75th Birthday at Box on June 4

lewsmith · Post by **lewsmith** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:19 pm

Is anyone interested in helping me celebrate my 75th birthday at Box on Friday, June 4 ? The surface forecast looks good.
Lew

azwyatt · Post by **azwyatt** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:58 pm

Lew, you got mad respect. If I'm alive at 75, I probably won't be hiking up a hill in the middle of nowhere to go flying. You kick some serious ass!

John Wolfe · Post by **John Wolfe** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:34 am

Let's get a driver and go to the top. Any volunteers for driving duty?

Fred · Post by **Fred** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:36 pm

Happy Birthday Lew! I'm sorry I can't join you guys, but have a great time on your birthday - get high, fly safe, have a soft landing, and get home in time to blow out the candles on your cake before they burn the house down.

morey · Post by **morey** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:30 pm

Wow Lew- that's terrific. Have a great birthday flight.
I'll be off on my own little mid-life crisis, driving to Show Low for the Deuces Wild Triathlon.

lewsmith · Post by **lewsmith** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:05 am

Thanks, Wyatt, John, Fred and Morey, for the good wishes. John, I could not find a driver (That road terrifies Jean), so I am hiking to the top. I will leave for Box around noon, start hiking around 1:30, and plan to be on top around 5 PM. I hope to get a glassoff flight. Jean is bringing cake and drinks to the LZ.
Lew

John Wolfe · Post by **John Wolfe** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:24 am

Jana has similar issues with such roads.
I'm considering hiking to the lower launch, as I don't have a hike to the top in me today. I'll connect with you via phone or radio if I decide to come out. If not, I hope you have a fabulous glass-off and very happy birthday celebration.

lewsmith · Post by **lewsmith** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:17 am

Much to my surprise, Box was blown out on June 4. The upper launch winds averaged 16 mph NW to NNW with gusts over 20 (some over 25) between 5 and 6 PM. The first knoll at 7 PM was as bad, or maybe a bit worse, and I ended up bundling up my wing (it was too windy to fold it up) and hiking down.
Lew

azwyatt · Post by **azwyatt** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:44 pm

I'm sorry to hear that, Lew! I would have joined you but I had an SIV clinic that got cancelled too late on Friday to get down there in any time to launch.

Hey, have you ever flown Apache Maid? I just had an incredible 2-hr glassoff flight there yesterday. I know it's far away but you should check it out sometime. It's a lot like Mustang but not quite as big, and there's a road to the top! The launch is a little small, but it has incredible views of the White Mountains. It has nearly as many landing options as Mustang, but without those pesky thorny flora.

75th Birthday at Box on June 4

Happy Birthday!