstock has helped eased the misery of the long nasty winter. Hopefully it continues!!
Jon

[Joe Schad]

Steve Kinsley cracked 10,000 a few years back at Woodstock. Again it was a situation of point into the wind and don't turn an just go up.

Joe

[XCanytime]

Steve Kinsley cracked 10,000 a few years back at Woodstock. Again it was a situation of point into the wind and don't turn an just go up.

Joe

That's the beauty of wave. Bacil

[deveil]

I vaguely remember something about Nelson Lewis topping out at one foot (wink, wink) below legal limits at Woodstock?
But then again, it's also the case that I vaguely remember what I had for dinner last night.

[deveil]

oh yeah, congrats Felix!

[XCanytime]

I vaguely remember something about Nelson Lewis topping out at one foot (wink, wink) below legal limits at Woodstock?

Nelson's famous April 5th, 1992 flight at Woodstock had him topping out above 12K' MSL in the second of seven wave crests that he surfed. I believe the initial wave crest was around 10,900K' MSL. Bacil

[deveil]

Yeah, I remember now asking him if he worried about getting down.
He said something like "Uhm…no…I worry about staying up".
'seemed like there was also an implied "Duh".

[FlyingFelix]

Yeah, I didn't think it would be a site record, it sure is a personal one though. I didn't dream of it before the flight, sure has been rewarding day, much more than I hoped for the day.
As stated before, very strong stuff, I had several wire slaps, I went "over the falls" twice I kinda liked it.
The day started off with a little scratching, at some point I was afraid I won't stay up too long, then got better, by the time I got to the end knob I thermalled with 2 eagles (one mature, one not) in strong lift. On the way back I easily maintained and conditions only got stronger/better. By the time I got back to launch I saw Jon landed and Joe getting ready to do the same. I spiraled up a while then ended up pointed into the wind to the S of launch, VG full tight, and pulling it for "best glide" - climbing constantly to 9000' while drifting SW.
Amazing day flying with friends and Eagles.
Thanks Gary for calling the day! Also thanks to Joe for the ride back up, no way I could of hiked up after the 2 hours 48 minute busy flight that ended with countless practice wingovers at the end
I have several minutes flying with Eagles, I'll crop something together soon.
Some still frames of the day, most of them with a bald Eagle in there:

[thermalup]

Sure sounds like the spring season is kicking in down there. Up here in the tundra zone it still looks like mid-January with 30 mph winds and snow falling as I type these words. Hope to fly with you guys in the second half of April. ...::Jim

[Ward Odenwald]

Wow Felix! Great photos. I’m guessing that your 9K climb was made possible by deploying your other set of wings and maybe, just maybe, a pinch of Tinker Bell dust. Will try both on my next flight but need a web address for Tink dust.

Ward

[FlyingFelix]

Thanks guys, sure was a fantastic day.
I couldn't resist and put a little video together of the sweet Eagle encounters:
Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vARBq_d5X0