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Hangola March 9-11, 2001

Woodstock was very good Saturday. I will only write about my flight. Others did better. Couple got high and went far. I took off after Christy. She hit a thermal in front of launch and climbed out. I followed immediately and hit a nice thermal and went up about 1300 ft. Flew a little way down the ridge but didn't see where Christy, Terry Spencer or Steve Kinsley went. Flew around for 45 minutes to an hour in great thermals. My vario hit 8 or 900 hundered once. Marc Fink was in the air with his paraglider and doing great. Wonderful day.

Woodstock was a real fun place on Saturday despite the light air. There was plenty of setup area since most of the pilots had gone further north. Vitali was the first off and he probably could have gotten up if he'd turned in the lift. H2 Bruce then wind dummied for us HG pilots. He sunk out (but later got a long soaring flight). Then Marc went and also sunk out but not until after getting up and over (he also returned later for a PG soaring flight). Terry Spencer picked a great cycle, such as they were, and beamed up. The rest of us followed, with mixed results. I've forgotten the order and all the names, but Steve (he got up several times) and Dan Tomlinson (he landed a finger over, not sure why), and Kelvin (short flight, oh well). I thought I'd be sledding since I launched out of boredom from waiting. I hit over 400 down and thought I was a goner until I stumbled into a gorgeous piece of air that took me to 2K over. I added another K from another piece of up air and then decided it was Cold up there. So much for the new bar mitts I'd made out of some motorcycle bar mitts (and the two pairs of gloves). I decided to 'drop in' on Mr. Fishburn and headed forward and then tracked south on Water Street to Rt. 42 (the route the connects I-81 to Rt. 11 at the south end of Woodstock). I passed over Tandem where Mr. Fishburn is and eyed the dirt area west of the building, but couldn't determine if it would be safe or not (upon later inspection, I determined it would be doable with my glider, but not with anything lacking a kingpost). So I landed in a big field next to Rt. 42, bagged the glider, and walked over to Tandem. Mr. Fishburn was in great spirits and we had a nice chat. I called cab (so civilized) and took that back up top to get the truck, picking up Doug Henderson on the way (he was thrilled with his 45 minutes).

It sure was nice to be back in the air after so long on the ground! And it was good practice thermaling over the valley before heading for Wallaby (6 days, starting Tuesday).

Christy

It was a really sweet day at Woodstock. The Woodstock effect was in effect, lowering windspeeds by at least 5 mph. Virtually all the launches were in light conditions. Terry Spencer and Steve Kinsley showed that it could be done by hanging in there until they could hook the big one that spec'd them out. I think they landed at the Front Royal Airport. Christy flew to near Mr. Fishburn's retirement home and landed out. I heard she took a cab back to the top of the hill. She also wins a free set of Idaho license plates, sponsored by an anonymous donor.

I was last off in the set and soon hooked a good one to join Marc Fink in his parapanties. Earlier he extendo'd the HG. I landed out, two fingers north in a beautiful green field. Immediately a local shows up with his 12-14 year old daughter and they offer to help me break down and drive me back to the primary lz. She seemed pretty jazzed about the whole idea. He's a private pilot who had taken a couple of HG lessons at Kitty Hawk.

When I come back to pick up the glider, I meet his son who is out riding a MX motorcycle. He says he wished he could have seen me land and gives me a hand loading the glider back on the truck.

There might be ways to have more fun in 50 minutes, but I don't know what they are!

dan t.

Yes, Ed, (master of lulls) flew the Pulpit. He launched around 2 during a lull that lasted about 10 minutes. It had been crankin' 30-40 until then. And it started crankin' again just after his launch. But Ed reported mostly smooth air with a head wind of about 18. He landed out-- but he can tell that story.

Another lull came about a half hour later. So I suited up and got onto the ramp just in time for it to start crankin' at least 40. We hung on for dear lives for about 15 minutes and then backed off the ramp. Another lull suckered us up again 15 minutes later. Again it blasted 40 once we got up there. 10 minutes later and the wind not letting up, we retreated again.

After some hemming and hawing, we decided to bail to the Rock. Luis Truitt, BVH, Mark C. Mike, Joe Brauch, Karen and I were there. Joe's glider had flipped in the set up area and he broke a bolt on his kingpost.

Karen, Mike and I were the last ones to finish breaking down. At 3:45, the howling ceased. Winds had backed down to 10-15. But everyone was gone and we didn't have any crew. So we dashed off to the Rock.

It had been good there all day. Ric Niehaus, Rich Green and Doug Rogers had flown earlier. It was magic for our flights. Rae and Danny were in the sky when we arrived.

Mark and I each got an hour. Karen and Mike each had about 35 minutes. Karen, once again, succumbed to the cold.

The lift was sweet. We flew down to the North point several times, out past the railroad tracks, down past the gap, and everywhere it was boatable to about 600 over. My highest was 700 over. A really nice flight.

Matthew (climbing today, of Karen and Matthew)

p.s. Big thanks to BVH for sticking around to help Marc, Karen, Mike and I launch even though he wasn't flying. Big thanks to Rich Green for sticking around, as well, even though he was 90 minutes late for a social engagement. And, again, big thanks to High Rock Laura.

Terry and I went over the back with about 3500 over heading generally toward Dickey Ridge. Figured we should spread out a little to maximize the chances of encountering lift so I moved right 1/4 mile or so. Rewarded with massive sink. Almost sank out but got back up over a junkyard on 340. Lost sight of Terry. Had 3k over at Dickey Ridge. Terry was apparently there at the same altitude but we didn't see each other.. Weird. Considered going over the Drive but the retrieve difficulties looked pretty staggering. Headed north to Front Royal where I found Terry again. End of the line. Still working but sea of trees to the north. River/Industrial park area dead ahead and Front Royal ENE. We landed near the airport. Many thanks to Marc F who had his cell phone on and to Bruce Engen who came and got us.

Against my better judgement (or so I claim in retrospect) I joined Ed, Cavanaugh, Matt+Karen, Chevalier, Lewis and Joe Brauch at the Pulpit. There was a beautiful blanket of snow, and a not so beautiful red truck halfway up the driveway, spinning tires and blocking traffic. Joe had gotten stuck, and with him gunning his motor in the front and his wife jumping up and down shouting encouragement in the back, they made quite a sight. They backed up and the rest of us made it by picking up speed on the straight-away, then swinging around the corner into the drive using Joe's ruts as a luge track to guide us up. He then tried the same thing, got stuck, and we had to push him the rest of the way, dodging sprays of snow from his tires.

Winds were honking between 20 and 30 mph. Did not look Do-able, but apparently it looked Ed-able, and he launched in a half hour lull when the winds averaged below 20 mph. We watched him for awhile, but the winds had picked up again. Matthew tried three times to launch whenever the winds seemed to die down, but each time as soon as he crested the top they came roaring in and we were pinned down like a pack of greenhorns under fire. It was so strong a three person wire crew was insufficient, for the pilot was in terror of having the nose man release the wires even long enough to make a dash for the keel.

Around 4 pm we bagged it and headed for the Rock, abandoning Ed Reno to his fate since we lost radio contact with him. Mike later picked up a message from him and it turns out he had landed near Whitetail. Congratulations Ed! Hope you're not still walking.

Lesson for the ages: whenever people are debating between the Pulpit and Woodstock, let out an exhasperated snort and head for the rock. I mean, that's pretty darned obvious, isn't it? (We're talking retrospect here, but it's STILL pretty obvious).

It had been great since the early afternoon, with Doug Rogers and Rich Green flying earlier, and a frustrated Raean and Danny left behind wondering where all the wire crew was at, given the ideal conditions. So we launched those two, and with the help of High Rock Laura everyone set up and flew in glassed off conditions except Lewis and I, who had early evening engagements and so headed home.

I'd just like to mention that just before he launched Danny did something fairly impressive, which I hope we all would emulate. He was up on launch, he had done a hang check, he had just finished giving instructions to his wire crew, when he paused to run through his entire preflight in his mind. Suddenly he stopped and asked to back off launch, because he didn't remember setting the internal struts in his wingtips. He checked them, and found out that he had. But the point is: while running through it in his mind, HE DIDN'T REMEMBER DOING SOMETHING WHICH WAS PART OF HIS AUTOMATIC ROUTINE, SO BACKED OFF. Very commendable, and very much in line with the way Danny operates. He then repeated the hook in check, and at least four times I heard him mutter to himself "preflighted, hooked in, locked". He wasn't just saying it, he was making sure he remembered it. Very endearing, but also very impressive.

Brian.

Well, I am glad no one questioned my judgment to launch because it really makes me wonder when I am first up and no one follows me for the rest of the day.

I guess I was lucky again, as I was the only one to snag a lull and get off. I beamed up to 3500 right off launch without turning, before I was done zipping up etc.

Unfortunately there was a big blue hole over the back and I decided the day was too promising to blow it on a 15 min XC. I was also waiting for the OTB salivating Mathew and Mark to lead the way. But after several more punchy rides to the broken lift zone at 2500 over, they still haddn't launched and never said why. Go figure.

Meanwhile pumping cumies kept rolling across McConnellsburg to get me enticingly up, only to dissolve to nothingness over the ridge. Not knowing the good trigger points I could see my second lawn dart in a row OTB. So I decided to run the ridge for the third time and take a more serious look at the southern ridge hopping options.

I cruised down at 1500' over and took a look. It turns out there is an interesting convergence of conditions down that way. As the McConnellsburg. ridge starts to drop off lose viable LZ's and get rotered in the corner; over the back viable LZs reappear and the valley widens out. I tried to take it as far down the ridge as I could in order to have the widest separation between my ridge and the next one back but I got hammered and had to scrape my way back north.

I found a good spot across from the quarry to wait for my ridge hopping thermal. It had a couple of decent fields out front and a couple of good fields OTB. I waited until I had 1500' over and bailed. The air was fairly textured and I found that I did well by porposing through it and made the second ridge at 500 over.

In retrospect I could have waited for a nice thermal to get me back up before going south again. Instead I tried to take that ridge further south. But it dropped off and I got hammered. I scrapped back up to where I had been. By that time it was late and I had run out of XC options so I picked out a nice fat LZ OTB and went for it.

Naturally the crew back at the pulpit, who had left me alone to that point, suddenly decided to get chatty just as I went into DBF. I fended off their questions until about 200 over when the last thing I heard was Mike Chev. asking me: "Ed! do you want us to leave your car at Mercersburg High Schzzzzzzz......."

The LZ was switchy and I dove hard through the trash until I was skimming at about 5 feet. It looked good until the last second when my left wing lifted, I managed to hold it for a one knee landing.

I heard later that they had sent out a couple of H2's without radios to find me......Fat chance! I had landed in an area known locally as the Punch Bowl. It is also a radio quiet zone. I got lucky out of the field and was picked up immediately for a ride to Mercersburg. By that time everyone was at HR. I got another ride to 30 and then another to the top. It wasn't bad but I had lots of time to think about how to arrange my logistics better.

Thanks to Mike's unsurpassed 2way gear I was able to hook back up with the crowd at HR for a group dinner.

Nice Day! 10.5 very interesting and entertaining miles and 3500' over.

Ed

Well, we knew the forecast was tricky, since it called for winds to shift from SW around to N, passing through the desired NW along the way. They were also to be about 12 mph, dropping to 5. So much for the forecast.

I arrived at High Rock launch at 2:15. The winds on launch were a nice 5 coming straight in. It was launchable right then. Mark Cavanaugh arrived at 2:30, and our first order of business was to get a car to the LZ. Back topside, Mark and I plotted how three pilots and one recruited wuffo for wire could make sure all of us flew. We got set up and waited for the promised third pilot. Brian Vant-Hull arrived at 3:30 and rapidly set up, too. As we were assembling gliders, two experienced wire crew arrived! High Rock Laura jeeped up with her faithful companion, Dan (who REALLY wanted to romp in the snow with a black lab that came along). Next Joe McManus arrived on his hot rocket motorcycle, announcing that he THOUGHT some folks might be interested in a wire assist.

The three pilots and two crew proceeded to watch the winds crank in at average 20, gusting to 25 with lulls to 15 for the rest of the afternoon. SURELY it would glass off and we would fly! The wind whipped through the bare trees at high volume. The five of us stood around in the cold, visiting with each other and visiting hikers. The company was pleasant, but we sure did want to fly. Brian declared 5:30 as decision point. At 5:30 we gathered on the rock and declared that it "sounded better." Actually, within 15 minutes it did sound better and we all rushed to suit up. We set up safety lines for Laura and Joe, and got in line.

Mark was first off at about 5:50. He found up right away, but radioed down to stay out front, because it was pretty gnarly. I followed him at 6:00, and got about 100 over in that punchy lift. I headed over to the obviously broad easy thermal he was in 50 yards in front of the rock pile. By the time I arrived, I discovered changing conditions. Mark had carefully marked sink for me. He was 300 above me, watching me scratch back toward the ridge to find that gnarly lift again. No such luck, I finally turned tail at 200 below launch, and made my way out to the LZ. I found nothing the whole way out. This was not one of those evening valley lift days at HR!

I put it into the LZ with a grade A landing in very light cross, and walked the glider to the side. As Mark was giving up on the ridge and heading out I saw Brian launch at about 6:10. Mark brought it in getting bumped by the cross as he was on final, claiming 300' over and 20 minutes. Brian was on the ground shortly after for just under 10 minutes.

It was windy, it was cold, but WE FLEW!

Emma Jane had her granddaughter, young husband, and baby great granddaughter in the kitchen. Cute little baby, very taken with Mark.

Back at the top, we transferred gliders and then stood on the Rock marvelling at one of the most beautiful night skies we had seen in MANY moons. Planets, stars, constellations, galaxies, all out there to see. It was wonderful and awe-inspiring.

Final word: a VERY special thanks to Laura and Joe, who came up on their own, without even being sure pilots would be there, to help crew. We could not have flown without their assistance. We owe you both a pizza at Rocky's!

Cragin S

Friday was my only fly-day. I was due to spend the weekend on a ski trip in a 2-bedroom cabin with 18 middle-schoolers. Knowing what fate awaited me, I decided to charge my batteries with yet another hang gliding adventure.

I initially planned to meet Bob Gillisse and fly High Rock, but the winds were already getting strong at Bob's house and launch crew were unlikely, so we headed to Smithsburg with the GTR 210 (aka 'big mama')

Winds started out WNW 5-10 increasing to 'blown out'. The field was layered with an abundance of fresh manure and mud, adding to the rural ambience. Memorable.

My objective was to gain familiarity with the site and limitations of the glider... and I did. I made three flights. Now I'm more familiar with the glider's nuances in strong, rowdy air close to the ground. I can't think of a more ideal spot for this. I highly recommend it.

Bob flew the GTR once, wisely choosing to launch from the bottom. Even from a 3rd of the way up, he gained altitude and used most of the LZ. Subsequently, he declined any further flight efforts, but cheerfully assisted me in the remaining summit attempts.

My last flight began after a long wait for a sucker lull .. lasted long enough for maybe a one step 'run'. Later, I eventually arrived at the LZ. Make no mistake, this was serious fun.

Anybody have any suggestions for removing manure stains off of a harness?

Thanks to Bob for the sherpa assistance.

Seriously,
'Spark

p.s. We found a nice pair of knee pads on the hill. The owner should contact Bob.

Had one of my best PG flights ever on the east coast on sat. after one of the not-so-good HG flights in recent memory.

Two other pg'ers on site also, neither of whom I knew.

I launched into almost calm conditions and slowly scratched my way up, later finding great smooth thermals everywhere which took me to 2,000+ over. The other two pilots were of unknown skills level, one didn't not how to turn (?!) and the other stuffed both launch attempts into the trees (but did get one off eventually).

I was in good position to go XC, except that my MR2000 and all of my HG gear was left in the lz (no cars), so I reluctantly stuck around to keep a bird's eye on the lz.

Although the hangies were reporting very strong thermals at times, I only had one slight tip flutter over the course of an hour and half soaring.

What fun!

Marc

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This page last updated March 13, 2001