Spring Practice

Dr. Jack is as overly optimistic as any Northern California soaring pilot on this winter post-frontal day. Despite an epic forecast, cloud base remains as low as the sun angle, so after patiently waiting for peak heating to occur, I take a tow and pin off at only 2K feet right above the airport for a challenging thermal practice session. I hope the unlimited post-frontal visibility and beautiful sky provide the same joy for the couple aboard the ride ship that I experience this great winter day.

The climbs are weak, the bases low and the gaggles fun as "98" moves onto my "six."
With low bases, I'm forced to stay near the airport. Oh, here's the ride ship again with a new set of smiling passengers.
After awhile cloud base rises to a whole 3K feet and I push towards the hills. Oh no, I hit OD and decide to retreat back towards Williams with the airport right on the other side of town.
Anyone can soar in big lift, but today was a challenge just to stay in the air and great practice for the spring to come. A little short of two hours, I certainly get my money out of a 2K foot tow.

Almost Wave

A front coming in tomorrow tempts me to try for some wave despite Dr. Jack's advice to find an earthbound activity. Off to Goat Ridge anyway. After weeks of high pressure the air has grown a haze and the snow has become sparse.

I hunt in the rotor and catch only sink squeaking my way back to the airport with just over an hour in the air. So I wait into the later afternoon for the front to get closer, the sun to get lower and for try number two, this time, the Rumsey Gap.
After a 20 mile tow directly into the sun I release half blind to hunt the ridge. The air feels like it wants to wave as I catch 50 fpm up for several minutes only for it to turn into sink finding little wavelets scattered from here too there. Up, down, up, down, it wants to wave, but I realize I'm still a little early. So I make my way down wind over the foothills looking for the sweet spot that isn't there.
And bring it back to Williams after another wonderful hour in the air. With dusk near, wave clouds finally begin to form for my drive home as it should be quite epic tonight. A nice day back in the air with a couple of takeoffs, a couple of nice landings and a hunt for wave that was almost there.

Finally Some Thermals

With a baby coming, a remodel going, overtime shifts rolling and the North East winds a blowing my feet have stayed on the ground for all, but only four days this year and we're well into February. Again today a moderate North East wind at Diablo offers an excuse to do something productive. The hell with productive, the lapse rate looks good and I need to spin some holes in the sky. Iffy launch conditions at the Tower prevail. Well if I'm patient and take a smooth enough, light enough cycle, I know I can get airborne. I do, and yes they're there, thermals of course. They're light, they don't go too high, but they're there for the first time in a long time, so I work them near Ransom Peak.

Working hard between Bald Ridge and Eagle Peak.
I find some nice solid cores out in front of Twin Peaks and Mitchell Rock, the best lift of the day.
Benching myself back on top of Eagle Peak.
My arms actually get soar as my total weight shift airtime this year is shattered on a single flight. Time to bring her home at a bumpy Mitchell Canyon LZ.
A tricky launch, a bunch of turning, a couple of low saves, more turning, rotor in the LZ and the sweetest feeling I've had for quite sometime. Finally some thermals.