Sat 1/20 The Alternator

From: K Dumain
Activity_Date: 1/20/00
Remote Name: 216.202.93.44

Comments

Good Day at the Alternator

With Debbie reporting winds from the NE to the SE, about 17 bags and a few hangies went to the Alternator. Got to launch about 11:00, still cold, with 6-10 knot breeze out of the east to southeast. Lower flags consistently showed more east than top flag.

Wind started to fade and most of the pilots had sled rides before 11:45. Marginal lift on top. Quality of glide out was diminishing with some minimal lift out front.

Glenn, Ian, myself and another pilot hung out to wait for convergence and or more heating.

About 12:00 some hangies started soaing the RR. Scottie shot the gap and made West Bowl low. He appeared to maintain, so Ian and the new guy launched. Very poor glides out, but they found lift out front.

The top flag began to show some west so Glenn and I launched. Mixed lift on the glide out but good conditions past the slide. Consistent solid thermal on the front east flank. The three of us climbed up to about 3600. The new guy flew out, then soared for about 45 minutes just above the LZ, where Glenn joined him.

Chad and the crew in the van eventually made it back to the top to relaunch about 1:00 as the conditions continued to improve, topping out between 4000 and 4500 in the peak convergence period.

There must have been about 8 bags and 4 hangies in the gaggle at the peak. Eventually the east breeze returned. A smaller gaggle formed over the LZ in the buoyant lower condtions.