Back in Vail

Hey Everyone, just got back to Vail on the 19th, and Wolcott and Bellyache are showing great flying conditions. Yesterday (19th), four of us went up Wolcott, anticipating marginal flight conditions. It was light and variable with cycles coming from the northeast as much as south and the occasional cycle from the west. Once we got to launch, conditions did look better, but still very light with winds not much stronger then 8 mph.

Bobby launched in a southwest cycle and climbed to about 500 feet over launch with not much effort. So everyone was hopeful. I layed out, and launched in a similar cycle, but began sinking right off launch. So it was time to head toward the landing zone. I felt some small bubbles but not much that I could turn in. The winds at this point were mostly south so really there wasn't much dynamic lift to soar in waiting for the right thermal.

About half way to the landing zone I found a bubble decent enough to turn in. A slow climb with the drift heading straight north, but I was climbing in about 200 fpm lift. Once about even with the ridge, the thermal got much stronger and the climb was about 500 fpm. At about 10,500 feet there must have been a small inversion as the climb got weaker yet again, and the thermal was moving around, but kept climbing slowly with the broken lift. Finally after about 500 feet of slow climbing, the thermal organized again and it was easy climbing at about 600 fpm to 16,000 msl.

Excellent conditions to do a nice triangle around the valley, gliding to the top of Bellyache ridge, getting there at about 11,300 msl, and then gliding back to Wolcott launch. It was getting late at this point, but it was still working. Found another climb north of launch again to about 11,500 msl. Heading to the landing zone, it seemed the lift shut down, but heading over Raven point I found another climb to 11,000 msl. in smooth light thermals.

A nice flight for a weak lift day.

This morning even Bellyache was nice, but became soarable late. Launching about 11:30 a.m. found a nice climb on the west ridge to the north of launch. A nice easy climb to 10,500 msl. and a nice tour around the Wolcott area.

It looks like the weather is going to be awesome into the weekend with some afternoon showers today. I will update on the conditions each day we fly.

Cheers!