flying again today

[Dustin Hawkes]

Is anyone in the group interested in flying short divide again today.  Yesterday ended up being a little to light for soaring.  I'd like to get out again before the weather turns.  If anyone is up for going again, just shoot me an email.  Probably leaving around 1-2pm again.

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Dustin Hawkes

[Dustin Hawkes]

I may wait until tomorrow if the winds look too lite again today.  I'll just watch and see.

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Dustin Hawkes

[Jeff Salisbury]

I'm strongly leaning to skipping today and trying again tomorrow (Fri).

[Dustin Hawkes]

No problem Jeff.  I have been reviewing the past days wind history and it seems that on days when the winds are between 0 and 5 mph in the morning at riverside, the winds are perfect in the afternoon at short divide.  Today looks like one of those days.  I think it should be good.  I may head out anyway if it still looks good later.  I'll hitch hike if needed.  Who knows, maybe I'll be ambitious and fly today and tomorrow.

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Dustin Hawkes

[Mitch Duffin]

Hey Dustin, Jeff, and Eric.  Thanks for the short little fights yesterday.  Hopefully we can hit it on a little stronger next time.  Fun to try out a new area none the less. 

[Dustin Hawkes]

Jaxon, Sam, anybody?  The winds are are looking primo!  They have shifted already and are looking to be good speeds.  Hit me back if you want to go.  The weather is perfect today.

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Dustin Hawkes

[Westergard, Sam]

I'd love to but I'm in boise and won't be back in time sorry
Thank you,
Sam Westergard
Hartwig Inc.

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From: cacherichp...@googlegroups.com
To: cacherichp...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thu Nov 05 12:25:03 2009
Subject: [CacheRichParagliding] Re: flying again today

[Mitch Duffin]

I have 2 appointments this afternoon, so I'm out.  Thanks anyway.

[Dustin Hawkes]

Well, the winds are looking a bit stiff, but I am going to go and wait it out anyway, just in case.  Maybe some of you might decide to wander on out.  Give me a call if you do.  435-512-1913.

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Dustin Hawkes

[Dustin Hawkes]

Well, no one wandered out after me.  I don't blame you though with the winds at Riverside being as stiff as they were.  I got there, moved a few rocks off the dirt road up to the launch and also some rocks at the launch and then just ended up listening to the radio for a couple hours.  The winds seemed a bit relentless and I continually called my wife for a weather update from the weather station in Riverside.  At a little past 4pm the winds seemed a little less strong, but only a little.  I was on the verge of leaving, but called my wife one more time.  She said the winds were dropping off a little at Riverside so I decided to get the wing out.  I got all ready and then stood strapped to my harness and wing for about 15-20 minutes.  It was just too windy for me to brave it alone.  Or so I thought.  I felt a couple little lows in the winds, but only for a second here or there.  I figured that was a good sign that at least the air was stable.  On the next little low of a cycle I decided to go for it.  I pulled the wing up gently, but the gentle part was only on my end.  I was quickly pulled up hill about 10-15 feet while by feet where about 2-3 feet off the ground.  As soon as I touched back down I turned around and was quickly airborne again.  As I had predicted, the air was quite stable with only a few minor bumps here and there.  I flew for 1 hour mostly staying just south of the launch.  I did get quite high fairly quickly and did cross over the road a little ways, but the winds were just too westerly and made it hard to go far without sinking out and being pushed back toward the saddle in the mountain.  So I flew back to the south and enjoyed the evening flight.  I watched the sun come out for one last look at the valley before it again dropped into the darkness and not long after decided to get on the speed bar to push out for a landing before it got too dark.  I ended up landing right on the road  and touched down nice and soft.  I had not seen a car go down the road in about 45 minutes and was thinking I might have to hike back to the car, but while on the phone letting my dear wife know I was down safe, 3 vehicles drove on down the road with the first one stopping to offer me a ride.  Here are a few pics I took from this evenings flight.  Hope to see more of you out there again next time.

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Dustin Hawkes