XC for Charlie!

First flights of the season from Prevost for myself, Grant, Lee, Rick, and Charlie

It was easier going through the snow up Mt Prevost today and, although the wind was still west, the cloud drift was much less than yesterday, so we were more hopeful this time.

(Click image for Photo Set #1 c/o Charlie and Lee -> )

Cycles were coming in straight with some right cross consistently with some on the strong side. I went first to test things out and found the air smoother than expected as I gained a couple hundred feet and cruised the face a dozen times or so, letting Rick know it was good for Grant.

I came down to launch height and then headed for the LZ and was shocked to find the massive amounts of logging that has taken place since last November. If anything, we now have potential bomb outs and definitely some new thermal collectors!

I arrived with 1000' over and dealt with the swirly conditions in the LZ as is typical in thermic westerlies. Rick reported a stellar reverse launch from Grant who also arrived with plenty of height over the LZ before patiently setting up and landing.

Lee was next and, after a few passes at launch, found some workable lift over the new clearcuts, climbing nicely for a while but drifting a bit too east for his liking, so he put down beside us in the LZ - showing us just how sinky it can get :)

Charly and Rick were in the air while Lee was flying but they both were higher coming around the corner. Charlie was on his second test flight with the new MISTRAL 5 and he went upwind of one of the new cuts and hooked into a nice climb and beamed up to the limit! Rick also found a good climb but fell out the front of it before the sinking air forced him to the LZ.

(Click image for Photo Set #2 c/o Lee -> )

"I'm going for it!" radioed Charlie from on high.
I gave him a couple of pointers for the route he was taking and he was off!
We spotted him from time to time, his red glider showing up nicely in front of the bright white Cu's and, before too long, he reported that he was high over the Raptor Centre and had decided to land there.

While I went to retrieve Charlie, Rick, Lee, and Grant decided to give the mountain another try and after a big hiking effort (I only dropped them off at the first snow patch) they reported OTB winds and Rick called the day.

Congrats to Grant on his first Prevost flight, to Lee for 5 hikes in 5 days, and to Charlie for his first XC from his home mountain on his first flight there this season (yet another first with the MISTRAL 5!).

And lastly, welcome back to Prevost Rick!