Solo slacker steals the candy on Halloween

On Friday, October 31, Halloween day was all treats, no tricks for sole slacker Lane. A rare light and local schedule Friday made available this terrific late season treat. Here's the story...

 My work schedule sent me to a jobsite in Pike, NH. While there, "skyballing" the morning weather began revealing an ever more interesting sky...long, streety cloud banks, both sharp-edged and convective looking, separated by "windows" of blue sky. As the morning wore on these conditions persisted to where I finally called Rick to enquire of his towing availability. "Come on over!" was the welcomed response.

Arriving at Post Mills, we were staged by 1 PM and ready to launch the 1-23. By then, things were looking somewhat less desirable with cloud growth producing more shading of the weakening October sun. After a lengthy discussion about where and how high (or even whether to delay the launch), the decision was made to go now. So off we went, intending to take a high tow up between two cloud banks north of West Fairlee. Climbing in this area, it quickly became evident that we were ascending into a box canyon of clouds. This was an exhilarating tow with highly banked turns to keep within the confines of the cloud corral. Upon release, I began exploring the edges only to find smooth 1 and 2 knots down. Two circuits brought me to where I could duck under the dark cloud bottoms...and that's where the fun began.

Under this menacingly dark gray cloud band, I discovered abundant lift of from 1 or 2 knots to as much as 7 knots!
There was a patch of sunny ground on the copper mine and as the flight developed, I began to associate this lift with any sunny ground, as wane as it might have looked. Up near cloud base, any section of the cloud that had a feature, such as concave bottom, or was extra dark or had a patch of swirly smoke underneath, usually meant strong lift. At cloud base, it often took thermaling at 80 mph to keep from being sucked up into the cloud!

After a while of this I was satisfied that I could leave the West Fairlee area and explore around a little. I headed south over Tug Mountain, mostly in light sink until at the south end I caught more rising air. A few turns in, I decided to light out for the east ridge where there was more abundant sunshine.

Arriving there at 3000AGL, I found choppy air that confirmed what I had learned earlier: any sunny ground was producing lift. I had several 2000 - 3000 foot climbs back up to the cloud bases at 5200 feet. In one thermal I caught up with 2 red tailed hawks and circled with them for a short while.

I decided to try crossing the Connecticut River over to the Orford , New Hampshire area where there was another patch of sunny ground. Arriving on the fringe of that area with 4000 AGL, I decided that prudence dictated turning back towards Vermont rather than pushing things looking for lift. A retrieve just would have put a damper on what was turning out to be a thrilling, unexpected late season gift. Back over the east ridge at 2000 AGL, I encountered the same results as before - light but workable lift that began to scratch me back up. I'm sure I could have regained cloud base again and really wanted to because I had a strong desire to explore an area of open sky to the south with some of the last sunshine bearing on the ground and a sharp edged cloud band on the far side of it.

But alas, by this time my bladder was threatening to explode and I was forced to terminate further exploration. 80 MPH back to the airport soon burned off excess altitude and saw me at pattern entry height. A long, smooth pattern ensued (at no time in the flight was it ever very turbulent nor did I find much by way of really sinky patches), followed by the best feather light touchdown of my season. I taxed up to the trailer area and to my surprise, was met there by Rick sitting in the golf cart. After a quick visit to the bushes I came back and gave Juliet a kiss on the nose and considered giving Rick one too. Flight time was 2 hours even.

My thanks to the sweetest glider I've ever flown, 3Juliet, and Rick Sheppe for being a friend, a tow pilot, available, and living across the street from the airport.

If this be the final flight of the season, it was a beaut!