Plowshare..., in December?!

[John Hesch]

Got a call from some friends in the north that wanted to come down to fly ridge-lift at Plowshare. Normally I wouldn't head out for that but it had been a couple of months since I was off the ground and I bit. The valley was greening up and sunny with a bit of east. Someone planted a windsock and we headed up, passing Rick High on the way, out sight-seeing with his dog. It was light and cross from the east at the top, and quite cold. I was disappointed for my friends as it looked like extended sledders at best. I was off first and found I had a wicked left turn to deal with but once I finally got the glider turned to the right and crossed the spine with the power lines I flew through what felt like, a thermal?! I turned back to the west and staying clear of the ridge, felt my way over toward last chance, and what do you know, a weak one, drifting back up towards launch from the north-west! I climbed from 3200 to around 5 and left for the valley where I ran into convergence lines. I would not have believed it but when the windsock was in sight, it was checking in on all points of the compass! Needless to say, everyone had plenty of airtime and there were smiles all around after about an hour and a half in the air. It was warm and pleasant on the ground-did I mention green grass and no stickers? Anyway, I would not normally suggest heading out there this time of year, and of course, no guarantee of a repeat, but the forcast is similar for the next week and I thought I would pass this along.

[JimmyZ]

Thanks John for the news! Several SB pilots have been going up there almost weekly and enjoying evening glassoff ridge soaring conditions. I'm thinking Plowshare might have flying in store year-round potentially....


Glad your friends, and you, had fun.