Humm..... - That was Interesting!

After a long week or so of watching grandkids - doing turkey and only flying a sledder or two I was ready to bug out and fly as soon as the last little one was buckled into my daughters minivan.

Rick had called to give a heads up on Eagle - likely to be blown out, but anything to clear the head and get out with a chance to fly. On launch an hour later two hangs were thinking about folding up and Rick informed me that it just really started to blow 5 minutes prior.

We chatted and waited for the sun to set hopeing that the lack of sun would have a calming effect on the excess wind. This is a common scenario at Eagle and a 30 minute flight with a flashing light seemed in the offing. Just before the sun went down I had my wing kitting over head - except for some strange reason I was kitting away from the hill - 180 degrees over the back. - - Next moment a South flow got strong and I was hop hop hopping down the flats working c-ds as I had a good time high wind kitting in the "correct" direction. - Hmmm switchy winds. - Strong winds - What is wrong with this picture????
-
Off goes the wing into a bundle and further assessment - use your head and listen to the wind some more.

While I stood at the lip Rick was setting up and the wind simply calmed down slowly to a gentle 8-10 and held. - Rick is going to fly! - Winds consistent now - getting lighter now - Ok back in the saddle and let us see.

Rick is ready - wing over head - looks good - I pull up as he sets his down. - Good wing clean pressure - two hang buddies willing to pick us up if we bomb out (likely scenario as winds seemed to be dropping in route to calm)- - Turn and aggressive launch.

Clean launch - Winds from South South West - a bit of a problem at Eagle but if you push into them to get round the corner to the South face and it should be fine. - Nice lift - 150 over and out front - Big wind increase - still holding my own not getting blown back and no speed bar required, THEN Whack - wing tip - on the right - pump it out - Lift Lift Surge - Whack 20%er on the left - Push out a bit more - get further from the hill - Whack - Surge Back - big surge forward - Brake to Catch it - Almost frontal - Right left I am getting WORKED! - Push further out and now, I guess, run - But run from what?

I am not over the back really - This could be rotor from the south face but I am 1/4 mile out now and not in line with anything. -

Later analysis suggests that I was in the lea-side of a strong East / West convergence. Winds had been strong WSW at altitude and we were experiencing strong South to South East on Launch. - Out in the valley where I was now 2k over it was East vs West and I was in the middle. - The East was blocking and I just got thrashed as I flew away from the hill on a SW heading. What I was doing was flying along the convergence line but just in the lea - If you want turbulence do this it will work every time. - As I pushed further West/North I went through the blockage climbed strong and continued to get worked but less than on my SW heading. I made an initial efforts to get down via spiral but that failed (more about that later).

I pushed further West and it finally settled down just a bit and I was able to get I nice spiral started and got down. 400 over - push further out - still a bit rocky but under control - Nice big field with winds from 2 or 3 directions and a soft landing. - Finally on the radio "I am ALIVE."


14 minutes of high adrenalin and a few lessons learned:

1. Let your buddy launch first! -You will live longer.

2. Eagle can throw real curve balls.

3. If you kite in two different directions prior to launch - See #1 above, but consider cutting your buddy's lines as a second option.

4. If you are flying to fill an emotional need those emotions might mask the correct go-no-go decision.

5. I love my DHV-2; please never sell me a 2-3 or above.

6. Learned a wing control dynamic that was interesting: On my first attempt to enter a spiral to get down and through the turbulence it just wouldn't crank in. - I tried for at least 30 seconds leaning and pulling but it only turned and wouldn't crank over. - At the time I just figured the wind / turbulence were in control and I was at their mercy. - Later, as it smoothed out, I cranked in just fine. What was up? -

On the first attempt I had been and was still carrying a good amount of brake which I needed to have to have something to give back to control the big back surges I was catching. - When I tried to turn spiral left I was still holding right brake and the wing wouldn't crank in. - Lesson learned:if you are going to spiral to break through turbulence don't forget to let up on the outside brake. - Duuhhhh!!!! but - at the time - well that's what I learned.

7. Let me have it!

Dave.
nb: Rick had already learned #1 above and didn't launch but enjoyed the show.

Nothing To Do - No Good TV - Watch This

Last January I flew my brains out in Valle De Bravo - So much flying and so little time to process videos and stories.

As the winter sets in and plans to return ramp up I figured I better get something up from last year - soooo. - After watching a long video of a nice Rampart flight I figured I would grab a Valle flight and throw it up and see if anyone watches.

Youtube limits us to 10 minute videos so I split a 85 min video into 9 segments. You should be able to click through them in sequence as their names end in 1 - 9. You may need to click on the YouTube Logo and go to dnorwoodxx videos to see them all.



Hope this works - the first video is almost all on launch - Good memories for those who have flown and an introduction to the gaggle for those who haven't been. - Unfortunately the last 10 minutes of the flight are missing but so goes paravideo efforts.

Enjoy. P.

Beauty

Something about this video just gets to me.
Thanks for Shooting it Mer.

Bob's Bump in November

Saturday Bob and I went out and put in our time in High winds. - No Flying just an attempt to get draged. We were not even successful in being draged putting the wing away before it had a chance to win.

Sunday was the pay back for our showing on Saturday.

Winds were perfect S to SSW at 12 - 14 - Just what the bump loves.

When the sun was out we got extra lift from little thermic bubbles.
Back and forth and in the end we had a total of 5 flights between us one each lasting over an hour.
Great early turkey day gift.

Saddle - Flying in Fall

After a couple of very long weeks the schedule loosened up just when the winds shapped for a perfect Saddle Day.

XC-Skies winds at surface were NNE 6-8 in the AM and 6-4 in the afternoon clocking N. Winds at 6,000 were S @ 14 - this cross over raised my eyebrows but 6-8 NNE tends to translate to 12 to 14 on launch.

We got to launch at about 11:30 and flew till 3 or so.
Lots of Touch and Go's and Mer got a nice 5 mile out and back.

Rampart - 48 minutes of beauty

Ben just caught a great flight on Video - I love video and my readers do as well.
Here is what it is like to fly at RAMPART!
Nice flight Ben!!!
Click Here to View!

Need to Fly

No one had had any air time - or very little so!
Break away Thursday Afternoon for some light stuff.
Baldy worked enough for Dave to get a top landing after 30 min or so working bubbles.
The rest of us just sledded or extended sled.
Then we went to Bobs for another sledder and a comp.

Aggg - 3 days and no flights

I just don't know how my friends in soggy land do it.
But the weekend is looking up.
P.

Doing the Windows

Sunday at Saddle was an example of a mini window.
XCSkies put ENE on the table and light - With cold air in from the North heating would kick off mini thermals with hard edges and for just a little while. If figured 1:00 to 2:00 would be the best of it if at all.
Doc called me at about 12:10 and I was already on my way. - We yaked it up and finaly decided Saddle was the best shot as Kiona was blown.
On launch were 12 or so Bags and a hang. I saw dust rising from the LZ and that was all I needed to throw in. With Bob and Doc and others if figured at my back for a ride up. So I was off in search of the baby T lift. Out we went - Jeff the Hang beat me off but just by a minute or so, I don't think I was on launch more than 5 min before I was in the air.
The sled to way way cross the road was not hopeful as Jeff didn't realy find anything much searching where we both new it should be. I went further west and was a bit above him in 0's as we continued out in broad circles looking and sniffing then as I moved to where he was scratching it began to come together.
Finaly we were both climbing well and topped at about 3700 or so. - He went a bit higher.
Then out of the lift and back down to 2200 or so for a second climb this time topped at 4,000 after CJ and others had gaggled up with us. - At the top I pushed back to the hill and side landed the west hill and Bob picked me up.
Bob and Doc were clear to launch and I went down to pick up the boys in the LZ.
A good day of window spotting and cleaning but just just just enough and just the right time.
P

Baldy Fly In

Friday was fun - Saturday was blown out and Sunday we moved to Saddle
Check it out:

Baldy Ridge Soar

Monday we gave it a good old try and about 10 folk - many at the site for the first time gave it a go.
Early we had rain.

Later we had wind.
If you had your wind skills together or got lucky then it was very nice air though hard to penetrate.

Baldy to Wenatchee Direct

Two Pitchers of Beer $16.00
1 Rack of Babyback ribs $15.95
1 Order Hot wings $6.75
2 Dessert Shooters $3.50

Eating and drinking them all alone while awaiting retrieve in Wenatchee PRICELESS.

They say if you keep flying, giving luck opportunity, eventually it comes together. Sunday was not that day but Monday was. - Sunday I sank out in lea side trash. But Monday was a different story:

A crew of the usual suspects met at the rock at 11:30. I didn't call the gathering but am always willing try, so thanks for making the call ya all. I didn't want to go first, in fact I was actually thinking about driving down with the prospects of inversion - high pressure - and spunky air battles before us. But once others saddled up the auto response system kicked in and I was off.

Anticipated bad air did its thing grounding 2 of 4 within 20 minutes. I was one of the lucky ones and after a heated battle with mega sink and minor-mega bullet lift we got over the towers for a smooth cranking ride to 6,800 or so. -

I left second, pimped and avoided a sink hole by doing so, and arrived at exit 11 with plenty and caught a nice screamer to clouds base over badger pocket. Clouds marked the tit so lift was easy to find at Boylston to 8,200 or so.

Now where? The wind turbines were all facing east and it seemed that the east wind was building a bit so a push to George seemed out of the cards. Due north a cloud street was forming over the plateau East of Mission Ridge. This street became the devils tail that I was to tickle for the next hour. It beckoned me to come hither with growing strength with each passing moment.
Before it became an issue however an amazing climb/gift was granted sw of the windmills at the heavy equipment training school. Over 5,000 feet up in one climb to 8,400 or so, which started as I was picking a smooth LZ.

Now it was off to the hills - you can play with it for a while but at one point about 5 miles in it became a go/no-go call and there was only one cloud left to "promise" lift in the dreaded tiger country.
I have been dreaming of this flight ever since Gordon Grice made the line for the first time a year and 4 months ago. Dreaming and doing are separated by opportunity and execution. It is the execution that is the act of will that is really hard at times like that.
To go and accept the consequences - Glory or Folly - potential folly met with a long hike as consequence becomes a challenge to overcome.

OK stop dreaming and GO! and off I went - Things worked fine in that last lift under the cloud and the SE winds were helping but sooner than later I was looking at tree tops and nice big REMOTE LZs
- ok - set up for landing - take your lumps. - then a gopher fart. - turn - nothing - turn and a blip. - no down just a touch - 350ft over set up to land - where to land? - a touch of lift and for 10 minutes or so - up a little - further down wind - up a little - more commitment to worse than ratty LZs, but up a little and then - REAL lift and a ridge I can make and AND AND - houses and roads!!!! - then ridges and lift and finally over a lovely ridge on the south of town which kept me flying for 10 minutes or so so I could get my coveted 4 hour flight along with the prize of Wenatchee Direct!
Stats: Distance 45 miles or so, Duration 4hr 5 min. Max up 2,350 ft/min. Max down 2,500 ft/m - Max Alt: 8,700ft
Sorry - No Pictures - It was 4 hours of nonstop work from launch to landing. Check out the track on Leonardo: www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/263105

Idaho

FYI - it is a bit slow to update my blog but easy to do you tube. Every day you will find new video on view my YouTube button to the right. Injoy
Preacher

Rampart

Frank and Sam over Rampart Ridge

What an amazing place -

We had a fair day at Baldy with the crew: Sam, Mer, Frank, Steve T & Steve K, Dave W.
Not everyone flew due to high pressure and hard inversion dynamics not to mention that I ended up in the south LZ - Baldy can be a challenge and up to it Mer got to the windmills plus a bit.

Not wanting to take more than her share of good flights Mer didn't pack her wing in the truck as we went for seconds up the hill at rampart. - The road is smoother when you hike it but much easier in the truck.

At launch conditions were about a good as you could hope for and it is still tricky.

First Sam then Frank then Dave all executing flawless reverse cross wind cliff launches. - I watch and wondered and then went alpine. -

Sam The Man and a Classic Launch

Rampart has two tricky elements - Launch and landing - Other than that it is magical. - Lift was 1-300 up in glass smooth butter to about 7k. Views - well take a look - Two landed at Hyak exit and two at the dam. A great day was had by all.


Off to Idaho with Doc for more sketch mountain launches. Yahoo.
P.

Hang on to your Hat

Big days of summer are here. - I posted a warning last week about very active conditions. These warnings were well founded and produced both exciting and dangerous flights with many long efforts mixed in during the very successful Chelan Classic.

This is another warning!
We have had two serious accidents in the last two days!

The first was our friend Mr. Beaver. - I don't know the full details but based on Dr. Wheeler's assessment the situation had condition related elements. - BIG air - Big wind - Big ?caution? - Remember the video at Baldy with Doug Mullin. BIG day!

Earlier today I received a report of a serious (broken Humerus, compression fracture of lower back following a Big Hit - Came with air lift and later trip to Seattle for treatment) accident following an assumed collapse just after launch green monster late mid day at Chelan. - Pilot out of state from NY. - More info on request.

In posts about condition dangers over the past 2 weeks I got this sobering post from Doc. "Here's a quote from Willy Muller, who died a couple years ago flying Chelan in July: "Chelan is too dangerous to fly in July...". "

Tune up your skill, focus and get away from the hill. Listen to the Locals. Don't fly what you don't know!

Now is not the time to experiment mid day - Come with your full game face on!
The Aussi's are flying 100mile+ from Pine as we speek! - ROCK @ 11 (1,500fpm up guaranteed)

Preacher

Day 3 found

Day one was one big mistake - left low and didn't make it past the first turn point.-

After doing fire stuff w/ top landing on day 2. Glad Matty was fine just in pain w/ back injury that will work itself out.

I was ready to fly on day 3

So now off to the races. -

I got high and tended to stay high - not always with others but always close. It was a fun and quick day one to the next - Found lift and sometimes big it was a great day of flying.

I made one decision that paid off big!!!
Heard from Mike H. that we should stay in the valley and not work back to the hills because it doesn't work as well. So when picking a line I always went outside or toward the valley to the left of the furthest out glider - It worked

Kept it up all the way to Goal. skimmed the last ridge at tree top and dropped in a spot landing at Goal.

8 other pilots at goal and I was last of the comp. 2 or 3 ff/wtec also made it.
Great day of flying and - Yea it is Great - No pic's only flying

Back to day 3.

Blog Blog Blog

I have tried to post several times but with out much success.

One more day left.
Day 1. - left too low - landed in lz after just making first waypoint
Day 2. - Top landed to help downed pilot
Day 3. - Great flight - made Goal and was only Sport class to do so and last to Goal of 9. - So I can Do this.
Day 4. - Tried to be clever and took an early trip to "Burnt" for top up but it wasn't working - ended up 3 ridges behind. Made it to 8k short of Goal.
Day 5 - Tried same thing and this time it worked - Massivly Good Start - 9.5K at start and 5 sec behind the leader - and above him - ROCKIN - then 15 min later nailed at Rabies with a painful landing high on the ridge - Brused ego and left heal.
Day 6 - Tried same thing and dusted in time for relaunch and on second flight came up 15k short of Grants pass but a wonderful fun flight .
Day 7 - TOMORROW - Big grins - Tired and at least 7 more pounds lighter.
See you all when we are done.
DAVE aka Preacher

Weather

It is real - This past weekend we all faced weather and depending on "guts" and "smarts" we had various experiences with big air.

One pilot at the rock said - "See Ya" and drove off.

I had a great flight on Friday but was chased in the end by a slow moving front.

Three of us made our directional decision on Saturday bassed on working to stay wide or away from one of the biggest dumps/t-storms and rain drop the roads up baldy has had in several years.

Returning to the possiblility of glass at the end of the day we were kicked in the stomach as Doug got plucked and sent over the back. - He made some mistakes which he lists on his blog but we did as well as we were planning to launch at the same time.

While we waited for him to hike back up the North wind went to 25/30.

Lessons learned - Big weather is Big. - Margins are ??? enough.

Sunday more than one pilot was very wet after landing prior to a dumper. I got to the hill late and was going to fly until the wisdom side of my brain kicked in. We did fly a sledder when it was all shut down but I came to the hill ready to fly mid-day.

Monday I flew in the needle and had a nice flight but didn't push it and, due to nerves, missed out, on a great street running to the south east from Bill's. Big lift and great streets can run hand in hand with big risk.

When the weather is big expect big changes. - Calm to 30mph in less than 15 minutes.

Wait till it is stable and expect it to change anyway.

Maybe - just get in your car and say "See Ya, I don't fly when T-Storms are in the forecast."

Video of Doug's over the back:

First Day of Baldy Comp

Couple of post - see below. - ARUN had a great flight on Thur.
Pic of Thursday's Clouds

Friday was an early day - Great Call Gordon.
I got off just before a big cu shut down the hill - No where to go but Selah Butte at that point - After 35 or 40 min Baldy started to work again and the flock was off -

I returned to join them and Doc and I were first off for Manastash.
Doc took the low road and I the high - He was faster and beat the development to well past Ryegrass and I went a bit higher and slower and had to turn back west, not making it in time to duck under the developing cu at Ryegrass.

Took the same route that Steve P. took a month ago - up past the windmills then turned back along the foot hills of North Eburg on a westerly track . - Didn't quite make 97 but had a great flight.

A cloud street sat over the foothills while a slow moving/growing cu built over Ryegrass after I left there. If I thermaled the cu would catch me and the suck/speed bar battle was on. -

This happened three times - none of which were fun. - Topped at 9,400 ft on the first fight. - Lots of weather/cloud work/learning. - Not a flight for the faint of heart. Check out the video:

Why SPOT

On Thur - We needed to Spot the big flier ARUN - BUT NOOO! he didn't have a spot on his great flight up 410. - Mer and I looked and looked but no ARUN.

GET A SPOT