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Hangola July 20-24, 2000

Another nice evening last night at High Point. Jim Rowan, Mark Gardner, Stretch, John Myers, a guy whose name I've forgotten and myself. 50 minutes, 700' or so over. Others got to 1500'. My friends from Cleveland (Laura, Laurie and Claudia) decided on a last minute trip and we plan to be there tonight (they've graciously 'volunteered' to drive.) Then headed to the fair afterwards. Come on down if you can make the lz by 5:00!

Sheila

I haven't had a long soaring flight since April 30. But yesterday I got 1:35 and a whopping 500 over at the Pulpit. Karen got an hour, 300 over. We arrived there late after riding and then heading to High Rock after picking up a voice mail message from Cavanaugh saying it sucked at the Pulpit and he thought that HR would be a better call. It wasn't. When we arrived at HR, Jimmy Long was just leaving and winds were way light and cross. We were able to pick up Mike C. on the radio-- he was 1000 over at the Pulpit and everyone else was there. Aaaarrrgh!!!

We ended up flying in the fourth wave at the Pulpit. The first wave included sleds, extendos and short soaring flights by Bacil, Mark C., Marc, John M. and others. The second wave included Mike C. and High Rock Bob who each got about an hour. Third wave included Marc and Mark again, Dave Proctor and John again. All had 30+ min. soaring flights or extendos.

Included in the last wave with Karen and I were: Jose, Joe Branch, Craig, R2, Jeff Harper. It was touch and go for the first 20 minutes. I was below the ridge several times and down to 700 agl at one point. Even though I was able to climb above the pack in thermals a few times, Karen and Joe spent most of the time on top of the stack-- just la di da floating around...

Matthew (big thanks to Ellis and Larry Huffman who came out just to help, of Karen and Matthew)

I had a great time on my second ever ridge soaring flight! Many thanks to John Middleton and Mike Chevalier who observed and wired me off; I was a little nervous, but they were both reassuring, and with their support on the wires the launch turned out to be no big thing!

R2

All in all a good day at High Point Saturday. Brian Vant-Hull off first and pretty much sledded. Fred Carter next and got up but then down. Marvin next up and stayed up. Rest of the pack followed and stayed up. Eventually Brian and Fred came back up for more and this time stayed up. Tom McGowan, Marvin Presley and I landed at the Highway Dome field (about 12 miles). I was getting 800 plus on the averager (30 sec) and got 3500 over launch. Conditions varied with some big and nice thermals and some nasty washing machine stuff. A lot of lift though. Two hours of airtime. John McAllister went to Paw Paw (18mi) and Larry Ball 3 miles further.

Conditions when we arrived were clouded over with a break from time to time and thermals rolling through when a particularly black cloud set up over launch. Clouds were splitting up as we launched and by 3:30 it was cumies everywhere. Wind on launch picked up after most of us had launched. Terry Spencer's glider (with him attached) flipped before he got to launch in the 20 mph wind. Neither damaged and he launched for a nice flight. Cast of characters in addition to those named: Gardinator, Jim Rowan, Lyman ?, Will Jenkins, John Myers. (Hope I didn't leave anyone out.) Tracy drove for the Highway Dome contingent and Lisa picked up Larry and John. Went to the fair afterward and saw a new ride called the Cliff Hanger. Featured hang gliders with the riders lying face down. Didn't look too exciting.

I carried out my threat to go to Ellenville, supported by Joan. We got there late on Saturday, and I scrambled to get set up and run off the hill at 7:10. After scratching around in ridge lift for 15 minutes, evening magic turned on. It was great. I parked into a 16mph wind and elevatored up at 60fpm to 1300 over. Silky smooth air. Just lovely. I came in to land after an hour because I don't like landing in the dark (I know, whattawimp) or jockeying for pattern space in the deep twilight.

Ellenville resident Jim Georg was also there, and got 3 flights, ending up with a 90 min ride ending just before magic time.

Sunday's booming forecast failed to make the conversion to reality. We watched birds and a sailplane milking the high lift under big cumulus, but nobody could stay up, including a slew of bagwings and rigid wings. After kicking rocks all day I decided that a sled at 3pm would get us home earlier than kicking rocks for another few hours and *then* taking a sled. So I barged in front of all the launch potatoes (with permission, of course), and sprinted off the hill in dead air, predictably sinking like a rock.

And in case you were wondering, the awesome Statue of Liberty has unfortunately grown rather faint, and has also been mown.

Bill

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This page last updated July 24, 2000