Biwingal pilots Ellis and I, along with four other PG pilots flew Daniels yesterday. It was as good as I have ever seen it there. We all arrived at about 1:30 to conditions that looked like a deep breathing giant, with thermals roaring through at regular and frequent intervals. At that time it was either launch into the incoming thermal, the center of it or the back of it as it was calming down.
Those conditions had most of us PGers stuck on the ground, (except Tom and Ellis) but would have been epic for HG. Tom eventually got off, up and out by catching the abundant and somewhat softer lift out in the valley. Ellis extendo'd after learning that the backside of a thermal isn't the best launch option even if the air does appear smooth and soft.
By 4:00 things had calmed down some and had even produced long stretches of too light winds. Ellis helped me off and I got up almost immediately, followed by Lazlo and soon everyone else including Ellis. After an hour or so and altitude gains as high as I've ever been at Daniels I went out to land. A persistent thermal at the NE corner of the LZ made for a seemingly 15 minute affair, and one heck of a lot of S turns. Patience finally paid off and I landed uneventfully in the draw.
Meanwhile Ellis went XC to nearly Stanardsvile, Paul and Gordon landed, and Tom hitchhiked back and join Lazlo who is still in the air. Paul, another P2, soared that mountain in front of launch for 20 minutes or more before flying back to land. The thermal lift in the valley was working nearly as well as along the ridge, it was almost 'magic'.
I'm pretty convinced an early afternoon launch by an HG could have put on some big miles yesterday.
Dan T
Labor Day at Daniels
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