More Spring Flying

XC's All Around

Followed by great flying at the Training Hill

I was going to take the day off but the forecast was too good to pass up. Seemed that other pilots had the same idea as there was a large crew at Prevost particularly for a Friday.

(Click image for Prevost Photoset #1-> )

Cu's were popping way earlier than normal and thermals were coming through launch at a constant clip so there was little doubt as to the accuracy of the high lapse rate. Cal went first from Middle and immediately sank out front and then, after some guiding on the radio, he was able to work himself up to a safe height before clearing the lower ridge and harnessing some thermals closer to the LZ.

Charlie was next from Main and he worked the cairn lift up to base (around 3500'). He reported 'spicy' conditions and we felt much stronger and longer cycles ripping through launch so we waited. Meanwhile, Charlie pushed out over Highway 18 and, finding nothing, came back and climbed up again before eventually sinking out.

Rick set up on Main and took one of the better cycles and he rocketed up to base in only a couple of minutes! He was actively controlling his glider and radioed to let us know that it was 'punchy' out there.

Ready for more air, Super Dave launched next and, like Rick, he skied out quickly and, the last I saw of him, he was over Mt Sicker to the NE.

I hiked down to put Hannah back in the van and ran into Mark J. and Cal (back up for more!). Conditions on launch had strengthened even more so Cal was on retrieve duty. I launched off during a lighter cycle and, unlike Rick and Dave, found little lift on the far side of the cairn, eventually heading to the corner above the new clearcuts where I hooked a 6m/s whopper that I rode right to cloud base!

Shabe, meanwhile, had launched from Middle and was nicely working a thermal over the lower ridge, getting back up to launch height on what would be close to an hour flight!

Rick was still in the air at this point and made for my thermal, climbing up under me. I decided to head east towards the Raptor Centre (that's seems to be the XC theme lately) and got back up to 3500' alongside a nice cloud over the Transcanada Highway.


( <- Click image for Prevost Photoset #2)



Short video - 'Skirting a Cloud'

Rick elected to follow and we both had high hopes of flying to Maple Mountain and beyond - we had lots of altitude, the clouds were there, the sun was shining - but, alas, our flights were cut short but lack of lift and we ended up a field shy of the Raptor Centre. Torge had seen our line and took a more southerly one and did made it to the intended field.

Back up for another go, Charlie launched off with a hand from Cal and proceeded to fly most of the way to the Raptor Centre as well! Congrats to Rick and Torge for their first XC flights this season!

We then spent the rest of the afternoon at the Training Hill where, again, strong thermals almost allowed for an up and away but, instead, we all had longer and higher than normal flights with a highlight being Charlie, Pierre, and I all soaring high at the same time! Challenging kiting conditions for Shabe, Norm, and Cal but they all stuck with it - way to go guys!

(Click image for Training Hill Photoset -> )





Short video of Charlie soaring the Training Hill

Tomorrow is my day off. I'm beat.