Jacks Saturday Oct. 5th

[XCanytime]

Changing to Jack's . Might be a good day to try to make it to Bill's. I'm game. Anybody else? Bacil

[Ward Odenwald]

Current Saturday forecasts for Jacks look good. If they hold, I’m going.

Ward

[markc]

Eying both Jack's and Edith's Gap, will decide tomorrow.

[krryerson]

Edith Gaps sounds great to me, with 1/2 the travel distance, compare to Jacks, PA.
Though, with few landing options, we better have good lift over launch.
Keep me posted!
Still not sure what to do.
Knut

[markc]

Leaning toward Jack's as of Fri evening : Better direction, and a tad stronger on the SFC forecasts. Might be a good one.... But as always, we'll see what the morning brings

[krryerson]

Don't want to discourage others to not fly tomorrow... .
Jack's might be working good tomorrow.
Just don't feel to go, based on many factors, including family obligations, wind speed aloft, distance to drive and more... .
I'll pass for this time, but have fun!
Knut

[XCanytime]

I'm going. Bacil

[krryerson]

Just talked to Ric C and a few PA pilots will also go to Jack's tomorrow.
Again, don't let me discourage anyone..
.
Knut

[Ward Odenwald]

I’m out. Late developing family issues are going to keep me home. I hope it works for everyone that goes, as forecasts look good albeit strong in the late afternoon.

Ward

[markc]

Heading for Jacks now....

[XCanytime]

https://ayvri.com/scene/z15y60z0jx/ck1e ... 68cqfsd3w9

[XCanytime]

Got to Jacks launch just before 11A. A crowd of Mennonites were checking out the overlook. Sky was decked over w/ hints of wave and a stratocumulus layer. Blowing straight in 8 to 12 MPH. Put in some streamers on the steep hillside. Ric Caylor showed up at the guardrail as I was climbing back up. Set up w/ an audience of Mennonite folk who were very interested in our activity. I entertained them w/ simple answers that they could comprehend. Doug Rogers showed up and set up next to me. I hadn't seen Doug in years. Other arrivals in the next hour were Mark Cavanaugh, Chris Bruno, William Hynla, Dennis Pagen (launch assistant, DNF), Pete Lehmann, and Pat Halfhill. Checked the conditions at noon and it was time. Had a good launch and dolphin flew to the NE to get up above the ridge. Once above it was golden. Gained a few hundred and decided to do a flyby of launch and wave to the Mennonites I had been entertaining earlier. Success. Saw Doug getting ready to go. He struggled a bit to get up but found some lift out away from the ridge and circled up to a few hundred over. He and I then shared a thermal to around 700' over before I split for the NE and he flew out into the valley. Ric joined us and found lift out in the valley and escalatored up. After a little while Doug went out and had a good landing. I followed and had a good one in the same spot he landed. We broke down under an improving sky, w/ plenty of cumis and blue skies. Doug was up for a hike, so we hiked up the mountain. Took a good hour to hike the 1100' vertical. Found the power line clear cut and hiked the rockpile the remaining steep hillside to the antenna NE of the launch slot. Back at launch it was blowing much stronger, w/ Joe Gorrie and Spoons observing the conditions. Doug and I drove down to the LZ to retrieve our gear. Found 7 gliders on the ground there, w/ Shawn MacDuff rounding out the queue. Plenty of smiles in the LZ under a drying sky and warm sunshine. Hit the road dog tired satisfied. Bacil

[markc]

It has been *SO* long since I last flew Jack's. Close to a decade I think? It was very satisfying to be back there, on a good day (though a bit strong).

Even better was seeing so many pilots who I haven't flown with in *YEARS* : Pete, Doug, Dennis, Joe, Shawn. I guess I've been in the local-flying-site rut for way too long!

Watched/helped on some launches to refamiliarize myself with the steep slot, and assess what would be best conditions-wise. Thanks to Pete and to Dennis for their help on the wires, and confirmation when a mellower cycle presented itself. Dennis was just there to help out, major kudos to him!

I flew for about 2:15, topping out at about 4400 MSL, not far from base. Strong thermals, many actively resisting attempts to get into the core. Sharp boundaries when exiting some of them, pretty rowdy day!

Headed to the LZ after my last climb, with clear sky, no wispies. Still 1000 over launch, touring around, trying to find the down button.... It took a while, had to search for sink and drill down in it.

Conditions were strong on the ground. I thought that I remembered the field after all this time..... Wrong! That, plus not quite being able to make out the direction on the flag, made for a less than stellar landing. Did manage to throw up the nose pretty hard, so end result was just an undignified plop onto the control frame. Gotta walk the field next time, sigh.

MarkC