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Hangola January 30 - February 2, 2003

Flight Reports

The E to NE conditions turned out to be light SSW to SSE at kirkridge today. Gerry Donohoe while still hyper extended from his recent trauma managed to have 2 flawless launches and landings. Antione executed a perfect house landing while Matthew flew beautifully with about 30 pounds of snow in his wing. Fun was had by all.

Jeff Shriner

Jonestown is out of the way for me and Rae, kinda long way to go, think we'll stay down here and fly :-) When you guys coming down to sunny FLA ? A good time would be during Wills Wing Daze, cause after that the Comps at Wallaby and Quest will be going on in April. Bunkhouse Bob is planning a trip so keep in touch with him. Like I said before you guys gotta place to stay, we can put up at least six people counting my pop-up. If it's not flyable my boat holds 4 for fishing. Rae and I went flying at Wallaby on thursday, had a great flight, my turn to drive so landed and chased Rae. She landed east of Quest, Sea breeze kicked in so she had a crosswind to fight, She did a good job, first XC on her new Litespeed

Say hi to all and kiss Beck for me

Fred

Tom, Hank, Pete Schumann and I flew Woodstock today. The tally was 3 extendoes and a short soar. Pete, who gets out the least and who was flying a new wing scored the soaring flight. I guess that it's only fair, but I'd traded his cycle for mine. Terry

Haleluya Bretheren! For many did sit and pray upon the Pulpit today. Up, up went the cry for the winds to die. Hour upon hour did the faithful watch and pray. Down just a bit, a mere 5mph and all would be cheery and good. but LO they did not. Nay, the mighty winds did howl. The trees did sway under their force. The brave Leaman of Pete hurled himself into the beast upon his mighty Falcon (say what? yup, a Falcon). An other warrior of good followed to fight the good fight and drive back the forces of evil. A thousand tolls over launch they did strike but none would follow our brothers into the sky. The voices of eternal would speak of 20mph today, with rage upon 25mph did they gust. A beautiful day to ponder the struggles of good and evil. Warm(er) and sunny, but so much wind. The congregation waited through the day. Then, with the weary sun growing low in the sky, battons began to get pulled and sails rolled up. Just as all hope was fading from the day, the heavens became laminar and smooth. Brothers Dave and Jim bore witness to the magic of evening as wings and spirits were lifted to the sky.

:)

Didn't have much sunlight left, so we flew out over the LZ and dove and slipped on down. Boyant lift all around, climbed the hole time out to the lz.

Thanks to all the Pulpit fliers for wiring us off (and shooting the shit all day)

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"Dave's Buddy" Jim here.

I just wanted to thank the Pulpit croud for helping us get safely off the ramp yesterday. We both had a short but _very_ sweet flight with smooth boyant lift all the way out into the valley. Had to slip some S's to get down.

Hope to see you all again real soon :)

Never want to wish anyone bad luck but after spending another wonderful day of hangwaiting at my favorite spot to not fly (the Pulpit), I was dreading hearing about all the spectacular flying at Woodstock. At least I didn't have to hike in. Pete L. and Dave P. got off in strong conditions around 2:45 just as I was arriving. The rest of us (Carlos, Mike B., Hugh, Gary S., Howard W., Dave Fink and his friend, and I) decided to wait for it to back down as was forecasted. At 5:15 Dave and his buddy (sorry, can't remember the name) got off for a short flight to the LZ where they had left there car. I tried to follow but had to back down when the wind ramped up again. Still amazes me that conditions can be so extremely different at these two sites. Had a nice dinner in Mercersburg with Mike and Julia and Ellis (Oh, forgot to say that Ellis, Lauren, Shiela, and Judy stopped by to help launch and perhaps fly). Lots of people playing at Mudberg, Guess we should have stayed there. Paul (I'm going back to Florida) Tjaden

I got there and it was soooo muddy. I unloaded my glider, started setting up and saw how new and pretty my glider was and just didn't have the heart to subject it to the muck and manure! Had lots of fun visiting with oldies and newbies! Went to the Pulpit to see if anyone needed wire crew, but it was still blown out. Came home. Judy

Arrived around 11:30. No one in sight so I walked up to the ramp..... 20+ winds (slight N. cross) and socked in black clouds just over launch. Dave Proctor, Jim Rooney, and Pete Lehman showed up shortly thereafter. Pete brought word of clear skies to the south and west so we spotted vehicles in the landing field and set up to fly. Things started clearing around 1:00 or so and Pete and Dave launched, flew for about an hour and landed. Think Pete mentioned getting 2500' MSL. Meanwhile the parking lot was filling with pilots and the setup area was growing smaller but the wind just wasn't backing below 20. For most of the day it was 20-25 w/ higher gusts but nothing over 30. Jim and I waited until 5:00 and it was just starting to show a hint of backing down so we both launched in strong but very smooth late day air. I ran the ridge down to the Pri. LZ gaining 4-500 feet in ridge lift. I turned and started to head out to the LZ and was climbing the whole way out..... circling the LZ and still climbing....... It's going to be dark soon.....Still climbing...... slipping 360's... ahhh there we go.... let the bar relax ....climbing again.... several slipping 360's and I finally broke below it. Why can't it stay light for just another half hour? **damn** Jim came out and experienced the same thing. It was pretty cool. It just goes to show ya.....I think it was Doug who once said...YDKUYG. Jim got out to see a new site which he was very excited about and we did finally get off the mountain. Those present...... ( let's see if I can get all of these new names right and forgive me if I missed anyone) Jim Rooney, Pete Lehman, Dave Proctor, Gary Smith, Paul & Loran ??, Mike Balk, Judy McCarthy, Sheila ??, and about 5 people that I didn't get their names. It was great to see so many people out in January and spirits were high.

Slept like a baby last night...!!!

Dave

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I think it was Mike Balk... he did most of the shoveling... so he deserved the sled ride.. ar ar. Anyway... even if I hadn't flown, it was a good time. I didn't get to see anyone before I left to thank them for the assistance on launch. By the time I got back up top everyone had gone home.

Dave

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I just wanted to drop a quick post and thank those who helped at launch on Sunday at the Pulpit. It's always a pleasure to visit your sites. Great to see so many pilots out in the middle of January!! I think a good time was had by all. Looking forward to flying with all of you again soon. Come up and fly with us sometime. (Sacremento,Bethal/501,Elizabethville,Ringtown)

Dave Fink

One of those was me. I came with Sheila. There are so many people I can't put names with. I'm still wondering who that was who almost ran me over while riding the shovel down from the ramp! LOL Suzanne

I'm very glad I drove myself out to Smithsburg on Sunday. (I parked in the turnaround on the other side of the road) I had 10 great flights off of the top (and ten trips back up which left me thoroughly spent). Sparky has generously agreed to observe me at a mountain site. I look forward to meeting more of you at a mountain in the near future.

Bryan Althouse

On Sunday a few of us showed up at the Pulpit to fly. Ended up running a shuttle and picked up some kitty litter on the way back because both ramps were covered with snow and ice. Thanks to those who cleared the ramp (old one) so we could fly. The kitty litter worked good initially, but as it got wetter from melting snow it turned into slimey wet clay, almost as slick as the ice was. I think that sand will work better and will try to remember to put some in the back of the truck in the future. Just an FYI.

Oh yeah, the air was great once you launched. Typical Pulpit day, beautiful aloft and cranking on launch. Pete and I managed to get airborn while it was still reasonable, but it ramped up afterwards. We never got more than about 1200 over, but very pleasant. I ended up with 0:45, Pete somewhere over an hour. I landed on purpose to come back and wire others off.

Dave

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This page last updated February 9, 2003