Over the Back
Got Chains?
Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:15 pm
The pilots who launched on Sunday all had a little gleam of crazy in their eye. One look at the four foot snow bank blocking the road to launch, would have had any sane person turnaround.
We got out the shovels and chains.
After about an hour we got two vans, six gliders, their assorted gear up the 3/4 mile to launch. Launch was blanketed in 6+inches of snowball packing snow. Chad ran some tests to confirm the snow's consistency. The windsock was pointing in with a steady 10-12mph. We all setup, bundled up, and geared up, as a few other pilots trickled in. Every couple of minutes a thermal would roll through and get the blood pumping a little faster.
Jimmy D got off first, climbing quickly to confirm the promise of the day. Dave Hopkins followed right after and joined the aerial circle dance.
Within 30 minutes there were nine gliders in the air hopping from thermal to thermal. Only one pilot made 4K(Dave Hopkins, who else) and everyone else topped out between 2800 and 3200. It was not an XC day, but very soarable, with a couple pilots pulling wing overs every now and then. Everyone got a healthy chunk of airtime and went home happy.
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Windlord
3 thumbs up
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 4701
Location: Montana
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 Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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TG-
Sounded like a sweet day. 
Still too darn cold for me, I need heat!
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Jimmy D
3 thumbs up
Joined: 19 Dec 2007
Posts: 202
Location: Ellenville
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:44 am Post subject: |
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Nice report Tom. Yeh I don't Know what possesed us, the road launch would have worked just fine. I guess we were just up for the adventure 
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feathered1
3 thumbs up
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 158
Location: New Jersey
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: |
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At the risk of ringing my own bell...who else is gonna? I'm pretty sure I hit 3600 and change. Didn't break any records, no bones either. As far as the shovelling, pushing, snowball throwing and sundry shenanigans on the way up the launch road, it was WELL worth it. It's not only the good flying, but the good people. It's nice to hang out with folks that are as ate up about HG as I am!
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