Chief 2/23

From: GeneJock
Activity_Date:      
Remote Name: 63.194.40.62

Comments

Chief wasn't particularly BUMPY, but the air was swirling and very active. A number of people had trouble at launch (I was probably the worst) - possibly because the south side thermals were fighting a north wind rotor thrown off the peak. Once airborne (at least in my case and I think others too) we wern't getting slammed, just pushed all over the place. My wing was moving foreward, then sideways then stopping (4 mph gps) in 800 sink, then off in another direction...and so on. Lots of wing flutters, tip folds and collapses. (Almost) constant strong sink until 2/3 out to Twin Peaks, then a mix of 2-5 up and 4-8 down.

While driving back along Nordhoff Ridge, Eddie had talked of 12-15 mph wind having sprung up over the back (hence the assessment of rotor). So I opted to fly down the spine & not parallel to the ridge. Fought with the sky for an hour + & then flew accross the valley and home.