(Thu or Fri ) @ Woodstock

[wmelo]

Well well well...it seems I lost a great day at Woodstock. By the forum, it seems that everybody had fun last Sunday.
What about having another great day this Thursday (or Friday)?
So far, Thursday looks look.

Walt

[markc]

Whoa, Thursday *is* looking pretty good at the moment.... If it holds, I might have to take a close look at the vacation days I've got left this year.... Anyone else at least thinking about a mid-week fly day?

MarkC

[XCanytime]

Off from work all week. Thursday thru Sunday looks soarable each day. Bacil

[Dan T]

I'm interested if the winds are suitable for PG.

Dan

[XCanytime]

May hit Big Walker again tomorrow (or Woodstock) but definitely Woodstock on Friday. Jon Brantley will be at Woodstock on Friday too. Pulpit looks good Saturday and Woodstock looks good on Sunday. Dunno about the winds on the Delmarva for the weekend though. Bacil

[andybalkphysics]

Got my eye on the pulpit for Friday...need to be in Baltimore afterwards.

-Andy

[wmelo]

well well welll...it looks like that the weather made us cancel Woodstock this Thursday

THURSDAY
MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 60. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

.

It seems that this Friday will be good at Woodstock and High Rock.
I will follow the leads of my admirable observables

Hope to fly this Friday with them

Walt

[chuckok]

My vote is for Woodstock Friday. Could plan for an afternoon wonder wind run.

[markc]

Now leaning-toward/hoping-for Friday, given issues at work on Thurs.

It would be awesome if we could mountain-fly on Fri, and then follow it up with the party (and hopefully flying too) at Highland on Saturday!

Finished spreading out the trove that I hope to launch on Sat night for the party.... It's looking good, I'm getting psyched!!

[heaviek]

I have my eye on HR for Friday.

Kev

[PKane]

HeavieK, you can't soar the ridge on a bike!

Peter

[markc]

Decisions, decisions! Take a day of leave Friday in spite of the light-ish WS forecast? Wait for Sunday, which looks like it could be a carbon copy of last Sunday at WS?

Seems like it might be (too?) strong at HRock/Pulpit tomorrow....

If WS on Sun, it would be a long drive from Highland after the party on Sat....

Or maybe Pulpit on Sat, then to Highland for the party after flying....

Or get to Highland early on Sat, in hopes of an early flight....

Kinda nice to have so many options

I'll stop now

MarkC

[brucekav]

I've got the day off tomorrow and may come out if it looks on. Have been to Woodstock once but haven't been to High Rock or Pulpit, so not not familiar with the conditions they need. Although the GFS and NAM are suggesting light winds tomorrow Accuweather is talking about up to 20mph on the surface gusting 29 which sounds like it would be too strong at the mountain top. It seemed windy around DC today with a similar forecast. Would welcome any advice from pilots that know the sites better than me (not hard!)

Bruce

[Dan T]

How about a buffet? You get to pick three.

Anyway there is a good deal of chatter amongst the PG pilots regarding flying Woodstock tomorrow. If you go you will have company including me. A body ride is guaranteed.

Dan

[Dan T]

Bruce,

Woodstock typically blows 5 mph lighter than forecast. The Pulpit faces WNW and usually blows at least 5 mph stronger than forecast on launch. It's located adjacent to Mcconnellsburg PA. High Rock, which is on the east side of the valley from the Pulpit, faces NW and is usually consistent with the forecast. High Rock is a true cliff launch and requires a wire crew. The Pulpit often does as well. If you go it would be wise to get a site awareness briefing from a pilot who is familiar with the site.

Dan T

[Danny Brotto]

Friday will be too strong at McConnelsburg and most likely too strong at High Rock. Woodstock should be fine on Friday.

Saturday will be fine for High Rock (a bit west though) and McConnelsburg and light west for Woodstock (although perhaps okay for PG.) Could be decent at Highland if the thermal forecast improves but they have had a lot of rain. Regardless, I'll be at Highland hoping to fly and at the very least offering sincere appreciation for their existence and perseverance in the sport; they are an institution and a treasure.

Sunday will be blown out at McConnelsburg and High Rock but could be good at Woodstock at least for HG. Might be sporty for PG. I'll be flying the sailplane and will likely get in some ridge, thermal, and wave flying (like last Sunday although this Sunday looks better; less north cross.)

Danny Brotto

[markc]

Thinking a half day working from home Fri, then head to WS, then a mtn day early on Sat (or Highland if things look light-ish), then Highland late Sat, then WS on Sunday! Woohoo!

[heaviek]

Bruce, it is trending towards pretty strong at HR tomorrow (Friday). That is a small cliff top so strong winds = no fun. IF I was able to sneak away, I would be now inclined to sneak to Woodstock. But I would get there early enough to milk all that convection. The forecast is light for ridge snoring but I am sure there will be decent thermals to at least 3k.

Pete, I had my eye on leaving a bike to self retrieve but it looks like I can't get out of town tomorrow. Furnace is broke (parts just arrived), Floridian Mother in Law is cold, and wife is stressing about getting the girls birthday party all set up Saturday.

First world problems,
Kev

[chuckok]

Going to try and get away from work early and head for WS.

Crossing my fingers that I don't get anchored to my desk!

[markc]

Darn strong at HRock and Pulpit, and latest forecasts for WS have removed the gust factor. Some clouds also moving in the from the SW.

Not sure I want to burn a 1/2-day of vacation on what I'm seeing, given that it looks flyable at Pulpit and Highland tomorrow. But could still be talked into it!

[chuckok]

Mark ... want to meet in the LZ at WS at 1:00 or so? -Chuck

[markc]

I think I'm going to save that vacation day for another time: Looks like some good options for flying tomorrow and Sunday. Good luck, Chuck, Walt, Dan, etc!

[dbodner]

It was a good, though light, day at Wooodstock.

I got there around 2:00, and Walt had just launched into a trickle. There wasn't enough to keep him up. The PGers were hanging around hoping for some more wind. Their prayers were eventually granted, and they took off at a quite leisurely rate. It finally ramped up to something that tempted Chuck, but he hung around launch waiting for something that just wasn't going to happen. There were a couple of cycles that might have had me tempted, but there wasn't anything that had me licking my chops. Then he backed off launch.

That was the signal for the winds to ramp up again, so soon he was back on launch. He was off this time with nary a potato in sight.

I self launched soon after with a couple of wuffos watching. No elevator coming out of the slot. I just slowly rose. And rose, and rose. I'm not sure I'd call it magic, since it was still a bit shifty on launch. But, in the air, there was nary any texture at all. I topped out around 600 over and came down only because I didn't want to break down in the dark. Probably around a 1/2 hour. Just a nice, pleasant flight.

Chuck and I waited for the owner of the Ford minivan in the LZ parking area to come back. Turns out it doesn't belong to a pilot. Fortunately Dan T got us hooked up with George the PG pilot. Not only did he come pick us up after he deposited Dan at launch, but he pulled out a HG rack and hauled us AND our gear up top. Thanks George!

Bacil as well as Jon and Amy were there, too. Neither Jon nor Bacil, though, could muster the enthusiasm to set up in such light conditions.

[chuckok]

Yep ... What David said.

Stood there potatoing for a good half an hour. I did offer to step aside, David wasn't biting.

Anyway, as soon as I stepped off of launch and took off my gear, almost to the moment, the wind started to pick-up. Waited a few to see if it was consistent or just a trick, but it seemed to be holding. ... Back in gear, stepped to launch, CRAP! Is it dying again? ... No just a moment or two later, a reasonable cycle and CLEAR!

Had to scratch a bit at first, but the lift was consistent in the buoyant air. 700' above launch and about 45 minutes of pleasant soaring.

An my thanks to George too! It would have been a long, cold, and dark walk back to the top.

Jon ... you shoulda set up.

[George]

It was my pleasure guys. Nice meeting you and sorry about the stiff back! I had fun making that rack for the truck and had been hauling it around for months waiting to get a chance to do a retrieve. I'll do a little tweaking based on your suggestions. I may get my first hang gliding flight this coming week if all goes well.

George