Pulpit Reprise 7/16

[krryerson]

ETA 1:00 pm
Knut

[krryerson]

We did not fly. To weak condition; but nice weather.
Knut

[markc]

Yeah, sigh. The Pulpit Effect was nowhere to be seen today. Guess that's a bit to be expected given the time of year, but even so.... It was SUPER light, like not even enough to inflate a PG wing in the center of the pad light.

Curious how things turned out at Elizabethville....

[John Simon]

Liz'Ville. We also were dealing with weak conditions, due mostly to a high overcast that only occasionally had a few holes in it . The winds were light and steady, a bit left cross and often straight in and weak. We all opted to wait, hoping some of the distant cummies would drift over. They in general... Did not. At about 5:30 or so, we all (mostly) elected t sled out and go get beer. 3 out of 4 launched and had nice sleds into the vineyard LZ. I was the lone hold out, as there was basically zero wind and my mountain launch skills are yet to be refined to that point... I elected to break down. Liz'ville is looking very good by the way, thanks to the Hyner guys.

Try again tomorrow, looking west again and light so maybe back to Lizzy, but hoping for less overcast and more chance of cummies.

Hasta,

John

[mingram]

Some PGs are heading to the Pulpit today, Sunday. Others are headed to Dickeys.

[XCanytime]

How did the Pulpit turn out?

[mingram]

It was on at the Pulpit!

I spent the morning planning a flight path to the Bay - ending in Bel Air, MD for a straight line distance of 90 miles. I launched late, but flew 1/3rd of the way and crossed the Michaux Forest! I wanted to cross the Michaux near High Rock/Camp David, but the wind was more WSW so chose a line that had landing options if I didn't make it across the forest. I started to connect with lift over the ridge, but got anxious about not making it and had just enough height to cross so went downwind. Felt a tiny bit of rotor as I crossed and ended up landing. I had trouble tracking the thermals. They felt disorganized. Most of the clouds were kinda swirly looking.

I launched at 1:15pm and landed at 4pm, but the sky was filled with cumulus by 11:30am so could have launched 2 hours earlier maybe. Wind was mostly straight in and cyclic. Cycles were a little too strong to launch so I launched in a lull into buoyant air/ridge lift and found a good climb halfway to the antennas. There was abundant lift over the back. Could have flown for at least another 1-2 hours later if was more patient or had help.

Thanks to Jim Crocker and Jonathan Wendland for driving and letting me leave my car in Frederick! I got 3 rides back pretty easily. One an off-duty cop who dropped me at a bar where I stopped for a beer, another ride to Thurmont, and finally a diplomat took me to my car in Frederick. Forgot to bring the camera.

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/1456273

Wish the hang gliders had come out to play. I think it would have worked in the strong cycles. Most of the paragliders went to Woodstock because we thought the secondary LZ was closed due to crops, but the crop has been cut. The Secondary is OPEN!

Matt

[XCanytime]

Way to go Matt! And what does Rhymin' Simon say about yesterday (Elizabethville)? Bacil

[krryerson]

Great job Matt!
Wish I could have been there with you, flying my hang glider on Sunday;, but used my quote for this weekend. Was aiming for MASA airport.
As you know, went to Pulpit on Saturday and did not fly, but that doesn't count. Thanks for letting us know.
Knut

[John Dullahan]

Well done Matt! That was quite an accomplishment. Other pilots, including the hangies, missed a great day - "You don't know for sure what it's going to do 'till you get there."
On Oct 17th, 2004 I had a somewhat similar flight, when it was strong west cross and a blue day. Arriving at about 1,200 ft over Fayetteville on Route 30, I decided to hang out until my wife arrived to pick me up. Facing into the strong wind I "parked" for a few minutes until I started climbing, still facing upwind. I eventually got high enough to see a green open spot in what appeared to be about halfway across the Michaux. Knowing I could make it there I committed and followed along route 30, still climbing, and made it all the way across with about 4,000 MSL. There was a small road continuing west (Hilltown Rd), but route 30 turned southeast, so to make retrieve easier, I turned half right to follow it. Big mistake: I left the blue street, lost the lift, and went on a long glide. I saw a clear area and as I was setting up to land (and too late) noticed the monuments; it was Gettysburg National Park. Landing in the strong west turbulence was a yo yo affair, and I was glad to get down safely. I got a $100 ticket for conducting "flight operations" in a national park but was otherwise happy with the flight.

[mingram]

Very nice flight John!

In hindsight I should have been more patient to stick with the weak lift I found especially since I was so low over the forest, but just wanted to glide out to the flats for a little more comfort. If you leave lift...

[mingram]

I also got a little more detail regarding the Secondary LZ situation. The lower field we normally land in is OPEN! The upper field is still in crop. The lower field probably won't get replanted until Fall according to the owner.

Jim reported some pucker factor trying to make it to the primary LZ in sink. It's not really an option on a PG without ridge/thermal lift to make it. He made an emergency landing in a small excavation pit. His second flight he landed in the secondary LZ in the middle/grass field and talked with the land owner who echoed previous statements giving permission to land in his crops versus risking a sketchy landing. Really nice guy named Mike Hill. I owe him a case of Busch Light.

Later that afternoon launch was gusting to 17mph. Jon had an hour glass off flight, but it was too strong for Jim to relaunch.