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Hangola January 31-February 6, 2000

Terry and I mushed our gliders and stuff up the back at Woodstock yesterday. It was a lot of work. There is over a foot of snow on the road -- more toward the top-- and just walking was tough. My shopping cart was useless but I tied a snow shovel to the end of the glider and that sorta worked as a sled like device. Still, we both gave up on solo portage after a bit and started tandem hauling. Anyway, we finally did get everything up and flew. It was very nice -- smooth lift to about a 1000 over or so. Watched a nice sunset.

At two o'clock
I stood upon the rock
alone

It was blowin in alright
the flags a little tight
not a wuffo in sight
bekoning,....
and me
alone.

When who should appear? grinning ear to ear. But Johnly and Marvin

And right after them about 20 assorted collage style wuffos. "Hey whaddya think they're doin?", "Ha Ha Hang Gliding!" "Ha Ha! Hey, that's pretty funny: 'Hang Glideing'! Ha Ha!....... Hey! Whaddyer guys doin?"

"Hang Gliding."

"What? No Way! We were jokin'. Wow, that stupendus!"

"You want help out?"

"Help out? Cool! We're stay'n!" "Al right!" "Yeah!"

So all three of us got to fly. My personal lesson for today was to get a faster glider. Marvin and John were on their Fusions bipping around the sky at will, while I was basically parked at about a grand. I had a very good view of John as he easily cruised south, then north, under me, then back over me, then penetrated high and far out front with Marvin. Then watched me crawl out to the LZ to land. I now understand what it feels like to be A Fly In A Bottle.

Anyway. A Great Day! It was above freezing and easy cruising over a Winter Wonderland.

Ed

Well, bite me. Shoulda gone to the rock. We (Tom M, Mike B, Terry and me) hiked up the back at woodstock to find it west but soarable. By the time we set up it was 90 cross. Tom was first and managed and extendo. Terry flew out to the LZ sideways. I hung out in the bowl to the north for awhile. Mike had the flight of the day managing 500 over. Pretty day. And the hike up wasn' t all that bad -- a lot of the snow has melted. Still, it was a lot of work for not much.

Speaking of Emma's: The set up area has about 10" of tire mashed snow. Someone dug a trail to the steps. The cube itself is clean. There is 6" to 10" of snow on the LZ . The road is plowed to the LZ and they plowed out a turnaround area big enough for maybe three cars and the breakdown of 2 gliders. Which has melted down to the grass.

She said she thought some of us might have cabin fever and want to fly.

Ed

It was a case of the early birds caught the therms. I got there at about 12. Doug from PA, and Steve Kinsley, had been in the air for awhile. We launched Marc Fink and Brian Hardwick. By the time I was ready to launch they had flushed.

I was prepping my wire crew for launch when I heard Mike Chevalier on the radio: "I'm coming straight into launch at 2000' over!" The only thing I could think of was that he had come cross country from the Pulpit. That would have been a pretty neat trick considering the tiny thermal activity we had.

"What? Where are you?"

"Coming straight in to High Rock at 2000' over. I'm in a Cessna 170. Do you see me?"

"oh, that splains it."

So they buzzed around to watch me launch and then went their way. By that time it had weakened and crossed so the rest of us had extendos and sleds. Others were Terry and a buddy, Tom McGowan and a couple from Pa. One of Johns' students showed up to observe.

Nice day, good launches and landings all around.

Ed

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This page last updated February 6, 2000