Back to Main Page Back to Archive 2003

Index to weather maps

Hangola February 5 - 9, 2003

Flight Reports

Woodstock felt cold, but not as cold as I've flown it. I set up and waited for Terry and Steve (oh worshiped observers). Hank sledded, although he has good skills, and then Paul nearly did (he made the most studly save in the history of hang gliding, 350 feet over the LZ -- I'll let him give you details). He nabbed over an hour and a half. Bruce caught some lift and soared, but then Howard sledded, too (I am so sorry Howard, for your friggin' bad luck). Our beloved Steve Kinsley arrived home to VA and threw me off into a 5 mph breeze. I forgot to turn on my vario but flipped the switch after I turned. Nothing but sink anyhow. I crept to launch level again by the time I reached the North finger and wheeled back for one more run on the ridge (before heading to the LZ). I hit a boomer over launch. In fact, it was so strong (750 a minute) that all I had to do was park into it and go straight up. Above the ridge I circled and easily lifted to a thousand over. I flew out the edge of the thermal sometimes, though. Scared the crap out of me. Rowdier than a Brahma bull, and not as friendly. Better to stay cored. I flew for about an hour. Nearly screwed myself once, thinking it was so easy to find lift, playing Terry's game of "benching up". I got carried away, flew far into the valley, sank below launch and came within a flea's length of giving up before my vario started singing again. I landed -- but not then -- because I was very tired. Shoulders and arms felt like I had been trying to pin down an elephant. It wasn't really cold, but that's because I didn't soar as high as the really good pilots. (I pretend to like them but I really don't.) I do have to adjust my harness, even though the new Z5 I ordered should be in the mail. Part of my exhaustion was wrestling my glider (she has a great sink rate because I'm a tick light on her, however, turning is also more of an effort) but partly I just need to change how I hang. It felt great to visit with Terry and Howard and Hank and Bruce and Steve -- our family up north. Though I am still inclined to miss our family down south. Where's it's warm. And you can throw pumpkins.

Lauren Tjaden

Friday at Smithsburg started out light, then increasing to 10mph NW. There was about 4 inches of snow. I took 4 flights in the PG before departing to ski with family, Ellis and Brian. Skiing was fun ... a bit icy.

I'm heading back to the 'Burgh today, ETA 11am.

'Spark

On arrivial winds were 12-18mph and slightly cross from the SW. I started out my newer PG (scared myself a bit), switched to the older one and did a bunch of flying and kiting. Practiced 'moon-walking' back up the hill. Winds became a bit lighter and went from cross to ~very cross~. I got the newer PG back out and made a few more flights before calling it quits.

... lots of jet-noise overhead all day ... but no escorts.

Other PG'rs, HG'rs and sledders participated, names withheld to protect the innocent.

'Spark

Lovely day at the Pulpit. Winds at launch were basically straight in and a little strong. A two man crew was required. Tom won the toss and enjoyed an hour of pleasant airtime and as promised, landed to wire Gary and me off.

Since there was only three of us there, we had a problem with logistics. The wind had backed off a little more but went cross too. Two men were still required, so Tom and I threw off Gary. Gary soared but had more challenging conditions.

Too bad that we didn't have a larger group.. we could've gotten alot of people in the air. With tomorrow's forecast being similar, I'd consider going back but only if quite a few others show interest too. Terry

Low and behold a hardy and bundled up crew of Pilots and family arrived to attack the mountain with all sorts of confrontations. With Snow on the ground we were inundated with a plethora of Sled riders aka noisy vehicles that go rarr, rarr, and loud angry kussing from pilots ensued! Yours truly arrived first waiting for some one named Norm who said I will see you in the morning or was that tomorrow well anyway I waited and it was COLD, no really it was, my legs are still blue. Upon waiting for the no show I met the wonderfully courageous Jim ( Polar Bear Leader and inventive Camera position technician). With camera and some string and tape and some wacky looking white thingy we tested the strength of his invention by dangling the camera out my side window as I sped down the back road at good speed. His only comment, looks ok from here! Dave Fink arrived and the two of them, left for launch. A little while later Jess and TR arrived and they two headed to the top parking lot. With in a few minutes Keith Olena arrived with family in tow, Gee its 22 degrees not everyone likes the outdoors at this temperature but the Polar Bears don't care. He and family left for the top of the hill. Lloyd arrives and the first thing out of his mouth other then the fact Hi I am lloyd, his comment is " I am here for my fix" . I drove to launch and found the road a bit rutty, if you leave go of the steering wheel you could probably make it to launch with out touching it again. As long as the blasted idiots on the track driven wild colored noisy machines would stay off the road. Playing chicken as you travel down the state forest roads is not cool when we driving cars hit our brakes our vehicles slide out of the grooves. They just sit there and stare at you like Gee what are you doing here, stare. I was getting out of my car, when I reached for my hat. I backed away from the vehicle only to find Jess about to hit me with a Purple metal Shovel as he said he was going to knock the raccoon off my head, sorry you just had to be there.

Six sled riders parker there noisy machines and watched Jess take off, they asked for lessons in exchange Dave asked for lessons on there sleds, we even offered to see if there sleds could fly? Jess took off and did not get over very far but he milked it for all its worth, with a good 25 minute of Oooing and ahing from the people on launch saying he is going out to land then saying nope he is working it baby, he's working it. I thought I would retrieve him so I left. As I went down to the landing area I noticed out of the corner of my eye a dark area like your natural blind spot, Nope its TR flying directly beside me with his shadow paralleling me, NEWS AT Eleven Shadow attacks! Dave Fink on the ground and Jess piled into my car to return to the top on our way back up the sleds tried the chicken thing again, I slide off the road and then they pass me, %@#*& and we continue. I drop off the two and hed back the bottom for a another retrievel maybe. Arriving I see TR looking up and saying we flew cause we thought there would be no more then the light air and then it came in strong and clean and LLoyd and Jim and Keith were all up over launch, I am sure Jim can explain about his spectacular experience himself, Jim!

Clint( sure was fun, but damn it was cold)

4X4 or chains are very necessary now. Had no trouble getting up to launch with my chains on... $70 and worth every penny! (www.tirechains.com)

Clint Leroy was on hand today to help with some driving and moral support. Thanks!

Big ole blue sky. A bunch of us showed up to what looked like barely soarable conditions. W@ 10, sometimes 15... very steady.

Jesse was the first one off. The rest watched the drama of "ok, he's done... wait, he's got something... nope, he's done now... wait he's climbing again, nope, way too low, definately done now, what the??? he's climbing again". If he had gotten up, it would have been a tale of 5 or 6 low-low saves. Unfortunately the sink finally got him and he landed. TR went next and got around 150 over launch, but it was obviously very marginal. He stayed up for a while but sunk out after a good fight. After watching 2 experienced pilots in topless gliders struggle, talk of a sledding day started to surface. Dave sunk out, er, launched next. It wasn't looking good.

Me, Lloyd, and Keith were left. Keith would throw me and Lloyd off, then self launch. He was hoping to get enough over launch to top land. The ever-steady, ever-light wind had picked up a touch to a little over 10. I waited for some straight winds to begin my impending sled ride, gave a healthy run and off I went.

Well some days all ya get are sleds. Ya take it and ya like it cuz at least you're flyin. Today was not one of those days :) Someone turned the valve and the thermals started kickin. Me Lloyd and Keith worked the punchy lift to around 600 over. I got lucky and found my way over to the south hook which happened to be where the elevator to 1500 was hiding. A couple big mellow thermals lifted off in the valley, but most were tight. We all had a blast.

After who knows how long, with things quieting down, Keith decided it was a good time to top-land. I've toyed with the idea a few times and have gotten the "how to" and "when to" advice from various experienced pilots. I made a few passes on the ridge to see how I felt about things. The streamers were showing light sw to nothing up top. Winds aloft were light, lift was thermic not ridgelift. I made a North pass along the ridge. If I didn't feel up to it, I could easily just run the ridge down to the main LZ. Hrm, things are mellow & I've got the right altitude... Puckerfactor low. Time to go find that rotor-monster... "right turn clyde".

WOW. Man that's some roudy air! Being the dumbass that I am, I went for my uprights on final (habbit) and got slow. Got kicked around a lot for that but fortunately remembered to at least put one hand on the base tube and pull in. I had the LZ and plenty of room to ride things out (ah the lesson I learned from Hyner ;) Not my best landing (whack), but damn it felt good!

Lloyd was in super-floater mode and boated around for a while longer before heading out. At the end of the day, there were smiles on top of the mountain and smiles on the bottom of the mountain. Everyone got at least an extendo-sled and all seemed really happy to be flying.

Jesse Fulkersin, TR, Dave Fink, Keith Olena, Lloyd Wilcox, (yahoo) Jim Rooney

Ye-Haw
Jim

Yep, another fun day at the burgh. It's best there when it's cold. We somehow managed to commit aviation despite the cross and did lots of kiting. Mr. Helicopter McKee showed up and did one whole flight in his US and Mr. Balk has begun his path back to the dark side of bagwingers. And Zagis were EVERYWHERE!!!

Matthew (Where was everyone else???? of Karen and Matthew)

I had Smithsburg to myself today. Nice, sunny day. Arrived at 1pm to W @ 15-20. Zagi'd for awhile in some nice big thermals - decided it was a ~bit-too-sporty~ for the PG, so went home and came back at 3:30 pm to W @ 10-15. Got above the hill for two passes on my first flight. I made two more flights before the wind started to cross and die out. Would've been a great HG training day. The ground is still frozen: no mud, with about an inch of snow left.

'Spark

====

On the PG. I'm focused on the P2 skills. Never even loaded my HG up. Eddie is The ~master~ of HG soaring @ the 'Burg.

'Spark

Well, Dan nagged my lazy tail away from the computer, even sweetening the deal by offering to drive and also share his UltraSport, so we made it to Taylor today. The forecast did sound perfect, expecting WSW at 5 to 7. We arrived at 12:15 to see 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground and near calm winds. Good thing Dan drove his Trooper - my van would not have made the last 100 yards through the snow around the house. By the time we had glider set up and wind indicators out, we were seeing switchy activity. Eventually the forecast came true, so we were launching slightly to the right in about 5 mph. Alternating flights, Dan got 3 and I took 4. Both of us were pleased with our performance on launches and landings, although I did let my nose pop on the last launch. We had no HG or PG company, but did seem to interest another pilot. On my second flight a small general aviation type was overhead, tooling in the blue sky. He saw our operation, and after my flight circled back twice 500 feet lower. I'm afraid he was disappointed, because in the relook all he saw was me carrying the glider back to the top. He gave up and headed west as I reached the top. Dan finished the day with some Zagi work, and we agreed that training hills can be just as fun and satisfying as the mountains. It was a great day to be outdoors and a fun afternoon.

Cragin

This was a really fun day and beat the heck out of sitting around complaining about the weather. It was nice to gegetget three good launches and perfect landings after a relatively long lay off.

I hope everybody had as nice a weekend and springs comes soon.

Dan T.

It started just like any other time going to Elizabethville. Sunny with a few clouds on the way up. Then there was the common for Lizzy, complete cloud cover. Normal for winter time flying at Lizzy.

Jim and I were on our way to meet Dave Fink. ETA was to be 11:30. Actual was about 12. Met Dave in the LZ and left Jim's car there. Got to the top and started setting up. The wind in the leafless trees was encouraging. It sounded like 15mph wind. We were almost done setting up when to our suprise; down the path is Doug R. with his glider. He figured he wanted to share in some of the post frontal cold moving in.

After setting up we went down to launch to check conditions since we could no longer hear it in the trees. Damn, it's backing off. The winds were down, maybe 10 or so. A little switchy to. Dave, Jim and myself were coming back up the hill and Doug was coming down wing and all. We thought is he committed to a sled? Who knew.

Doug sat on launch for a long time and it started blowing in. Switchy but getting stronger. Off in the distance there was hope of clear skies. He launched into a good cycle. Up, up and away. By the time I got hooked in and was on launch Doug was 500 over.

I launched and got right up. The left side of launch was a bronco until you got about 350 up. Then it got smooth. There were one or two punchy thermals.

Jim followed and then Dave after a while. All got up and I think Dave topped out at around 2K. I boated out front of launch and back a couple of times. The wind at 1k was SW at about 15 or so.

The sky was starting to open up. It got clear except for a couple of cloud streets. I had about an hour and was starting to get a little cold.

Doug went out to the main LZ. I hung out for as long as my frozen fingers could stand. I started for the main LZ. I considered going to the big farm but thought that if I did and the others followed we would have to walk to the car so I committed to the main. Bad choice. I got rocked all over the place. I had to make a last minute decision to land in the horse field after I got turned left on my downwind. If I would have tried to correct the turn and go to the right for my base I think that I would have ended up right at the road no thanks. Staying with the left turn and going toward the downhill was the best bet. I ended up floating down onto my feet like a feather. Long walk but, I was safe.

I called Jim and told him of my fun landing. He had plenty of altitude so he went to the farm.

All had good long flights and plenty of air. Man what a nice way to end the day. The sun shinning bright and all four of us getting up and down safe you can't beat that. Jesse and TR where were ya.

Yesterday was good, today was F'ing awesume! :)

Conditions in the AM looked pretty dismal. All of us debated wether it was worth going out or not... the forecast was light winds and overcast. But as Dave says time and again, "Ya don't know till ya go"

So we went, and it was overcast with light winds. Me, Dave and Lloyd started setting up anyway. Then Doug Rogers shows up. Good to see him out Polar Bearing again. Off in the distance a line of blue sky is hanging out... not coming closer, not closing up. Just sitting there, teasing us.

Under mostly cloudy conditions (except that blue line), the winds finally pick and Doug decides it's time to wind dummy. He waits and waits for the blue line to come closer, but it never does. The cycles start getting stronger and he decides to launch, blue sky or no blue sky. Looked like light and steady up off launch. We turn around again and he's 1k over! Boo yah, let's go!

Someone hit the switch guys... cuz man did it turn on! The sky opened up and the thermals were poppin. There was some cross on launch, but nice STFI cycles were coming in too. I punched off launch and went straight up to 1k over. Lloyd and Dave weren't far behind. We all just basked in it. The sky was 1/2 sunny 1/2 cloudy and we chased the sun around the ridge. As we flew, the sky opened up more and the lift got big and mushy. Clouds were streeting and we went roaming around the valley. We had a blast! Someone's gotta come up with a foot heater for harnesses cuz I think we all would have stayed up till sunset. But the cold eventually won out and Doug and Lloyd landed in the main LZ, me and Dave went out to the farmer's field.

Everyone did at least 1k over. I know Dave did 2, not sure what Doug wound up with but he was high. Around 800-1500 over was like jellow so we hung out there most of the time. Average flight time I'm guessing was about an hour or so.

What a fun day. Who'd a thunk it?
Jim

====

Oh Yeah, Lloyd launched before me... God what a day! I can't even think straight.

Here's some pics of the weekend.

http://www.hangcheck.com/photos/03/02/0809/

Working on downloading the "danglecam" video now.

Jim

There is not much I can add to Jim and Lloyd's report for Sun. It was a great day and yes I did hit 2K for just a short time..... most of the flight was 12-15K. Yes revenge was so sweet and Lizzy gave it up so well. Anyway.................

I did get to fly quite far out in the valley ...a mile or so past the secondary LZ. Not a whole lot working out there. I'm going to make that river one of these days. Maybe I should try riding the spine. Should be a good thermal trigger.

Doug had left by the time we all arrived back at the primary LZ and you know that guy had 3 beers tucked into the handles of Lloyd's glider bag. What a guy..!! Thanks Doug. I know you had to bug out early.

Good times..!!!!

Dave

	previous page	back to top	next page

This page last updated February 12, 2003