Several of us launched at about 4 pm to tackle obvious strong wave in very high wind aloft. I made a two hour flight in PM from a 2800 msl release on Pine Mtn to a top of just over 18K in the Mt Wash primary. Max wind somewhere around 90 knots. Max lift about 13 knots sustained. RR went the highest, to just a bit over 20K. Tomorrow morning looks very good for dawn patrol, we expect more cloud, perhaps overcast at midday and good soaring again in the later afternoon. Fall color is spectacular.
-Evan
And here is Rick Roelke's report:
Blessed with wind, plagued with moisture…
That is the story of camp so far. We had a nearly ideal wind profile yesterday afternoon, and again this morning but we had just a bit much of it. I was able to pull off a diamond climb yesterday afternoon, in just under an hour from release (2k agl) to the top of the climb at 19,700, but, nearing 20,000 ft the wind was reported on my computer at 95kts. A bit breezy… it was not too bad on the ground, we just expected that at any moment a really big gust would roll down the runway but that never happened.
We had several folks who got to 18k but ran out of daylight before making it to diamond levels due to the late clearing…
This morning we woke to a high overcast, but a big blue hole behind Washington. But in no time the whole disappeared to be replaced by a lower ceiling and drizzle. But as I type this (10:00) I see signs of direct sunlight on the ground. It is forecast to clear, but at the same time, it is forecast for the 100kt winds to lower to 16k, so it may be tough to climb in that much wind. Tomorrow looks better for sun, but less so for wave. But perhaps what we really want is a little “less so”…
3 comments:
Evan:
Congratulations! How did you make the transition to the Wave? Where over the ground did you pick it up? On Sunday the wind was so strong the primary was behind the Carters.
I managed to get almost to 18K on Monday from a high tow. Max lift was about 1.5 kts.
Tim
Saturday the primary was right over the Carters, such that the "ridge" lift there was actually glassy smooth wave. The entire Moria Carter range was overcast at about 5500, so the transition was to fly to Wildcat, then work up wind at cloud base to the wave window, all in solid lift. Once through the window, best lift was a little behind the clear area.
What was the altitude record for Monday?
-Evan
I think the highest altitude on Monday was right at 18K. I was there with Doug (T4). He started below 3K (I think), I however started at 7K. Weak wave all day. Doug made the transition early. If anyone else managed to transition I don't think they got much above 12K.
I left Gorham before everyone was down so it might of pick up again...don't hold me to any of this.
Tim
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