mtpilot's blog

season begins

mtpilot lwinstel4@yahoo.com — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:28:27 GMT

[ Mood: Happy ]
After a long hard winter in Montana we finally
got a sunny weekend above freezing.Saturday a
group of locals flew Waterloo for extended sledders.
I managed about 18min.This was good, since I hadn't
flown in 6 months. I knew Sunday would be better
so I headed up to Bull mt with Don. The launch
is a venturi that the wind dog legs into.It's
also a must climb or zero sink to the lz. I launched
about 2pm and hit sink in the mixing bowl but
angled my way to the ridge where I found a small
thermal that took me to the ridge top and booming
lift.After about 30min of turbulent climb I was
at 13.6 and radioed I was headed up the range.Trying
to go over the peaks I lost altitude fast and
decided to go back and climb in the same spot.
Plan B was the west slope and a 10 mile glide.A
lot of sink and turbulence but I found light
bubbles that merged into bumps and screaming
lift.I don't know what,I was busy and the vario
was pegged.I made a series of climbs this way
and arrived over Boulder still climbing at 8500.
The temptation was to keep going there was lift
everywhere and 4 hours of daylight.I was tired
been wrestling 2hrs, my camelback had frozen and
my eyes were stinging and starting to blur so I
cored sink and had an easy landing in a pasture.
It was a 2+ hr flight 23 miles. Thanks Don, for
the ride back.

over the pass

mtpilot lwinstel4@yahoo.com — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:56:41 GMT

[ Mood: Cool ]
Yesterday was a good day from the East Ridge.I
launched the old sport thinking I would just ridge
soar a bit.I struggled at the statue sinking below
launch twice and headed to the lz but hit a mild
thermal and worked it back up above the ridge to 8.5
then found turbulent broken lift to 10k.On down the
ridge I went thinking I would land at the 5 mile and
walk back.All kinds of thermals and turbulence but
I was drifting up the homestake pass and found solid
lift to 13k so I decided to keep going.It was an
easy fast glide.My ground speed was 47-50.I had
plenty of altitude and was at 8k over Whitehall.I
decided to land at the dude's hanger since I did
not have a driver 18.6 miles.Just a fun flight and
a goal I had set for myself.Next time I will take
the topless,bar mits,jacket,driver and go farther.

Flying the East Ridge, my home site

mtpilot lwinstel4@yahoo.com — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:39:21 GMT

[ Mood: Happy ]
I am lucky to have an excellent soaring site where
I live.The launch is club owned and I can see the windsock from my back yard.We have a dedicated beater
suv at the lz for shuttles.Launch is at 8k and it's
a 2.6 mile glide to the lz.At times it can be intimidating and this season I feel I am finally
learning to soar it.Some days the lift is widespread
and I go land out a few more miles.Lately it's been
high pressure and I hang out in bubbles of lift that
turn into bumpy but workable thermals.The spot is a
big rock outcrop just below the 90ft statue of the
virgin Mary.It can be quite a ride but usually gets
me 2k over launch.In time I hope to get high enough
to fly over the pass,8 miles of boulders and no lz.
I even enjoy the 2hr steep hike back up the ridge
to get the truck.We are working to make our lz a
city park for everyone.Many fine videos on youtube
of our site thanks to flyhghgy.

It's all good

mtpilot lwinstel4@yahoo.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:51:23 GMT

[ Mood: Cool ]
Another fine day.I took the topless laminar to Bull
mt.The wind was on/off and light.I finally launched
at 2:30 scratching and bumping in the bullet thermals
finally to 9.3k.I decided it was not an xc day and
landed after a 47min flight.The day was not about me
but the new guy who got his first high flight this
morning and the 2 college guys wanting to try hang
gliding.

March 19 flying

mtpilot lwinstel4@yahoo.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:18:43 GMT

[ Mood: Happy ]
Another good day flying the bulls.Picture from the
air is lower launch and upper launch right and the mining pit.The lower launch is a venturi perpendicular
to the ridge and it requires a strong wind launch and
a climb out since there is no glide to lz.We waited
after set up for the peak 25mph to mellow to something
I could handle the glider in.Great lift on the ridge
and thermals in the prefront conditions.Mtxcdude got
tired of watching and launched his talon.I landed after
a good hours flight.The Dude got to 10k and made the
first xc flight of the year 23miles.He encountered
the dreaded cow suck and was forced to land just
north of boulder.The Rancher and his 3 kids greeted us
all smiles and we are welcome to land anywhere on the
17 thousand acres he manages.It's good to be flying,
It's good to be in Montana.

early season

mtpilot lwinstel4@yahoo.com — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:48:05 GMT

[ Mood: Neutral ]
We are off to a good start in SW Montana.The road
to lower launch at Bull mt is open.So far I have
been able to get soaring flights of an hour the last
2 weekends.The wind and rige lift was strong,at one
point the gps read 1mph forwad.