Hyner Memorial Day
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Hyner Memorial Day
Yes, I'm going. No, it doesn't look that great flying wise (though we may end up at Jack's), but that just means you don't have to wait so long to start drinking. So if you decide to go to Jack's, may as well join the throng and after flying just go a couple more hours up to Hyner.
Brian Vant-Hull
Re: Hyner Memorial Day
I was watching the radar and estimated the occluded front with all the rain would pass hyner around 10:30 friday night, so planned my trip accordingly. I did not plan on Julia and Mike Balk serving me margaritas as I stopped to pick up my glider. "Hmmm...3 more hours of driving through dark and rain, I can only have half of one. Maybe a whole one if you have some snacks." 2 hours and 2.5 margaritas later I was back on the road with a full dinner, arriving about 1 am.
Bunkhouse Bob, Amy Roseboom and I went to Jack's on saturday, bringing back fond memories: my first mountain launch, my first soaring flight - it was working quite well but I played it perhaps a bit too conservative and headed out after getting drilled by sink half an hour into the flight. Bunkhouse managed to scratch his way back up after sinking nearly halfway down the ridge. Very impressive after a year off from flying!
Returned to find a young couple getting out of a car with virginia plates. Triangulated all the information and presumed it must be Jon and Amy. Darn, wish they had come early enough to make the Jack's trip! They linked up with Bacil and had a tour guide and observer all in one.
Sunday was crossing from the Southwest, so a number of people went to the Superbowl and skied out. I got into a patch of poison ivy so had to run to Loch Haven for special soap and missed out. A few of us took sleds that evening. Monday was looking good, but I didn't want to get snarled in traffic so launched by noon and just got a bump or two. Jon and Amy flew twice before I left, and the sky was beginning to pop when I left, so hopefully they may have gotten some airtime by now - looking forward to a report!
Not as many people as normal at Hyner perhaps due to the weather, so it was somewhat subdued. I think the gas combined with the weather to keep numbers down - most lamentably Spoons and his apparatus never showed up. We had a whole pack of new teenagers to fry so his presence was truly missed.
Bunkhouse Bob, Amy Roseboom and I went to Jack's on saturday, bringing back fond memories: my first mountain launch, my first soaring flight - it was working quite well but I played it perhaps a bit too conservative and headed out after getting drilled by sink half an hour into the flight. Bunkhouse managed to scratch his way back up after sinking nearly halfway down the ridge. Very impressive after a year off from flying!
Returned to find a young couple getting out of a car with virginia plates. Triangulated all the information and presumed it must be Jon and Amy. Darn, wish they had come early enough to make the Jack's trip! They linked up with Bacil and had a tour guide and observer all in one.
Sunday was crossing from the Southwest, so a number of people went to the Superbowl and skied out. I got into a patch of poison ivy so had to run to Loch Haven for special soap and missed out. A few of us took sleds that evening. Monday was looking good, but I didn't want to get snarled in traffic so launched by noon and just got a bump or two. Jon and Amy flew twice before I left, and the sky was beginning to pop when I left, so hopefully they may have gotten some airtime by now - looking forward to a report!
Not as many people as normal at Hyner perhaps due to the weather, so it was somewhat subdued. I think the gas combined with the weather to keep numbers down - most lamentably Spoons and his apparatus never showed up. We had a whole pack of new teenagers to fry so his presence was truly missed.
Brian Vant-Hull
Re: Hyner Memorial Day
What a weekend!!!!!!!
Jon and I arrived in Renovo, PA late Saturday night and stayed the night at the Sportsman Hotel. We woke up in the morning and met up with Bacil... only to find out that he didn't bring his glider... but that he came to observe Jon and me! So before I continue on with this post... MAJOR thanks to Bacil for doing that for us... we wouldn't have been able to fly without him!!! Thanks for all of the guidance and helping Jon and I get off of the mountain safely!
THAT'S RIGHT!!!!!! I launched off of the mountain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wanted to post as soon as I landed... but cell phone coverage is, well, non-existent at Hyner!
Sunday wasn't a good flyable day, so Bacil showed us around the area. Jon and I got our tent set up and played around in the river... that cold water felt GREAT!! Later that night, we enjoyed a camp fire with the guys from Hyner... we laughed so hard our bellys ached!
Monday morning Jon and I got up to launch around 7 am, set our gliders up, and waited for the winds. Finally, we got a do-able direction (N/NNW) and prepared for takeoff. Jon launched first (stay tuned for his post) so he could be in the LZ for when I came down. Then, I got up to launch (which I must say, is slightly tricky on that side of the wall!), took a few deep breaths, waited for a good cycle, and took off! I had a great launch and headed right out to the LZ. I know most pilots try to stay up as long as possible... but I really just wanted to come down... to get that whole landing-thing over with So, I did some 360's over the LZ, set up an approach, and landed successfully!!!
Bacil came down from launch and picked Jon and I up... and back up the mountain we went! There were tons of gliders up top now. This time I launched before Jon... the conditions were getting more turbulent and I wanted to get in the air before things got too heated. So, off I went... and basically did the same flight as the first
Jon flew shortly after and met me in the LZ, we packed up our gliders, and went off for a celebratory lunch with Bacil at the Sportsman.
Jon and I spent Monday evening in the river... cooling off and trying our luck at some bass fish. We had a nice relaxing night and headed back home this morning.
Again, BIG thanks to Bacil for helping us out this weekend.... MUCH appreciated! Also, thanks to all of the guys from the Hyner club- I really enjoyed meeting you all and appreciated your hospitality. I am looking forward to seeing you all in July!!!!
-Amy
Jon and I arrived in Renovo, PA late Saturday night and stayed the night at the Sportsman Hotel. We woke up in the morning and met up with Bacil... only to find out that he didn't bring his glider... but that he came to observe Jon and me! So before I continue on with this post... MAJOR thanks to Bacil for doing that for us... we wouldn't have been able to fly without him!!! Thanks for all of the guidance and helping Jon and I get off of the mountain safely!
THAT'S RIGHT!!!!!! I launched off of the mountain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wanted to post as soon as I landed... but cell phone coverage is, well, non-existent at Hyner!Sunday wasn't a good flyable day, so Bacil showed us around the area. Jon and I got our tent set up and played around in the river... that cold water felt GREAT!! Later that night, we enjoyed a camp fire with the guys from Hyner... we laughed so hard our bellys ached!
Monday morning Jon and I got up to launch around 7 am, set our gliders up, and waited for the winds. Finally, we got a do-able direction (N/NNW) and prepared for takeoff. Jon launched first (stay tuned for his post) so he could be in the LZ for when I came down. Then, I got up to launch (which I must say, is slightly tricky on that side of the wall!), took a few deep breaths, waited for a good cycle, and took off! I had a great launch and headed right out to the LZ. I know most pilots try to stay up as long as possible... but I really just wanted to come down... to get that whole landing-thing over with
So, I did some 360's over the LZ, set up an approach, and landed successfully!!!Bacil came down from launch and picked Jon and I up... and back up the mountain we went! There were tons of gliders up top now. This time I launched before Jon... the conditions were getting more turbulent and I wanted to get in the air before things got too heated. So, off I went... and basically did the same flight as the first
Jon flew shortly after and met me in the LZ, we packed up our gliders, and went off for a celebratory lunch with Bacil at the Sportsman.
Jon and I spent Monday evening in the river... cooling off and trying our luck at some bass fish. We had a nice relaxing night and headed back home this morning.
Again, BIG thanks to Bacil for helping us out this weekend.... MUCH appreciated! Also, thanks to all of the guys from the Hyner club- I really enjoyed meeting you all and appreciated your hospitality. I am looking forward to seeing you all in July!!!!
-Amy
Re: Hyner Memorial Day
What a Memorial Day weekend!!! With Bacil's sponsorship, as Amy mentioned above, we headed to Hyner. I have to add to Amy's thanks to Bacil for getting us squared away this weekend. He did everything from observe us, introduce us to the locals, show us around the area and drive us back up to launch so we could get multiple flights in!!!! A HUGE thank you man.....the weekend would not have been possible for us without you.......we REALLY appreciate it!!!
Since we got into town late on Saturday we weren't immediately aware of the beautiful area we had ended up in. It was quickly apparent when we woke up Sunday morning and headed up to launch to take a look. Just beautiful!!! The many lush green canyons that border the river for miles and miles to see are unbelievable. Those of you that have been here already know this...but this is a true gem of east coast hang gliding..........a truly wonderful place!!!
Although the winds weren't cooperating for a flight on Sunday (blowing out of the south) the day was not wasted. Bacil introduced us to the locals and even one of our own members that lives in New York now.......great to meet and fly with you Brian. We met so many cool people this weekend it is hard to remember all the names. Everybody was super friendly and hospitable. Shawn MacDuff, Bob Beck, Joe and Karen Gorrie, Tom Gartlan, Jim Carrol, Dave Black, Doug Rogers, Brian Vant Hull, and the many others that I cannot remember their names....................it was great to meet you all!! Thank you for being so friendly and helpful to Amy and I. The rest of the day was spent swimming, fishing and eating. The night ended with a great campfire and a couple cold beers. The forecasted winds were much more favorable for Monday so we headed to bed with some hopeful anticipation of flying.
We were the first ones up at launch Monday morning and quickly got to the business of setting up. The winds weren't straight in with some north in the them but it was light enough to be flyable. I was first off the mountain and had a beautiful sled in the smooth morning air down to the LZ. Man the view only gets better and better from the air!!!! Amy followed with a wonder flight herself. I was really happy for her and we shared in some excitement when she landed. Then we quickly got to packing up so we could get back up there and do it again!!! Bacil came down to our rescue and got us back up top again. This time there were gliders dotted all over the top. Were did everybody come from........spectators and all??? We found an open spot and got back into the business of setting up. Not much later Amy was on the launch again and had a smooth departure from the mountain and a nice flight down to the LZ. A little bit later I was up. You could tell some thermal activity had just begun and there were even some cummies moving in!!! I knew this wasn't going to be a sled ride 
I launched with wire assistance from Bacil and Tom G. into a nice thermal and found myself above launch for a short bit. Had I flown a little slower I could have maximized that lift and probably got even higher right away. I found a little more lift down to the south a bit and tried to get up in a weak thermal but not much was going on. The air was buoyant and even when not flying in thermals there was very little sink. I flew back and forth on the east side of the river for a while and then crossed out into the valley where I found some more light lift over by Rt 120. I turned in this for a bit and gained a little. After that lift petered out I didn't find much more and it was time to start getting in approach mode. The air over the LZ was certainly bumpier than it was earlier on, but I was happy to not find it the turbulent washing machine the locals had warned me about. I landed and met Amy on the ground for some more excitement and celebration......I was stoked to have soared Hyner for a short but wonderful time!!!!
We were beat now from having such an early start and the hot temps so we headed out for a much needed lunch at the Sportman's Restaurant and enjoyed some food and air conditioning. After that Bacil headed home and and Amy I headed to the river for some fishing and swimming. A perfect ending to a great day.
Hyner is such a neat place. Beautiful and lots to do other than fly (it is a super sweet flying site!!!). Although we just got a glimpse of the LZ community and party, we liked what we saw a lot and will definitely be back again!!!!! One more thanks to Bacil for sponsoring us and the Hyner club for welcoming us!!!!
Jon
Since we got into town late on Saturday we weren't immediately aware of the beautiful area we had ended up in. It was quickly apparent when we woke up Sunday morning and headed up to launch to take a look. Just beautiful!!! The many lush green canyons that border the river for miles and miles to see are unbelievable. Those of you that have been here already know this...but this is a true gem of east coast hang gliding..........a truly wonderful place!!!
Although the winds weren't cooperating for a flight on Sunday (blowing out of the south) the day was not wasted. Bacil introduced us to the locals and even one of our own members that lives in New York now.......great to meet and fly with you Brian. We met so many cool people this weekend it is hard to remember all the names. Everybody was super friendly and hospitable. Shawn MacDuff, Bob Beck, Joe and Karen Gorrie, Tom Gartlan, Jim Carrol, Dave Black, Doug Rogers, Brian Vant Hull, and the many others that I cannot remember their names....................it was great to meet you all!! Thank you for being so friendly and helpful to Amy and I. The rest of the day was spent swimming, fishing and eating. The night ended with a great campfire and a couple cold beers. The forecasted winds were much more favorable for Monday so we headed to bed with some hopeful anticipation of flying.
We were the first ones up at launch Monday morning and quickly got to the business of setting up. The winds weren't straight in with some north in the them but it was light enough to be flyable. I was first off the mountain and had a beautiful sled in the smooth morning air down to the LZ. Man the view only gets better and better from the air!!!! Amy followed with a wonder flight herself. I was really happy for her and we shared in some excitement when she landed. Then we quickly got to packing up so we could get back up there and do it again!!! Bacil came down to our rescue and got us back up top again. This time there were gliders dotted all over the top. Were did everybody come from........spectators and all???
We found an open spot and got back into the business of setting up. Not much later Amy was on the launch again and had a smooth departure from the mountain and a nice flight down to the LZ. A little bit later I was up. You could tell some thermal activity had just begun and there were even some cummies moving in!!! I knew this wasn't going to be a sled ride I launched with wire assistance from Bacil and Tom G. into a nice thermal and found myself above launch for a short bit. Had I flown a little slower I could have maximized that lift and probably got even higher right away. I found a little more lift down to the south a bit and tried to get up in a weak thermal but not much was going on. The air was buoyant and even when not flying in thermals there was very little sink. I flew back and forth on the east side of the river for a while and then crossed out into the valley where I found some more light lift over by Rt 120. I turned in this for a bit and gained a little. After that lift petered out I didn't find much more and it was time to start getting in approach mode. The air over the LZ was certainly bumpier than it was earlier on, but I was happy to not find it the turbulent washing machine the locals had warned me about. I landed and met Amy on the ground for some more excitement and celebration......I was stoked to have soared Hyner for a short but wonderful time!!!! We were beat now from having such an early start and the hot temps so we headed out for a much needed lunch at the Sportman's Restaurant and enjoyed some food and air conditioning. After that Bacil headed home and and Amy I headed to the river for some fishing and swimming. A perfect ending to a great day.
Hyner is such a neat place. Beautiful and lots to do other than fly (it is a super sweet flying site!!!). Although we just got a glimpse of the LZ community and party, we liked what we saw a lot and will definitely be back again!!!!! One more thanks to Bacil for sponsoring us and the Hyner club for welcoming us!!!!
Jon
Re: Hyner Memorial Day
Wow! CONGRATULATIONS AMY on your mountain high-flight at Hyner, that's a huge milestone! And likewise to Jon, for bagging another site and getting above launch. It's great to hear how motivated you both are... It's a kick in the butt to all of us, and I have to add my own thanks to Bacil for his generous donation of time, and for acting more as a mentor than a typical observer. Great to hear that the weekend was such a success for both of you!!!
MarkC
MarkC
-
rasmussenv
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:37 pm
- Location: Valerie in Northern Virginia
Re: Hyner Memorial Day
Sounds like a great weekend. Nice write-up, Jon - it makes me want to make the hike up there sometime! And Amy!! Yay! You got that first of many mountain launches!
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Re: Hyner Memorial Day
Thank you all for the nice comments
Valerie, this was actually my 3rd and 4th mountain flight...the one prior being the Pulpit. It feels great to get back into mountain launching. I am looking forward to joining you all at our local sites very soon:):)
Valerie, this was actually my 3rd and 4th mountain flight...the one prior being the Pulpit. It feels great to get back into mountain launching. I am looking forward to joining you all at our local sites very soon
:):)Re: Hyner Memorial Day
Supercool that you got your baptism into the elect of Hyner AND Amy is back in the saddle for the mountains! - Hugh