Working Class... (July 30th)

Today was a day for the "working class".  My turn to run the rig, Mia and Mike were up on the flight line.  Forecast was not quite as good as yesterday but it was likely there would be a SW aloft to make things a challenge. (XC sky's, top of lift 7-8000asl... blue winds 8-12mph top of lift)

At 1pm, Mia took the first tow, 2000 ft, pinned off into good lift and was on here way. Mike was right behind (1700 ft tow) and had to back track a bit to connect but also was into lift and on his way. Plans where more or less to head to Waterville, then.... well what ever?

Soon, it was pretty obvious that XC Sky's was "off" with the wind and both of my intrepid pilots where complaining about 14mph winds at 7500 . Even on a rigid, enough to dampen your progress. Slow climbs and broken lift where also not helping the task.  Still progress to the west was being made and Mike had taken the lead as the two of them approached the West end of Hwy172.  With a little determination, both Mia and Mike consistently started to break through 8000asl (later getting as high as 9800asl... at that altitude winds were getting as high a 22mph! out of the WSW).

Mike made it within a few miles of Waterville, Mia decided to turn near her favourite Tohler Road TP with a low save over the Gravel yard west of Farmer.  Mike decided to try and fly East to get a FAI triangle (100+) Mia decided to head back to the tow site. Both found that the lift was getting weak and the day appeared to be coming to a close . Mia had a good landing back at the start point (84km flat triangle), Mike got desperately low (3500asl)  near Adams Butte 25 miles south but still managed to scratch his way north, with hard fought climbs to 5000asl ending with his first (good) out-landing 6 miles south of Mia (ended with a 102 km's worth of a FAI triangle). Both pilots were smiling with 4hours of airtime.  (Mia gives two "thumbs up" for today's tow services):

Links to today's flights: Mia and Mike.

After our trip down to Park Lake, we learned that nobody got away from Chelan Butte and hardly anybody got over 4500 asl. Odd... as the forecast showed that things should have been much better?.....

Today, July 31st, looked windy and we decided to pull the pin on the day (weather on the coast). There were good Q's and 15 -20 mph winds... so no opportunities to do any sort of out and returns. For a change we will head into Blue Lagoon (Chelan Falls) and go for Dinner at Cambell's in Chelan. Less wind in the forecast for tomorrow.