Chehalem (Newberg, Oregon) sledder 12/09/15

The winds lightened up in the afternoon but it was still blowing in nicely (10 mph south) when I launched around 2:30pm. It was soarable but I felt too close to the trees, so I left the ridge and had a sledder. Mark S (1st flight), Eric M and Sol (2nd flight) launched 10 mins after I landed and they got above launch and did a few miles of XC flight to the west side.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqBaK3lyoJo

Sherwood bunny hill

Ray Berger mentioned to me about this south facing hill that right behind Sherwood Walmart. I stop by this morning took a few pics and video. It was blowing straight south about 8-12mph. Thanks Ray!

Driver report 12/5/15

 https://youtu.be/X-jgJPhFkqw

At Cliffside today, Mark R and I were the only hangs (people) that showed up. Although it was pouring rain from Portland through the Dalles this morning, but there was no rain and the clouds already burned off when we arrived Cliffside at 10:30am; the conditions was flyable & launchable with 0 wind. Since we didn't have a second retrieve vehicle or driver, I decided to drive for Mark so he can get some sledders in before the wind pick up. Because all forecasts said supposedly winds speed will reach ENE 15 to 20MPH in the afternoon.  However, the wind remained calm for the entire day, so it ended up with Mark having 5 sled rides, and I didn't fly. All his flights landing was by the river within 50 ft of the target, and pretty much he took off in either zero or light crossed NE wind and completely dead calm at the LZ. I was wondering what happen with the 15mph ENE winds?  I lend Mark my GoPro, so I'll be uploading his video and photos later. 

 

1 hrs and 10 mins Chehalem (Newberg ,Oregon) 12/4/15

https://youtu.be/NYaQXkL95Rs 

Chehalem was on the strong side today so only 2 hangs flew (Mark R and myself). The average wind speed at launch was about 10-18mph from noon till 3:30pm. I waited almost 2 hrs till the clouds dissipate by 2pm. I launched at 2:15pm and immediately gained a few hundred ft above launch. I was able to climb 500 ft over in mostly smooth ridge lifts.  I flew for an hour and 15 mins and landed at the Johnson's Ranch (Big LZ). It was very calm when I landed at 3:25pm (2 mph South breeze). The wind at launch had backed down some, then drove Mark R up so he can take his first flight at Chehalem.  Mark launched at 3:45pm and he was able to soar a little bit before sunset and landed safely at the small PG LZ.  You can see Mark's launch at the end of my video here.

2.5 hrs (2 flights ) at Cliffside on 11/29/15

Video from yesterday at Cliffside

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4DfqPbFQbA

At Cliffside today, there was 3 hangs and about 10 bags who flew . It was overcast with really light winds, and the cloud ceilings were below the windmills for the whole day. Mark, myself and a few bags took a morning sled ride, launching and landing in zero wind condition. Mark did a great job landing by the river. It was pretty much dead calm from morning till 2pm and no sign of solar heat produced thermal. Than it started with light SE breeze (approx 3 mph) around 2:30pm,  so we thought it would be an all day sled ride condition.  However, around 2:45pm I saw a few paras thermaling on top of the hang launch, so I launched and headed towards the paras and discovered a lot of strong climbs; thanks to the para friends for directing me to the lifts! Surprisingly, the thermals were even better than yesterday with no sunshine. I topped out 2k AGL got to the cloud base and flew for an 1 hr /15mins. It was getting close to sunset and still found smooth thermals everywhere, so I'd crossed the Columbia River towards the Oregon side before landing. I had a light whack on my landing due to flying too close to the bathroom structure. At the very end of the left side of my the wing tip slightly touched the restroom structure a second before I flared. Fortunately, the ground speed was down to almost zero; so with having no speed, there wasn't any damage or even a scratch on the sail. Everything was good but I was upset at myself for messing up on my landing since the condition at LZ was completely smooth. I didn't expect a long flight so I've put the GoPro camera on the glider nose, unfortunately the SIM card was full at the end of the flight and couldn't capture my almost perfect landing. I enclosed a image of how I messed up and hope others can learn from my mistake. 

1 hour (2 flights) at Cliffside on 11/28/15

Today at Cliffside (near Goldendale, Wash), only two hangs (Mark Rabe and myself) and maybe a dozen of paras showed up. Our first flight was more than a sledder. I launched at 12pm in almost zero wind, but managed to stay up for about 20 mins encountering some light thermals on top of the hang launch. Mark R & I both landed by the river and headed back up again. Then some clouds started to develop on the west side in the afternoon blocking the sunlight. At this time, the winds were still really weak (approx 4mph) at launch as I prepared to punch off (@ 2:45pm) and we anticipated another short flight or sledder. However, it turned out quite soarable, so I was able to get almost an hour of great flight. The highest I got was 1,400 ft AGL. Mark also soared for about 20 to 30 mins. Once again, we landed by the river for the second flight.

Sled ride at Chehalem Ridge 11/23/15

Two bags and myself flew Newberg. Jay Z had three flights. We landed around 2:00pm. It was windy with some strong cycles but the air were really sinky. Nobody soar.

The wind direction were straight up the whole day. It was really light in the morning when Jay and I arrived at 10:30am. So Jay took couple sledders before the wind pick up. The weather station on the west side was showing 5-12mph at 12:30pm. The clouds on top were moving SSW direction. We thought it would be soarable because the cycles were strong (straight up) at launch. It felt like more than 10mph winds. Dave and Jay launched before me and we all encountered some strong sinky air on the west side. Once I flew away from the ridge it was pretty smooth and no wind at the LZ. The rain came early and launch were sock in when I left around 3:00pm right after I done packing up.