Crisp Fall Flying

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A forecasted sunny, fall day with a stable lapse rate brought out Pierre, Rick, Natalie, Kuno, Cal, Charlie, and I to Mt Prevost. Local Duncan family, the Luneys, joined us to redeem Steve's tandem gift certificate and have his daughter, Sarah, fly tandem as well.

Pierre launched first from Middle and headed east, not finding much lift with that line, working what he could find over the lower cuts before landing. Charlie was next and headed west, climbing up over launch in a thermal that a group of raucous ravens had marked earlier (Charlie's would prove to be one of the longer flights of the day).

Next to go, Natalie had a very nice forward launch for her first flight since August and she was followed by Rick who, like Charlie, headed west but was unable to find any substantial lift there.

The sky clouded over as Steve and I took to the air together on tandem and I didn't expect us to find any rising air to turn in but, right out front of Middle, we were able to make multiple 360s and wave back to his family. Steve has heli-logging experience so he was quite comfortable in the air and liked the quiet and clean air aspects of paragliding. We found more lift over the lower cuts where firewood was being collected by locals who waved up in excitement as we flew overhead.

The sun came out again and Cal joined us in the air near the LZ just as we caught a nice thermal and climbed yet again. Kuno was last to launch and he got the best flight of the day as the sun stayed out for its entirety.

Back up for round two and conditions had lightened considerably as the clouds returned - this time to stay. Natalie went first, executing another solid forward launch, followed by Pierre. Sarah and I then set up on tandem and also forward-launched together, flying off with the rest of her family watching.

Like her Dad before her, Sarah was quite comfortable in the air - even enjoying some porpoising, wing-overs, and spirals high over the landing zone! Rick was next to launch, followed by Kuno who both had smooth flights to end our day at the mountain.

After a late lunch, we joined the Slade brothers for a training session at the hill where Natalie joined in as well. Maybe some Thanksgiving Sunday flying tomorrow?