I'm available saturday or sunday.

Eric

John,
thank you to drive me to the Mustang last week that the only opportunity that I got and I am grateful! I was so happy that I can try it again. I will moving to Phoenix this week-end and wish you have a nice flights !
Happy New 2010!
Irina

Miller could work tomorrow. We need to find out if the road is open. Eric Smith, can you call Duane or your student that lives in Sierra Vista?

I'm hoping for Box Saturday PM, but the east push might be too much. I'll check the forecast Saturday AM.

If the road is open, Miller is probably a safe call, but I'd rather do a brutal hike than sit in a car all day.

I would like to go to Miller, but I'm disinclined to drive down there without knowing whether the road is open.
Eric T., do you have a driver?

I'm available all weekend and all next week, my employer is shut down for the first week of January.

Saturday and Sunday are light northeast aloft, perfect for Miller, but as you say it's tough to drive down there and find the gate locked.

I'll try calling Carr House in the morning, maybe they'll know if the road is open. Failing that, it's either drive down and take a chance on the gate, or stay home and catch up on the honey-do list.

John

I'm doing chores today and hoping to fly tomorrow.

Sunday's forecast aloft is northeast all day, on the surface light south in the morning becoming calm in the afternoon.

Deesperate measures are called for. So how about this: plan A would be to fly Miller. Of course, we don't know if the gate is open, so we leave town at 9 AM in the hope that it is.

If we find it closed plan B would be to drive back to the Gravel Pit for the PG pilots. I haven't flown there, or seen it flown, but it's a northeast face. If you can get hold of anyone who's flown there for information about the site, it might be a reasonable fallback if there's enough of a breeze to launch.

Final alternative, we could explore French Joe canyon. It's generally an east-facing PG site. Again, I haven't flown it or hiked it, but I know where it is and that it takes a generally east wind.

Anyone feeling adventurous, maybe re-open some old sites?

John

This works for me, except that I've heard the gravel pit is a nasty hike and a worse launch.
Checking out an old site would be an amusing backup plan.

Winds aloft looks pretty good for PG Box Saturday:

http://aviationweather.gov/products/nws ... _fd1.shtml

Though I still think the east push could be a problem. Such a beautiful day, I must get outside. Maybe a run and a bike ride.

Box looks too north, too light for big HG fun today, although it could work for PG. I think I'll pass on that. I do have some wind socks that need to go up PG ridge and get placed, though, so if anyone goes please let me know so I can get them to you.

I found a number for the Sierra Vista visitor center and gave them a call (520-417-6960). They said as far as they know the road is open, and that they are normally notified of any closures. I think Miller tomorrow might be a reasonable bet.

Maybe we could meet up at Houton and I-10 at 9 AM for a run down? I don't have a driver, but if we can take two vehicles we could make it work.

BTW, I went down to "A" mountain yesterday morning with the glider. I thought I might see some of the old-time HG members down there, but found only a group there for the annual New Year's prayer service. The pastor of the group, named Gene, asked about "the fellow in the tuxedo every year" which would be Fred Leonard. I told him that Fred wasn't flying right now but would undoubtably be back.

It was blowing stronger than expected ESE on launch, maybe 12 or so, even at the same time it was blowing 2-3 NE in the LZ. So I set up and took the sled ride at 9:30, with Gene and another lady as launch help, 90 seconds to a no-wind landing. Rafael Ramirez drove up as I landed, helped me tear down the glider and gave me a ride back up to pick up my vehicle. Definitely better than the hike I had planned. Happy New Year!

John

OK, Miller it is. See you at Houghton and I-10 at 9:00 a.m.
Terry, let me know if you're joining us, and I'll collect you from your house.

jlowery wrote:...
BTW, I went down to "A" mountain yesterday morning with the glider. ...
John

Congrats John, on having the 1st flight of the year (and decade!). I believe that the SAHGA tradition indicates that you will have karma for great flights this year.

I smell an eagle nomination.

I'm back in town, but my running is taking precedence over flying right now. I know, hard to believe.

Congratulations on the New Year's flight John! We'll just have to get you a tuxedo.