After taking my first mountain flight very late in the day from the Pulpit Sunday, Sep 27th (a nervouse run off of the old ramp, short soaring across the ridge with just enough time to land in the primary before dark), I called John Middleton this past Sunday morning to see if he would be anywhere near a mountain ... his response "Definitely! ... but not sure where yet." After an hour or so, I get a call to meet him in the Woodstock landing zone between 1 and 1:15 ... I show up at 1:30 ... oops.
We took a walk around the LZ, loaded up the gliders, and headed for the top.
A number of gliders were already set-up. I set-up my 195 Falcon II. I took my time, checking everything out (not really sure what to expect ... John suggested on the ride up that this flight would be earlier in the day ... during the glass off) No one was launching. A little cross from the West, and no consistency. Finally, about 3:30, a few folks took off. It looks like we're on!
About 4:30, I pulled the glider down to launch. John hanging out under the wing as we checked out the direction and velocity. A few false alarms picking the glider up, holding out for a little breeze coming stright in ... then ... CLEAR! I was off.
I fumbled around with trying to get my feet in the harness, no luck. Made a turn to the south, turned back up north, started to gain a little, and tried again ... finally, in and zipped up (John would chew me out later at the LZ about getting into the harness faster
)My wife and three of my little ones where there to watch ... good thing nothing went wrong!
As I passed launch, John comes over the radio ... move in closer to the ridge. I did. Slowly, up a little ... then a little more ... I get to the bowl just north of launch, and up ... up ... and away! ... a few turns in the thermal and I'm up 500 ft ... turn back north ... by the time I'm back over the firetower ... almost 1,000 over launch ... I can see the kids waving from the tower ... I wave back.
Not too adventurous for a fist long flight ... making sure I didn't cross over the ridge ... watching Tony over me for a bit ... then below a little later ... John back and forth over the ridge ... a few more glider and a couple of paragliders ... what a sight.
After about an hour and fifteen minutes, I decide to head to the LZ ... didn't want to be worn out for landing ... Pulled in as far as my arms would allow ... a few slipping turns ... dang! only lost 500 ft! .... better head out a little farther.
A couple of passes around the LZ ... a figure eight ... DWF ... looks like I'm going to place just to the right of center at the crest of the ridge on the LZ ... LOOK OUT FOR THE COWS! ... The uphill landing threw me and it turned out a belly scratch (good thing Steve Wendt wasn't here to see that one).
Amazing ... over an hour and twenty minutes ... 2,200 ft ... new records all around. Two years in the making, over 150 truck tows, and at least one heat stroke on the training hills.
Now ... Who are the good observers out there?
