Just to muddy the picture a bit more..... How about Daniel's on Saturday? Sunny all day. Solid S, no SW. Afternoon is usually better at the site. The 3k winds are supposed to pick up significantly by the end of the day. But maybe that will lead to a good window of HG conditions in an otherwise somewhat-light forecast, before conditions (potentially) get too strong.
I can only fly one day this weekend, so a bit of a challenge picking the best one....
Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
Sunday at the Pulpit is better. Bacil
Re: Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
I like sun! 
The 15SSW on the hourly surface forecast at 5pm is what has me a bit interested in the Sat Daniel's option....
The 15SSW on the hourly surface forecast at 5pm is what has me a bit interested in the Sat Daniel's option....
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silverwings
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Re: Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
Steve reports BlueSky will be truck towing on Saturday and it looks reasonably good early afternoon. I unfortunately can't go.
john middleton (202)409-2574 c
Re: Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
I'm leaning toward Daniel's today, but will wait for the 10:00-ish forecast update before committing.
Will bring saw and loppers.
Will bring saw and loppers.
Re: Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
Heading to Daniel's
Re: Sat31Mar options : Daniels?
Well, it wasn't a spectacular day or anything, but it was worth going!
Arrived around 1:30pm at the LZ and set up some streamers (Ward, btw, I have the streamers that you put up in the Pulpit LZ two weeks ago!). Met PG pilots Josh and Bob : Bob had just had a good flight, and Josh was hoping for the same. Re-rendezvous'd halfway up, and gave Ellia (of Josh and Ellia) a ride up, while Josh and Bob hiked up. I don't think I beat them by more than 5 minutes: It was a slow crawl up to launch in the Outback.
Conditions up top were initially very motivating : Solid cycles filling the slot, and with some stronger cycles that were slightly concerning. But still, plenty of lighter stuff. So I set up quickly (flying the Falcon today), got ready, and.... The lulls started to get really noticeable. Hmmmm.
Watched things for a while. Felix, another PG pilot, arrived on launch after an XC. Not sure how far, but he mentioned Rt 33 : Maybe made it to 29? Nice job if so!
Decided to give it a go, and the launch was basically a thermally one. Been a while... Swirly, no consistent pattern, no leaves on the trees to help. But eventually found something that I liked, and elevatored out of the slot. Many thanks to Bob and Josh for their help on launch.
A bit weird in the air : Turbulent low, and stronger winds just above the ridge. Hooked a couple of thermals, and got to 900' above. But there was also some wicked sink out there, which eventually bit me after a 25-minute or so flight.
It was like Thor's hammer. 1000 ft/min down, for extended periods. And given that the 3k forecast was calling for increasing conditions, I was feeling at bit skittish. Bottom line: I bailed after that sink cycle and headed to the LZ. Glad I did, sink all the way! Made it to the field on the left side of the road, had time for one 360 along the eastern edge, then burned into the gully. Good landing, happy!
But man!!! A thermal blew through just as I was rolling up the sail (and not being attentive enough), and it actually knocked my glider over! Damn it, that's a first. No rocks, but still a solid metal-on-metal impact, so I'll have to crawl in and check the LE for damage.
The PG pilots decided not to fly, and Felix drove my vehicle down, sweet! And then later, at Early Mountain Vineyard, I ran into Josh and Ellia again. So the post-flying fun was pretty good too, very fun day!
Arrived around 1:30pm at the LZ and set up some streamers (Ward, btw, I have the streamers that you put up in the Pulpit LZ two weeks ago!). Met PG pilots Josh and Bob : Bob had just had a good flight, and Josh was hoping for the same. Re-rendezvous'd halfway up, and gave Ellia (of Josh and Ellia) a ride up, while Josh and Bob hiked up. I don't think I beat them by more than 5 minutes: It was a slow crawl up to launch in the Outback.
Conditions up top were initially very motivating : Solid cycles filling the slot, and with some stronger cycles that were slightly concerning. But still, plenty of lighter stuff. So I set up quickly (flying the Falcon today), got ready, and.... The lulls started to get really noticeable. Hmmmm.
Watched things for a while. Felix, another PG pilot, arrived on launch after an XC. Not sure how far, but he mentioned Rt 33 : Maybe made it to 29? Nice job if so!
Decided to give it a go, and the launch was basically a thermally one. Been a while... Swirly, no consistent pattern, no leaves on the trees to help. But eventually found something that I liked, and elevatored out of the slot. Many thanks to Bob and Josh for their help on launch.
A bit weird in the air : Turbulent low, and stronger winds just above the ridge. Hooked a couple of thermals, and got to 900' above. But there was also some wicked sink out there, which eventually bit me after a 25-minute or so flight.
It was like Thor's hammer. 1000 ft/min down, for extended periods. And given that the 3k forecast was calling for increasing conditions, I was feeling at bit skittish. Bottom line: I bailed after that sink cycle and headed to the LZ. Glad I did, sink all the way! Made it to the field on the left side of the road, had time for one 360 along the eastern edge, then burned into the gully. Good landing, happy!
But man!!! A thermal blew through just as I was rolling up the sail (and not being attentive enough), and it actually knocked my glider over! Damn it, that's a first. No rocks, but still a solid metal-on-metal impact, so I'll have to crawl in and check the LE for damage.
The PG pilots decided not to fly, and Felix drove my vehicle down, sweet! And then later, at Early Mountain Vineyard, I ran into Josh and Ellia again. So the post-flying fun was pretty good too, very fun day!