Tuesday Chelan dealt us some challenging conditions. Many pilots, including myself, ended up at the soccer field LZ, but not without a fight. The conditions were windy and the thermals had a huge amount of drift to them, yet a few pilot persevered and made it on over to the flats. I was able to get up to about 5600' msl and should have made the crossing, but opted for patience and finding better lift in the next thermal...shoulda...coulda...woulda.
The real fun was in the LZ itself...long story short, some people had some pretty expensive flights on Tuesday. I managed to pull off a nice landing in some pretty windy LZ conditions. The Flying Canuck, always willing to thrill the crowd, opted to land in not one, but two, trees for a a no-stepper landing. I have video of the landing, but will have to consult with the Flying Canuck's legal team before this footage is made public...no damage to the glider and the Flying Canuck should be congratulated for such a display of flying prowess.
Airtime: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Wednesday:
With slightly less windy conditions than Tuesday, we were eager to get up to launch and in the air. There was a line of Bay Area pilots launching after one another and getting up. We learned what a difference a few minutes can make in getting up and or getting drilled to the soccer field LZ. I was soon to launch after Bruce, Steve, and Brian. I chose a nice cycle that rocketed me up in the air...too soon to turn in, though. Within a few minutes I was above launch and kissing 5k. I opted to try a few more cycles by heading back to launch and getting slightly higher with each attempt. After about the third try, I found more sink than allowed me to glide to the soccer field LZ. I was pissed at myself, but made the best glide I could to the LZ. Right over the industrial area adjacent to the LZ, I found a little bubble of lift and worked it until I was at eye level with the rim of the flat lands. I figured I'd just go for it and make the best of the lift I had. The drift was not too bad with this little thermal, so I stayed with it as it drifted me toward McNeil Canyon...that is where it discipated. I worked all I could to stay up in the canyon, but had to land in a quarry off Hwy 172, 1/2 way up the canyon. I left myself with a few landing options and had a two step landing on a gravel road. Made the crossing, though, and that is what mattered to me today.
Airtime: 45 minutes...
Tomorrow I think things are looking better...
Stay tuned...