Back to Main Page Back to Archive 2004

Index to weather maps

Hangola February 3 - 10, 2004

Flight Reports

Paul and I were greeted by gloomy weather upon our arrival at Quest-- which stuck for a few days -- but yesterday afternoon the skies finally cleared enough to fly. I was grounded, though. My back decided to knot itself into an immovable hunk of flesh. Paul soared while I munched on the steroids and muscle relaxants my doctor ordered. With all the drugs I felt pretty good by late yesterday. In fact, I could even move my neck, but I thought I shouldn't fly with the relaxant in my system. Like Paul quoted, "What's the accident report going to say?"

Today the fog engulfed us early, but it burned off by noon. I was ready to fly after numerous trips to the hot tub. Was shaky from the steroids but at least not stoned when I played wind dummy around 1:00. Lisa towed me, just like the old days (and I actually remembered how to do it), but the lift was too weak and low to work. My next flight, Lisa told me a thermal was working over this perfectly round pond, and that she would tow me to altitude but that if I stuck around the pond I should hit lift around 1800 feet. I just had SO much fun it is obscene. Weak lift but I had the flight of the day with 32 minutes. Rich snuck over after I landed and told me I kicked Mike Barbor's ass thermalling. Mike said he wasn't trying to stay up but Rich sure made a friend of me. Flattery will get you everywhere, even if it's a lie.

I haven't flown since Jan 1st and I needed a shot of adrenaline. I want to learn SO much while I am here. The forecast is perfect for the next bit. I wore my shorts and tank top for the first time today. Was gnawed on by mosquitoes and later supped a martini in the hot tub with Paul. I've missed this.

Stay warm,
Lauren

Joe Schad and I had a very enjoyable day at the Rock. Beautiful day. There had been an ice storm and the trees were coated and sparkling. Wasn't even all that cold -- in fact it was positively balmy in the sun and out of the wind. Pretty much straight in at 10 -15. A bit on the strong side for self launch but after a few shots of Jack Daniels on ice it began to look very doable. Hah hah. Just kidding. Never really looked doable. But we took the extra precaution of changing our "word" from "clear" to "banzai!" Hah. More levity. Anyway, we safely launched and climbed out to 800 over. Or joe did. I climbed out to 769 over. This was push out air where breathing decreases your climb rate.. Landings were uneventful. I managed to get a step in the foot deep snow. Joe's flare was prettier but he couldn't quite pull off the step. Any way we had fun.

Harry is home and looks and feels fine. He thanks everybody for the fruit bowl.

If you tow up from a frozen field when it's below 40 deg with snow on the ground are you a polar bear??? Great day for a couple of sleds at Redwing. Thanks to Jim S and Norm for a couple of great tows. The hand warmers in the gloves and alpaca socks on the feet and it could have been a spring day a 2500 ft. It was even alittle warmer up high than on the ground. Or maybe it just felt that way when I slowed down after release. Not havin to go to work on a thur made it even better.

Gary

The wind ripped through Quest this morning, which was too bad since the clouds looked bigger and more defined since our arrival. The temperature soared into the 80s, but the wind continued to ramp up. Paul wanted to fly anyhow.

However, Bob said that he thought the tow might be lethal, and Lisa agreed that the conditions would be worse than we had ever flown. Rick told us he wouldn't even taxi the plane out unless someone would hold one of his wings, so Paul finally gave up. I was just pissed that we hung out for half the day at Quest in clearly unsafe conditions.

So we drove around and looked at houses, at my request. I would like to buy an investment house here, that we can fix up in the winter. Paul complained he felt tired and wanted to return, though, obviously uninterested in the process.

As soon as we drove into the lot at Quest, we noticed the wind had died some. Rich rushed over to brag about he had gotten to 5500 feet, and pointed to the sky where Flavia soared. I don't think I could have made Paul madder if I had lopped off his hair while he slept. We bolted to get into our harnesses, while Paul glared at me.

The tow was pretty interesting but I hung on, as did Paul. All the lift was gone by then but Koshi pulled me to 4000 feet so I still got 22 minutes. First time I got to sightsee at altitude. I had to just park into the wind, even as late as it was. If I turned downwind I was rocketing across the ground VERY fast.

I set up really high to land because I was scared to turn close to the ground in the turbulence, and my approach and landing worked well.

Starting to get my confidence back. Tomorrow we will fly to Georgia, yeah, sure (Paul is NEVER going to forgive me for today, though).

Lauren

After missing yesterday's good lift, Paul was determined to wait at Quest today for a possible lull in the wind. I wasn't inclined to try and force him to leave -- even though the winds today seemed at least as wild as yesterday's.

I broke Ginny down early. I had her tied down in two places and parked behind the hanger, but Paul saw her leap in the air and try to flip. ButI set her up later again, when the wind seemed a bit lighter.

Nobody else tried to fly, but when the cumulous clouds began to loom overhead, Paul hooked in and survived the tow. He obviously found lift, but dissapeared downwind as quickly as a bug fart in the breeze. I tried to radio him but his wires were screwed up and I got nothin' but static (story of my life).

Then it was my turn. Hey, I've towed lots. And I'm at LEAST as dumb as Paul. I started to have doubts, though, when Ginny tried to fly out of the cart. Jamie said all they needed to do was let go and I could footlaunch. Rich and Jamie and some other pilot held me in the cart. The whole time Ginny's keel was up and flying. I just told everybody to hang on, I didn't need to be hooked to the plane for a few minutes.

Well, no need for the suspense. I eventually launched. Koshi and the plane seemed miles below me as I screamed into the air. I tucked the basetube to my knees, but he remained a Tonka toy, far below. Somehow we managed to leave the field. I could only think that we had finally gotten high enough that I could maybe get turned to land once he gave me the rope.

I hung on, though. At 1700 feet, I was still not remotely locked out, and was kinda behind the plane. However, Ginny was shuddered like me, and then I saw the plane get hit by a mini-tornado. I don't know if I would have made it through it or not, but I pinned off. Wussie girl.

I couldn't penetrate to the cloud ahead, but if I turned downwind to find another likely area, I was going to be forced to go XC-- not great with 1500 feet. I quickly decided F*** this, I have never had so little fun, I was going to land.

Flew a HUGE approach, turned final at about 150 feet. Ginny still was battered into a wingover on the final turn, but I was high enough to regain control. Landing was simple. Just stroll onto the ground, no flare necessary. Rich rushed out to help me unhook.

He carried my glider back, too. Ground handling was difficult and I felt exhausted. Hey, I cleanded the refrigerator today. This was PAYBACK.

BTW, Koshi (my tug pilot) was so cute. After I landed, he told me he was DONE, not flying anymore today. Nearly wrecked the plane landing. No worries, I had no plan to try again either. He said my tow was more hideous than Paul's, just terrible conditions when we left.

As soon as I landed I started to worry about Paul. Jamie asked if I wanted to go swimming (and said she was SO glad she wasn't towing, that it was me), but I had to break down (it's going to storm tonight). And I was too worried to have fun. And then I had to pick up Paul.

Paul flew 15 miles (all on glide). Picked him up and gave him a beer. He feels very happy even though I feel inclined to bop him upside the head with a bat. Though it's not his fault that I followed him into the sky.

Koshi and I are chatting as I write. We both pushed it today. Good lesson learned, because we both came out today. I handled it well, and so did Koshi. But I remember what Terry told me once after I told him I flew Smithburg in conditions that challenged the very edge of my abilities. He told me, the thing I didn't understand was, those conditions might challenge the edge of anybody's abilities. Huge factor in accidents, the conditions.

Driving to a blugrass festival tonight, with our new buddies. need a little relaxation. Or some friggin' booze. Miss you guys. Save me a place on launch.

Lauren

Good hike today. Back side of mountain has four to six inches of slush still. Front is same except it is icy snow covered with a layer of ice. Blowing in rather strong with a west cross. I did not stay long. Feet were cold and wet so hiked back to the car.

Joe

Twas a beautiful day at High Rock. Good crowd, Sparky, Craig, Mathew, Karen, Danny, Tom, Gary and me.

Tom was first off and had the flight of the day. Winds were west cross and a little gusty in the early part of the day. No real high fliers. Gary was second off and insured the day had some excitement. Danny was next. Danny also had a nice long flight. I followed as conditions were getting light and only managed fifteen minutes before going out to land. Mathew followed later and demonstrated it is difficult to run out a landing in ice covered six inches of snow. At least Gary got it on film.

All the other folks helped with the launch crew and enjoyed the day.

Joe

Doug, Keith and myself all had very nice flights today at E-ville. Got there around 1:30 and set up in about 12" of snow. Wind was blowing STFI @10--- temps mid 20's.

After shoveling launch, Doug launched first-- went right up and yelled down...IT'S SOARABLE!!! Then I launched about 10 mins later followed by Keith. We all flew until our fingers and toes froze and landed in primary LZ.

I didn't get to ask how high Doug got but Keith and I both got 700 and 600 feet over respectively. Lift was solid to 450 and thermals took us higher temporarily.

Had a great day. Was like the old "2 town" days. Some of you ole-timers would remember that. Of the "2 towners", Shawn and Dale R. were not present.

Thanks for the call Keith and Doug. I may have never even thought about flying today.

Also thanks to George (a future Wind Rider Hang Glider Pilot) for the assistance on launch.

Clint and ????? ( the person making our club logo on vinyl stickers) were present. BTW these stickers are very nice. From what Clint said today, he sold out of them over night last night. But not to worry, more will be available.

Think spring..... don't believe the ground hog....

Dave

Elizabethville welcomed us with open arms today. Road to launch was easily passable though a little icy. Gains of 650'+ and flights of as long as you could stand the cold. The visiblity was out of this wourld and the sun glistening off the snow made for a really cool flight. Thanks to George and his family for helping launch and drive the vehicles. Thanks to Rachel for helping shovel a safe launch area. Clint was also there with a friend, I think his name was Bic?? and his son.

Life is good.

Doug.

I saw the signs of people heading for the Snowy West Site and decided to offer to take a friend along. His Name is Bix, and his son is named Randy age 7. Bix is the person who does the Decals and has had some interest in flying for some time but alas he says 3 kids really is hard to have time to fly and be a father. UPon reaching the summit parking lot we only had to wait about 10 minutes till Dough showed up with a truck full of people. I met George and his family who took shelter in a make shift tent near the launch area. Little Randy made good use of the Ice encrusted snow and showed everyone how it is done, Running and sliding on his belly. Doug found this to be also fun and in order to get around on the surface it was better to slide like a penquin then walk like one! Keith on the other hand used a Shovel and proceeded to show how much speed you can get right before he put the brakes on or he would have gone over launch. Doug launched first and went right up, another elevator ride and of course his first comment from over launch was (It's Soarable!!) yelling from 100ft over and rising. Dave Fink took off next and also with little effort was rising in the air and soon followed Keith who joined the Polar Bears for some awesome flying.

On the way home Little Randy who seemed to have endless energy collapsed on my back seat and slept till we got home. Bix was very excited and wants to come out again, His comment was next time wait till it's warmer.

Brrr Wah !

Clint

Temperatures rose into the 70s yesterday, the sun made an appearance, and the wind sock only occasionally found the energy to raise itself upright. Cumulous clouds began to dot the sky, and the rush to launch began.

I asked Lisa to tow me upwind, instead of to the cloud located crosswind that the boys with the higher performance wings worked. She dragged me around until she found a fat thermal, and dropped me there. Lift was all around, allowing me to experiment with bank angles and trying to thermal by feel. Ginny and I quickly rose to over 5000 feet, but the clouds weren't glider-eaters -- just balls of fluff to play with. Ideal conditions.

After about an hour -- as quickly as it started -- the lift petered out and the clouds flattened. We all had fun, though. Paul flew XC, but Steve Kinsley made the longest flight of the day. Today promises to be a repeat.

Lauren

In a message dated 2/12/2004 7:10:07 AM Eastern Standard Time, Marc Fink writes:

> Details! We want details of those xc's!

Unfortunately, not much to tell. I've only left the field twice and both have been fairly short. Both looked promising at the start with fairly strong lift to CB at 3,900 one day and 5,150 another and pretty much went on glide to landing from there both times. Ended up with 15.1 miles and 10.3 miles. Kinsley came in behind me on the shorter flight a few minutes later and it had turned back on. I got picked up and arrived back at Quest just in time to turn around and retrieve Steve who had made about 25 miles. Told him I didn't mind picking him up but I'd appreciate it if he didn't kick my butt first.

Today looks promising if we don't get blown out. Hope it works cause we're heading north this evening so this will be our last chance.

Paul

	previous page	back to top	next page

This page last updated February 13, 2004