Pulpit Saturday January 2nd

[XCanytime]

On 2nd thought Saturday is looking darn good for the Pulpit. 50+ degrees and W@10 MPH. Gotta work in the AM but looking for a late PM flight. Anybody else interested? Bacil

[1otIII2007]

Count me in if the forecast holds.

Allan B.

[XCanytime]

Latest: 52 hi temp (HGR), winds W@12 MPH (HGR).

[LikeToFly]

Hi Allan and Bacil? Are you still on for Saturday at the Pulpit? Thx Aron

[XCanytime]

An ice storm is wreaking havoc on all the mountaintops from Woodstock to Elizabethville. Doesn't look good and Smithsburg will be a muddy mess. Bacil

[markc]

The temps are expected to rise overnight. Below is the NWS 'cast for McConnellsburg as of 6pm Sat. Granted, the story might be different at launch... But if the winds back off dramatically at the end of the day, maybe it's worth a thought or two after all?

Will be watching for the ADDS 3k update (currently just 18Z and 00Z)!

Tonight:
Rain or freezing rain, becoming all rain after 7pm. Low around 33. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Saturday:
Partly sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

PS: Not hugely motivated for hauling up the back at WStock, even with the canoe-carrier....

[XCanytime]

Hope the ramp will be deiced and dry by the late afternoon. Anthony gave me real time data on the ice storm striking where he lives in the higher elevations east of Smithsburg 2 hours ago. The radar did not look good at that time. If you want to give it a go I'll come up to help launch. Bacil

[A.Lloyd]

I'll go to the Pulpit tomorrow afternoon if there is enough interest.

[sailin]

Hey guys - I was thinking about an end of the day flight too - definitely a chance it stays blown out or windier than what I’m looking for but I’d be up for giving it try if others are.

Thanks ,
Jon

[1otIII2007]

I am packing up and heading out to the Pulpit now. Forecast is for it to get much less windy later in the afternoon.

Allan B.

[markc]

I'm afraid I'm out. Just seems like too much of a gamble for a <2-hour window at the end of the day.

Hoping I'll be wrong for those who give it a try! Nothing ventured-nothing gained, maybe the wind gods will be smiling

[sailin]

Hey Allan , do you know if anyone else is confirmed on heading to the Pulpit ?

Completely understand Mark, definitely a gamble - one that I’ve lost at the Pulpit more times then I care to remember

Jon

[XCanytime]

I will be there at 2:30P just to help after working in the morning. Mark get your tail to the Pulpit! If l can just come out to help you can surely take a risk . We have 5 pilots coming. Bacil

[A.Lloyd]

With a wet ramp, N cross later and not enough wire crew. I'm out. Good luck.

[silverwings]

FYI, it was just reported that the gate to Woodstock is open.

[silverwings]

So what happened at the Pulpit today?

[XCanytime]

Allan flew from 3:30P til 5P in, according to him, some of the smoothest air he's flown in in the last year or so. Charley got there just before 4P, set up quickly, and got 20 minutes, landing just after Allan. 2 good takeoffs and 2 good approaches and landings. Jon Brantley chose not to fly. He, I, and Anthony served as wire crew for the 2 fliers. Bacil.

[Dunegoon]

Some really nice flying at the Pulpit. Allan launched earlier and was effortlessly flying all around. I got there later(3:50) and launched in higher wind conditions with a slight N cross. Thanks to Bacil, Jon and Anthony for the help. The launch was a little slippy and wet, but the wire crew did an excellent job at giving me what I needed. The flying was very smooth with nice little surges to get extra altitude. Did not get very high, but it was solid and very fun. I was as comfortable as sitting on my couch at home having some herbal tea. So great to get out. I followed Allan out to land and watched him have a great one and then walked one on myself. A great way to start the year. Thanks to Bacil for the retrieve and providing the motivation to get out.

CF

[1otIII2007]

posted on the CHGPA site around 9:45 AM that I was headed out to the Pulpit. I ended up getting in a flight later in the afternoon. I launched after 3 into about 12 MPH wind. On my GPS I got wind from 16-20 MPG WNW to NW. Good consistent ridge lift made it easy to head south on the ridge. There was only mild turbulence and not much in the way of thermals. I stayed up for an hour and a half. There was some ice on the road up to launch when I got there but not a real problem. I did clear some ice off of the ramp steps. But not a real problem. Here is the link to my flight: https://ayvri.com/scene/0jgrreyeko/ckjh ... 691pudhd3n I would have liked to see more people flying. It was very nice even though the winds were a little strong. Thank you for the help Bacil, Jon, and Antony.

Allan B.