???? An interesting day at Woodstock today.? A couple of very interesting flights.? I'll let the other pilots talk about their flights.? I'll talk about my interesting flight.? Got to Woodstock about 2:30P.? On the way down the most brutal winds my truck has ever seen.? Had to stop a few times and retie the ropes holding the setup.? When I got to the parking lot at 2:30P, I stepped out and it was completely silent in the trees!? Unbelievable.? At launch already set up or setting up were Gary Smith, Randy Webber, Mark Cavanaugh, and Cragin Shelton.? Gary was first off in a light cycle about 3P.? He turned left and maintained.? Came back by launch at launch level, kept going, and got up heading toward the north finger.? Conditions looked benign.? About 15 minutes after Gary I was ready to go.? Mark spotted Gary about 1500' over launch wing walking a little.? Waited for a very light cycle that was barely puffing in, but constant, so I took off and turned right.? Then all of a sudden my left wing got lifted a little, not too much.? Then came the fun stuff.? I step into a huge sinkhole and start descending down to the treeline at a rapid pace.? I pulled in a little and got the nose pointed 45 degrees away from the mountain.? I'm still sinking like a brick, and a tree crown is coming up quick. I push out gently and porpoise over the crown and away from the trees.? Thank goodness Woodstock is a steep ridge!? I head back towards the launch slot, and get hit by the strongest lift I have ever experienced.? I bury the bar to my waist and shoot up like a rocket.? The lift must have been about 1600'/minute.? Then I get spit out of this ripper into a near wingover.? The launch crowd must have loved the half-pipe imitation.? After 15 minutes of bobbing up and down in the washing machine, I bailed on the trash and landed.? That view of the tree crown was way too close.? Advised the remaining pilots to launch and fly straight out from the mountain with the strong lift and sink present.? Randy Webber landed around 15 minutes later after a soaring flight, and Gary Smith landed around 15 minutes after Randy.? Mark Cavanaugh took off a little later and soared for a while.? During Mark's flight, wave clouds appeared over the WV border to the west.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Bacil
Woodstock Sunday 1/15
Moderator: CHGPA BOD