CHGPA has agreed to allocate funds to hire workers to cut the tall trees at the bottom of the slot at Daniel's Mtn. However, we need someone who flies there regulary to coordinate a clean-up and contact the launch landowner for approval and, perhaps, recommendations for people to do the cutting. Please contact me at mcgraham20@yahoo.com if you can take care of being the point person on clearing the slot at Daniel's.
Matthew
Daniel's Mountain Clean-up Coordinator Needed
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Daniel's Mountain Clean-up Coordinator Needed
Hi Matthew,
I did a lot of work cutting out Daniels launch 2 years ago. I just happened to see your post as I was reading about Laszlo's accident. Here are some suggestions:
1) Don't hire workers to clear the notch. They will have no idea how to properly groom a notch for good airflow (and frankly, neither do most pilots). Someone like me would have to supervise every cut, and that is impossible.
2) If you want to hire someone, hire me. I worked for 3 days for free last time, and Claude said that I had done more in that time than his entire crew did when he had had them work on it some years prior.
3) Most people cut high, leaving stumps and pungee sticks. This is the worst thing one can do, and once brush overlies them, they are very hard to see and correct. It is well worth taking the time to cut them correctly the first time for safety's sake and for ease of future cuttings.
4) Most people give no real consideration to airflow and just level everything. This sets up dead spots and rotors and is dangerous and unnecessary. Proper selective cutting allows for good airflow in a notch and cushioning in case of a blown launch. I've been grooming notches for 17 years and know what I'm doing.
5) I'm not so sure that the tall trees at the bottom of the notch are even an issue. I recall leaving one very tall, unusually shaped tree that is below the bottom of the notch and to the right, but one can fly around this. We would have to look at it together to be sure which trees you think might be a problem. Personally, I think that some of the trees on the sides are more of an issue, and I took many of them out two years ago (but not all of them).
6) This site isn't a CHGPA site. If CHGPA want to contribute to its upkeep, that would be great, but please make sure to coordinate with the appropriate site organization, the Central Virginia Hang Gliding Association.
7) Finally, it's better to do nothing immediately than to see it get ruined by injudicious cutting. It may need work now after two years, but it is well worth taking the time to do it right.
Thanks.
Dave K.
I did a lot of work cutting out Daniels launch 2 years ago. I just happened to see your post as I was reading about Laszlo's accident. Here are some suggestions:
1) Don't hire workers to clear the notch. They will have no idea how to properly groom a notch for good airflow (and frankly, neither do most pilots). Someone like me would have to supervise every cut, and that is impossible.
2) If you want to hire someone, hire me. I worked for 3 days for free last time, and Claude said that I had done more in that time than his entire crew did when he had had them work on it some years prior.
3) Most people cut high, leaving stumps and pungee sticks. This is the worst thing one can do, and once brush overlies them, they are very hard to see and correct. It is well worth taking the time to cut them correctly the first time for safety's sake and for ease of future cuttings.
4) Most people give no real consideration to airflow and just level everything. This sets up dead spots and rotors and is dangerous and unnecessary. Proper selective cutting allows for good airflow in a notch and cushioning in case of a blown launch. I've been grooming notches for 17 years and know what I'm doing.
5) I'm not so sure that the tall trees at the bottom of the notch are even an issue. I recall leaving one very tall, unusually shaped tree that is below the bottom of the notch and to the right, but one can fly around this. We would have to look at it together to be sure which trees you think might be a problem. Personally, I think that some of the trees on the sides are more of an issue, and I took many of them out two years ago (but not all of them).
6) This site isn't a CHGPA site. If CHGPA want to contribute to its upkeep, that would be great, but please make sure to coordinate with the appropriate site organization, the Central Virginia Hang Gliding Association.
7) Finally, it's better to do nothing immediately than to see it get ruined by injudicious cutting. It may need work now after two years, but it is well worth taking the time to do it right.
Thanks.
Dave K.
Re: Daniel's Mountain Clean-up Coordinator Needed
Hi David,
We are working the Nelson Lewis (of CVHGA) and Roger Rittenauer, the site owner, to make sure the slot is cleared in a proper form. The workers we want to hire are the guys who originally cut the slot. They stopped by at launch one day while we were flying this summer. If you would like to help coordinate and/or do any cutting, contact Nelson Lewis or Noah Merritt.
Matthew
We are working the Nelson Lewis (of CVHGA) and Roger Rittenauer, the site owner, to make sure the slot is cleared in a proper form. The workers we want to hire are the guys who originally cut the slot. They stopped by at launch one day while we were flying this summer. If you would like to help coordinate and/or do any cutting, contact Nelson Lewis or Noah Merritt.
Matthew