Blowing at the Trail

I decided to stay at home Wednesday until Pete and Rodger nudged me into driving west to the Mohawk Trail on a likely blown-out day.  The forecast for another 5 days of rain in our immediate future also helped push me over the edge.  PK called to say he would meet us at launch.

As expected it was breezy and blowing straight-in when we arrived at launch.  There were launch-able lulls but we didn't want to land in strong rotor in the bail-out LZ or in the main LZ behind Mount Greylock.  So we waited.  (We also put on more clothes.  Pete joked about putting on his "summer fleece".  Will we have any summer this year?)

PK showed up and had a thousand questions about how to use his Flytec 6030 flight computer.  We found a sheltered warm spot and I showed him all the magical things his toy could do.  A couple hours later Brooks showed up and put us to shame by setting up.  Of course, being a local he knew several LZs that we normally don't use that would probably be sane to land in.  PK had enough and left, which was enough to appease the wind gods.  The thermals started to mellow as the sun faded behind high cirrus on its way to the horizon.  The rest of us were setting up as Brooks launched and immediately climbed out.  I was next off at 4:45, then Pete, and then Rodger.

The air was sweet and buoyant.  I cruised up and down the ridge circling in lazy thermals blowing over the top.  I found a nice plume flowing up off the town and through a gap in the ridge.  It provided consistent smooth climbs to 1340m (4400 feet) for the next 30 minutes.  The air continued to glass off until I could easily fly around with just one hand on the control bar.  Rodger, and then Brooks, landed at the LZ below launch while Pete and I played around on the ridge to the south.

I took some video holding my little camera in one hand while flying with the other.

Although it was still very soar-able Pete headed across the valley to the The Range to land.  He couldn't get his zipper to open and had to land using his wheels which worked out fine.  I followed him in and practiced a "run-in" landing on the well manicured lawn.  (Instead of a strong "no step" flare you take a couple long moon-walk strides as you gradually slow the glider down.  The technique doesn't work with most fields around here but does work fine on mowed airfields and lawns.)

Brooks found a ride to the top for him and Rodger and then Rodger brought the truck down to The Range.  We topped off the evening with a quick stop at Pedrins Diary Bar for dinner and ice cream.  Ahh.

Flights: 1, Airtime: 1:58