Friday (11/1/2019) @ WS

[wmelo]

It may too early to call, it looks promising!
Sunny, WNW 10-15 MPH

Thoughts?

[markc]

I'm seriously trying to arrange work schedules to allow a mid-week/end-week vacation day, given that weekend timing has sucked lately. If Friday is looking better than the weekend within the next few days, I'll try to make it happen!

[wmelo]

Fantastic!
Where are our retired HG pilots?

[garys]

Count me in for Friday.

[wmelo]

Joe & John m also confirmed

[markc]

On the fence as of Wed evening. Not yet seeing a 'classic' WS forecast, worthy of gambling a vaca-day. Still, winds aloft 'cast strongish, might be more umph behind the front than it currently looks. Will likely make the go/no-go call Fri morning, sorry that I can't commit sooner....

[wmelo]

Gary & John McAllister also confirmed: Friday 12:30 @ bridge field

[markc]

Is the plan to run shuttles, or just hike up to the vehicles after flying?

[wmelo]

I am not planning to hike... but everybody does...I may also go

[garys]

I can drive up with three gliders or hiking works too. Gary

[silverwings]

Part of the reason for meeting at the bridge field is to drop off some cars!

[markc]

Count me in! Planning to hike up after flying, need the workout. So planning to just head up to launch.... Crossing fingers!

[garys]

I had a nice flight with fantastic fall colors. A bit light when I finished setting up at 2:30. I flew for about an hour. Mark C off first with a beam up, John Middleton chose a great cycle and also beamed up. Walt off next with light conditions but he managed a great flight. I was next and had to work to dig myself out of a hole about 200 below launch. John McAllister next and he reported getting up at the north finger. Joe launched PG pretty late and worked hard with a stinking high flight as a reward. A couple more PG pilots flew later. Not sure who they were. Good news; I hiked up and met a guy who checks on the gates across the road and he said the target for the state to open the tower road is Nov. 10. That would be fantastic. I was hoping to get a look at the road repairs as I walked up but a sign down the road from the slide said "closed to pedestrian traffic" so I had to do some bushwhacking and boulder scrambling around the work area. Bottom line, if you arrive mid day and want to drive someone up and drop them off below the slide area you can do that because the bottom gate is open to vehicular traffic. You will have to hike the last several hundred yards on the trail through the woods rather than on the road.

[markc]

Yeah, when I headed up I was pretty sure I would have to bypass the work zone.... Snuck past the No Peds sign, stuck close to the mtn, and was able to get up the road to the last switchback where a bunch of trucks were parked. Then a scramble uphill, and hooked up with the trail that goes by the bottom of the slot. 40 min LZ to parking lot, at a leisurely pace. Definitely worth it!

Topped out at 4500 MSL today, spring like thermals. Flew for about 1:25, landed early given the hike. Great day, great color, life is good!!!!

[wmelo]

Unquestionable, I great day in the office!

I waited a long time to take off given the light conditions. (Sorry Gary and John!)
With Joe and Gary's encouragement, I finally took off. It was light and it took me a little while to finally move up above the ridge. However, once I was able to go up, I got very good thermals and got 2200 ft above the ridge.

I also got very strong sink. I almost had to land earlier, but I was able to get a thermal close to LZ/river and went up again.
I flew for 1:30min. I decided to land by 5:00pm. It was an ok landing.

The LZ looks like a golf course! Thanks to your friend John McAllister.

Once again, I wish to thank again Gary for bring my control bar to the mountain (I forgot it inside my car!), Joe for his outstanding help, John M for the body riding, and John McAllister for allowing us to land on his property and taking so good care of the LZ!

Walt