Mike Balk lands at High Rock

February Hangola

Sheila Gardner

Friday, February 2nd
Elsinore. Steve Kinsley tried to get some air at Elsinore but had an unfortunate run-in with a paraglider on launch. Everyone was okay. New glider parts for Steve.

Saturday, February 3rd
Manquin. Cragin Shelton tried to fly at Manquin but the 90 degree cross, 10 mph winds and 34 degree temps dissuaded him.

High Rock. Allen Sparks flew an hour at High Rock in the somewhat rowdy, strong conditions, maintaining 400' over, maxing out at 950 over. He then succumbed to the cold, choosing an uneventful south approach in the LZ where conditions were 70-120 degrees cross. Others who flew were Marvin Presley, Danny Brotto, Lewis Truitt, Brian Vant-Hull and William Garrison who had his first soaring flight and first High Rock flight . . . CONGRATULATIONS BILL!!!! Many thanks to High Rock Laura for wire-crewing.

Smithsburg. Conditions at Smithsburg were W/NW 5-12. Doug Henderson played with his new toys WW Eagle and harness while Matthew and Karen played with their new paragliders with Karen having an impressive flight when she got popped in thermals for 4 minutes! Sparky showed up but decided to save his energy for High Rock.

Pulpit. Conditions were 10-13 mph with an occasional right cross at the Pulpit where Ed Reno, Tom McGowan, Mike Balk and Doug Henderson all flew. Ed flew for 2:45 with thermals to 1500'. Dave Proctor came over from High Rock to help launch. Whatta guy!

Saturday, February 10th
Woodstock. Conditions at launch around 3:00 p.m were straight in 12-20 mph with conditions easing as the day went on. Terry Spencer, Greg DeWolf, Ed Reno, Allen Sparks, Bacil Dickert and Doug Henderson all enjoyed a great day at Woodstock with Sparky getting 40 minutes at 3200' over and Doug Henderson getting 1 hour and 3K over on his first soaring flight in 15 years - Yeah!! Greg and Terry flew repeated out and back flights between Route 11 and the ridge. Bacil made the supreme sacrifice of launching everyone instead of flying. Wow!!

Sunday, February 11th
High Rock. Conditions were nice at High Rock where, Brian Vant-Hull, Karen Carra and Matthew Graham, Terry Spencer, Ellis Kim, Marc Fink, Mark Cavanaugh and Mike Chevalier all flew. Matthew got 1'45" and 3300' over. Bill Garrison had an unfortunate meeting with a tree but Bill escaped minorly scathed. New parts upgrades for his glider.

Smithsburg. After enjoying their hanggliding flights at High Rock, Matthew, Karen, Ellis and Marc all played with their paragliders at Smithsburg.

Wednesday, February 14th
Blossom Valley, CA. Steve Kinsley in his ongoing effort to make all us eastcoast-bound pilots green with envy, had a nice flight at a new site in sunny California.

Saturday, February 17th.
Woodstock. Conditions were mostly 9-13 straight in at launch at the beginning of the day but then it was freight trains with few lulls. Bacil got to 1800' over and headed to Strasburg where he faced turbulent conditions, a strong west cross on the return and rowdy conditions in the LZ. Ed Reno flew 1'30" and got to 2500' over. Others who came but didn't fly were Dan Tomlinson, Cragin Shelton, Mark Cavanaugh, Matthew and Karen, Joe Schad and Gary Smith.

Sunday, February 18th
High Rock. The 'cast was for WNW at 10 dropping to 5 with the temp about 36F. Actual conditions were 10-20, somewhat cross on launch and 30 degrees F. Tom McGowan flew for 2+ hours (how does he do that all the time??), Cragin flew 45 minutes with 1K over and Dan Tomlinson flew for 25 minutes and 1100' over. Others who flew and soared were Brian Vant-Hull, Kelvin Pierce, Mark Cavanaugh, Dave Proctor, Mike Chevalier and Marvin Presley. Those who came but didn't fly were Gary Smith and Joe Schad due to lack of observers and wire-crew.

Saturday, February 24th
Fisher Road. Marc Fink, Tom McGowan and Mark Cavanaugh all started off at Bill's Hill where conditions were pretty much straight in but light. They headed to Fisher's Road where it was blowing mostly 90 cross. No one ended up flying.