Final day (7)

The day started with plenty of sled runners under a clear blue sky. Mid morning our eyes were drawn to a five hundred foot tall dust devil on launch 3 times in a row clearly visable from the lz. Once on lauch, conditions looked melow. A few pg'ers went and rarely did one stick. The wind switched from steady south to honkin cycles out of the west. The hanggliders lined up qwickly and launched. I helped a few off and suited up. In the air it was odd. You could turn a good few turns in a strong thousand up and then it would get very turbulant. Once I got over the peak I had had enough and desided to test the lift on the other side of the valley. It wasn't as rough nor was it as strong. I made it back to 9G and tried to get to kicking horse gondola but every tome I got close to the mountain I got trashed by lee side turbulance. I gave up and landed. Doug L made it the farthest at 20K south of canal flats. Doug K was at fairmont, Ralph and Gary made invermere.

Awards dinner had john C winning intermediat. Grandprariejohn won advanced with Ralph in 2nd and me in third. Doug L won topless with Doug K in 2nd and Rob in third.

The next week looks stellar and I wish all the compeditors of the PG Nationals good safe flying

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Day 7

Started out overcast and stayed that way untill small blue holes formed at 3:00. I launched off the grass into light winds and made a couple turns in light lift. Wasn't long untill I found out it was a rough day. It was punchy and small. I made it south of parsons by the time I sunk out. Unknown where anyone else is as I'm sitting on the side of the road right now
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Day 6

Nothing to report. Rest day forced by rain. Sat around all day. Party for PGer Dale as it was his 50th. Had the best cut of beef tenderloin cooked to perfection. Tomorrow looks good.
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Day five

A storm was dumping south down the valley. I was not moving and soon it started to dissipate and everyone started to get ready to go. The ramp was windy and people were having a hard time controlling in the wind. Doug K got a wing high and blew his launch into the hilside north of the ramp. He fared well and was unhurt but the ju-ju level dropped and not to many were raring to go after. I qued in on the grass and got off with some running. I got up over the peak and headed out and soon had Ralph and Gary B tailing me. Do to no jacket and the subsequent lack of warmth I stayed low and fast. They stayed on my tail till the range split when i got too low and they continued on to Invermere while I landed. Doug L made canal flats for the longest of the day. A couple of PG's made invermere as well

day 4

looking north up the valley

looking south


The day started looking good but the clouds soon grew to monsters around launch. after waiting a couple hours a few of us decided to just play a little locally and fly down if conditions deteriorated. It was a rough flight and a storm developed just west of town so most played safe and landed. the longest flight was 50K out and return by Gary B. Fantastic flight considering the day.

Willi Day 3

Nothing to report. Rainy day. Went to radium and sat in the pool with 8 or so others. Some PG's went to revelstoke and got some flying in.
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Day 2

The forcast was for overdevelopment with thunderstorms in the mix. On launch, there was verga on both sides, but the sun was shining on Mt 7. We (HG) all launched fairly close together and everyone got up quickly. The texture of the air was worse than yesterday with some serious hard edges. I got up over the peak to 10grand and I didn't get any better. After having a great flight yesterday and still wore out from that, I decided to go land. Rob and the Dougs (L and K) did spilli and back as there was big storm south of there. Most landed at the LZ.

In the evening a gust front came through and caught Doug L and the pg tandem trio in the air. Doug made it into the LZ unscathed, the tandems landed in the swamp, the airport, and the railyard with a few minor scrapes.

Proof of my new hight record from yesterday

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Willi, Day one

The day started with a fantastic forcast and lots of morning sledders by new students. We all critiqued the students as they flew. One new pg student made some bad decisions and wound up with a helecopter ride off the mountain and a broken back.

On launch later that day we noticed some rough air in some of the pg's that launched. Most got up and away. I was around 5th HG to launch and I found it was rough and punchy right away. I got up over mt 7 and proceded down the valley. Passed many pg's along the way and hooked up with rob and fiona and a couple others. I lost fiona near parsons when she got drilled and had to dig out of a landing field, and lost rob in the middle of the range divide. From then on I was by myself in the lead. I had no problem making Invermere except for physical discomfort. I almost gave up many times due to frozen fingers and sore sholders. I made it in just under 3 hours. Fi came in 15 min later. Rob dug himself out and landed at canal flats as did Mike S and Brett. I think that was the fathest of the day.

The air was rough but not unmanagable. Not pg weather though. One had a reserve toss and got strung in a tree, and they all have pucker stories.


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Day 6 and 7

Day 6
On launch we waffled and waited for the clouds. They were thick and 100% coverage. If no competition crew launches the start times can keep being pushed back. I could see it was not going to get better anytime soon and rather than wait all afternoon on the top of the mountain, I was the first to launch, sealing the times. On one hand, I didn't want to ruin a what might be a good day, but on the other I wasn't into sitting on launch for 6 hrs. I think most were relieved. I got a sledder and landed. Only a couple others flew and most packed up for the drive down.

Day 7
Task was set for 100Km via 6 turn points. The weather was so far cooperating. I climbed out above launch but couldn't get much higher. I struggled to get a thousand over and went for the turn point. At the turn point I climbed well and went for the next one. Milco was in front with about 4 others. This was the day I wanted to overtake him and take first in kingpost. I kept an eye on him and watched him get low. I was getting low as well and switched to survival mode. I was maintaining in light ridge lift when I heard Milco call on the radio that he had landed but broke his arm. I scanned the fields ahead of me but could see noone on the ground. I hugged the ridge and pushed ahead, scanning the fields. When I got low I picked a large alfalfa field to land in. I had time for one circle over the power lines before final. I looked strait down and saw Milco's glider in a 15' deep silage pit under the powerlines. I landed under the assumption that a someone had moved it there for some reason. when I got to the site he was laying under the glider holding his right arm and covered in dirt. I couldn't believe that a broken arm was all he had after gliding under hi tension powerlines and flaring into a 15' deep by 20' wide silage pit. Cathy and Rob soon arrived to take him to the hospital and I got both wings packed up before the impending thunderstorm hit. Milco ended up needing surgery and had an overnight stay. I wish I could have stayed long enough to sign his cast.

First overall went to Ross, second to Dave S of USA. I was 7th overall and 2nd in kingpost class.

Day 5

We decided to head to vernon mt for a task. We got up there and it was a beautiful veiw but the clouds moved in and when the rain started we called of that mountain early and headed for saddle. A task was called, 50K out and return via 3 turn points. A couple brave souls launched into shade and eventually sunk out. The landing field was windy and jeff took out a keel stinger and a few battons when he struck the windsock on landing. The rest of us held off for sun and launched. I was toward the end of the pack and did a little ridge soaring before climbing out and heading on coarse. I was not high and was not left with a lot of choices. I soared a cliff face for an hour trying to get high enough to tag the first tirn point but couldn't do it. I landed with ross, jon, and rob. Tomorrow isn't looking so good but saturday should be a good task.
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Day 3 and 4

Day 3 was canceled do to weather. Went and sat in the hot tub and sulked.

Day 4 didn't look awsome this morning but the odd blue hole opened up and a task was set. From launch to cherryville, then to vernon, and back to the lz. The lauch was light and there were some iffy launches. I launched toward the end of the pack and by then high cloud had moved in and most lift was shut down. Jeff and Ross made it about 20K toward the first turn point before they got shut down.
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Day 2

A westerly flow on an east site means get off early. We waffled but most got off. A turnpoint was chosen from a list but it turned out it was an unobtainable turn point 20K into unlandable territory making today canceled. I got 25K out and landed in a huge field with Jeff S. Soon after Niel, Steve T, Eric, and Ross joined us. It was a very atractive field.
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Final day Lumby air races, first day Canadian Nationals

We got up onto coopers early, but not early enough. Started blowing down as some were just compleating setting up. I didn't bother pulling mine off the truck. The call was made to head to saddle. When we got up there it was cross and gusty, again I made the call to drive down. From the lz we watched 8 or so gliders launch and have rough scratchy flights. One finaly got up and and made most of the task. He will not score well.
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Day 2

The weather gods smiled on us but it was more of a smirk. It was a tough blue day. You had to work to get any hight. The sky was full of death gaggles. I waited untill things calmed down and launched toward the end. I made it 2 turn points but couldn't quite tag the 3rd. This may sound good untill you realize there was 16 waypoints! The top dog was John M that made goal.
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Day 1 Lumby air races

Forcast looked unstellar, woke up to rain. Noone in a hurry to get up launch. Once up there the wind was verry light and cross. A few pg's launched and sunk out. We pushed the launch window by an hour but we had a perminant shade cloud over us all day. Noone even came close to goal. I sledded down at the end of it with only 2 other hanggliders. Tomorrow looks fantastic.
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Day 4

We all expected today to be windy out of the east. We awoke to gray calm skies. The forcasted winds were still telling us we couldn't stay here and fly do to nothing west of us. After much debate we desided to tow out of lethbridge. When we arrived it was windy and a bank of gray was moving in. I decided to leave mine bagged but most set up. The gray moved in and it was apperent the soarability was fading. When the rain drops started falling the dihards packed it in. With the next three days looking ugly, everyone packed up and left. I think I'm a bad weather troll because I hear of all the stories of seven days of flying from years past but in the four years I've been coming to Miles in May we've had ugly weather for most of it. It's really to bad for the people running it (Ross and Cathy Hunter) to go through all the work of organizing to have it all fall apart do to conditions beyond their control. I love this meet and would hate to not have it.
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Day 3

We called a task from nanton tow road, west to longview, then north to black diamond. Good for just just short of 60 K. I felt it was a great obtainable task by most of the field. The first couple tows landed back at launch even though the sky looked great. Doug towed up before me and was the first to stick. I towed up after and and made a very low save right over the trucks. That set the tone of the day for me. Low save after low save I slogged for the turn point. 13K out I reached my highest point at 10500'. I did another low save right befor the turnpoint and tagged it. Instead of taking the high road over the hills I foolishly opted to go to the
buisy highway in the valley and sunk out 5K north of longview. I was in the front of the field and watched them all pass over my head. An hour later or so Ken came and joined me in my landing field with an ill thought out landing approch. Doug first in goal but double the time of Rob, Ross third and bruce last. A great task and a fun day.
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Day 2

Finaly a fly day, the task was set from launch near nanton, to black diamond and back, good for just shy of 100k. Optomistic task given the conditions. The entire field was dotted along the landskape with Rob making it the farthest at 5K back. Ross was next at black diamond with bruce and doug not far behind. I got a good tow into gereat lift right to cloudbase at 10 grand, dolfin flew till I got away from that lift and sunk out just west of high river. I am presently in second place in my divition and I think fourth or fifth overall. Cloudbase was much to cold to get any pictures but I wanted to snap a few of high river.
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Day 1

Goal set for bow island. Goal is optomistic in my mind but the day looked great. Ross was on the tow rig just about to tow when the cops arive and shut us down. Someone must have complained to someone important. No proper aproval from the important people so towing is shut down in vulcan for this meet. The day is shot. Likely the best day too. Everyone goes seperate ways, a couple groups go towing in various directions, free flying. Nobody goes xc. Likely to head south tomorow. See what the weather gods say.
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Practice day

The trip out was boring as ever. I left Medicine Hat with rain, wind and overcast skies, and arived in Nanton with sun and spotted cloud. I didn't find anyone milling around the campground so I set up camp. Just got done when Ross texted me and let me know where they were. I got to the tow site and slowly got set up. Conditions had deteriorated to solid overcast with spotty cumulus below that. Every one got a tow or two but nobody whent anywhere. Comp starts today
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excellent day, I was late

Got out to the tow road by 2:00 and the day looked great. Wind was variable so I set up at the east side to take advantage of the long road. I took forever setting up as it was my first time towing in close to a year. As I set up the clouds dissipated slowly and by the time I launched I was in a blue hole. This was the first time towing with my new harness so I didn't know what to expect. And I had to train my driver Terry. He had towed for me once before but that was a year ago. When I launched it was apparent that my bridle connection to the harness was not going to work. It was cutting into my hips and caused a great deal of discomfort. I pinned off at the first sign of lift and tried to work it but it was slow and disorganized and I soon lost it. I opted to land at the opposite side of the road and do a retow from there. The second tow terry had a brain fart and turned the tension down instead of up as soon as I launched. I floated twenty feet off the ground for what felt like eternity hoping he would realize what he had done. Just when I was about to pull the pin the tension rose and I climbed the rest of the tow. It was a slow smooth climb with no turbulence. I pinned off and found I was in a sink hole at 600 FPM down. I was on the ground in no time. I conceded defeat at that point. And I had to fix the tow bridle attachment point. I dropped off my harness at the seamstress Thursday with a plan. I doubt I'll get out again before Miles in May competition in a week. I'm glad I found a couple bugs to fix.

At the top of my tow I could hear familiar voices on the radio. It was Mike and John. I had a brief conversation and mike had said he was at the 100 km mark from Gliechen to the north. This would mean he was 300 km away. Holy radio reception! No clue where he got to.

I found out later that day that Lief had flown 177 Km and Rob had done 150. Good flying guys.

Forecasting

It this sport you must learn about weather. I check numerous weather forecasts and compare them to what the next day turns out to be. I have gotten pretty good at forecasting but do to my lack of flying, cannot verify how great a day actually was. We had some ugly weather for the last two weeks but now the soaring forecasts are looking very promising. Miles in May is coming in under 2 weeks and I`ve been out only once this year. A crying shame and downright embarrassing. This will change tomorrow. The forecast is awesome, I rounded up a driver, and work is slow enough to take an afternoon off. This is what I`m talking about.

Ten grand cloud base, warm surface, no wind through to top of lift, fast lift rate, MASSIVE cross country potential. Not the best day to try out rusty skills but too good a day to pass up. I doubt I`ll do well but I`m game to try. Lets see how it pans out. My flight plan is to follow the hiway west from Medicine Hat.

SPRING!!

Easter Sunday, wife left for a week to visit family and I was to scrape and re texture the ceiling. I was ahead of schedule, the wind looked perfect. Good enough reasons to take the morning off and go flying. The wind was progressively get stronger throughout the day so I got up there early. On the way I noticed the lack of wind but trusted the forecast. As I set up the wind picked up as planned and when I was ready, the wind was perfect. Excellent timing. I launched with one step and smoothly climbed away. There was a large cloud bank that slowly was passing over with sunshine on the other side. I raced from the south end to the ravine a dozen times flying fast and popping a few wingovers in the smooth lift. As soon as the sun hit the air changed to gusty with week thermals blowing through. When the frequency got steady I started jumping fom one thermal to the other out front of the ridge till I got dangerously close to CFB Suffield airspace and decided to take a strong one to the clouds. I reached cloud base at 6500' at 10:45 in the morning. It was a day to go far. Problem was, I was there alone and lack of roads an traffic made retrieve very tough. I raced for the ridge and landed a half mile short and had a pretty ugly landing behind a hill in rotor. Great first flight of the year. Later that day the cloud streets set up and there was dust devils breaking off in town. Very good day for flying.