Wolcott/ October 17th, 2008

So, we decided to head up Wolcott early today to get the full afternoon soaring conditions. As usual, when you plan to go up early because of the forecast, you end up waiting for conditions to turn on. We got to launch about 12:45 pm, and the six of us proceeded to watch the wind cycles blow from every direction. About 2 pm a Red Tail climbed out to the Northwest of launch, and we thought things would turn on. We started to get some cycles, and Alex laid out, launched and boated around for a while. He then got low and headed toward the LZ, and hooked a nice thermal to climb out to about 11,000 msl. So, Dave was next and launched into the best cycle yet, and had no trouble just flying around staying above launch the whole time with out working very hard. At this time Alex came back over launch and just found sink which took him all the way to the ground landing in the LZ after about 30 minutes.

After Dave launched Chuck and I laid out, and then, nothing. Cycles were blowing from the North, and sometimes over the back. We were getting reports that the conditions in the LZ were light and variable with wind blowing down slope some of the time. Finally after about 20 minutes I had a south southwest cycle that I launched into just to get off, and found sizeable sink immediately. I flew past the big rock, and headed straight out from launch to the little knob, in front of the launch rock. I hit some broken lift and began turning aggressively to try to stay in it, after a couple of 360's with no appreciable climb, I began searching, and then WHAM, a full frontal and a front horseshoe. Since I had only about 200 feet, I thought reserve, but still had the glider in some sense of control as it opened up. I turned about 180 degrees, and then the glider opened surged, and began flying. I maybe lost only 50 feet. ACTION! The air just felt broken and unorganized. I tried to find that lift, but it was just to broken to consider, and I headed toward the LZ. The same place Alex and Dave found the lift was still there, and I turn vigorously to stay in it. I finally climbed above launch height, the lift organized and smoothed out and I was on my way. The air between 9,000 msl and 11,000 msl was fairly consistent and smoother. Below 9 and above 11 it was broken, disorganized and turbulent. It seemed there was an inversion that the thermals were trying to break through for 2,000 feet. Interestingly, I felt like I was getting pushed from behind most of the flight, and the lines would alcken if not continuously flying active.

Anyway, sporty flying is always interesting. Climbed out to 13,400 msl, and Dave was boating around up there, too. Dave took off toward the top of Red and White mountain, and I headed toward Edwards hoping to find something on the way to fly into Vail. Dave was working hard to core something near the summit of Red and White. I sunk to about 10,500 msl and found a thermal near the Singletree golf course which got me back up to 11,500 msl. I was heading toward Wildridge and I found a nice climb from 10,000 msl back up to 12,400. I was back on my way. Dave at this time glided out from Red and White mountain over Mountain Star and landed at the Christie Lodge. I continued on my way to Dowd Jct. hoping to find something, before heading into Vail, but nothing there. I arrived at Dowd Jct. at about 10,000 msl and searched, and found nothing. I landed at Battle Mountain High School, after about an 1 hour 45 minutes. Nice, but not the most relaxing flight I have had.

Maybe tomorrow will be better. It was nice to be able to go on a short cross country flight this late in the season and on a technically difficult day.

Stay tuned.