Late report - Mountaineers Seneca Rocks Memorial Day weekend

[mcelrah]

Picture courtesy of Jim Rowan (he let Sallie use his camera all weekend): http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welc ... nDRkzaMnTg

Sallie and I joined JR and Lisa, Larry Ball and his LIsa, Mark Gardner, Will and his son and friend Kurt in the Seneca Shadows campground with a great view of the rocks. Saturday, we flew North(fork) Mountain, a north-facing site pioneered by the late, great Bill Bennett with a rickety ramp above a ~100-foot cliff and 1000-foot ridge. The LZ is somewhat problematic involving an uphill spine in a goat pasture, but not too bad if you are used to landing uphill at Woodstock. We had left a vehicle at Yocum's field 4-5 miles north just beyond Seneca Rocks and Mark and Larry made it there after 2 1/2 hours with climbs to 8000 (launch is at 3300) and complaints about difficulty getting down (wah, wah, wah!). I pimped off Larry in a nice thermal to 6000 drifting over the back but lost it all getting back out front. JR launched last and struggled so I watched his approach and landing then joined him after 50 minutes for adult beverages as things seemed to be shutting down locally.

Sunday was Spruce Knob, the highest point in WVA at 4750. The LZ is 2800 feet below but 2 1/2 miles out front and invisible behind a 1200-foot hill. I had a good launch but struggled thermaling above a spine and joined Mark to go out on glide, so had the balance of the 1/2 hour flight to enjoy the spectacular view. Larry and JR got to 7800 and stayed up longer. The farmer was baling hay in the newly-mown LZ, so it was quite picturesque.

These wonderful sites are actually seldom flown (but the paraglider crowd also flies Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob). The next Mountaineers Seneca Rocks encampment is Labor Day weekend. Your $40 membership includes camping fees and burgers (bring a side dish) and JR is a talented guitarist, so consider this opportunity... - Hugh