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FlyBC "Site of the Day" - February/2003 Archives





Go to the FlyBC Weather Page to predict the weather.




See the video trailer for the 2002 PWC Video, mostly shot near Tapalpa Mexico. Available from FlyBC in February 2003.




Keara top landing in Mexico , many wings on launch at Tapalpa so I had to use the south corner to land. APCO Keara now certified DHV2!




flybc@shaw.ca Send us your flight reports here!


news What's new around the Vancouver Flying scene.






Date Site Forecast Precip. Winds Aloft
3000 ft.
Lapse Rate

Cloudbase Forecast
calculated
by SOAR8.XLW

Comments
February 28 Stay Home until Saturday Rain. High 9° 100% POP light and variable -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
500 m
1600 ft.
No pireps, but it was cloudy in Vancouver.

February 27 Woodside (if you have complied with the new waivers, insurance), otherwise Bridal Cloudy AM, Sunny breaks in the PM. High 6° 0% POP 050° at 5 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1900 m
6100 ft.
Woodside Report - Andy flew his requisite sledder in the AM landing at 9:30 am (it was coming in reversible very early).

Then at 1:30 pm, I was convinced it was going to be a good day cause the CU were forming everywhere! I launched and immediately climbed to 1600 meters over the launch and hovered there waiting for Bev to launch, but she was having trouble launching. I decided to head over the back to Agassiz Mtn. arriving there at 1750 meters, but there was no lift there (or CUs) so I flew back to launch. I arrived back at launch at 1500 meters and was now frozen (my chin and feet anyway). I was still waiting for the "Launch Potato" to get in the air, and soared in front of launch trying to get down to warmer air to thaw out. Soon there were 3 of us in the air, climbing in different thermals all over the mountain. A red Presta (with Norm hanging on!) was soon at 1800 meters, I was back at 1700 meters and the Bev was heading out to land at Eagle Ranch. I followed Bev into Eagle Ranch 'cause I was just too cold.

I headed back up the mountain to retrieve my Suburban with Derek (USHGA member), and helped him launch into super cycles that hoovered him off launch. As I drove down I saw the red Presta landing, and after getting back down to the Ranch I saw Derek soaring about 400 meters over launch, so I headed back up for a second flight. The second flight was more ridge lift, with the odd thermal but we were soon over the towers and beyond doing speed runs between the Presta and Keara (I think you need longer legs that I have to get full speed bar on the Keara!). One speed run we left 100 meters above the towers, flew out to the bailout on the bar, turned back and we were at the same altitude when we hit the towers a few minutes later! Idiot lift everywhere!

We watched Derek head out and have an interesting landing, he commented that it was quite rough at 150 meters, so we flew out over the Fraser to the sand bar across the river and backed into the LZ. It was a bit bumpy but mostly just windy from the east off the mountain.

Total airtime for 2 flights - 2:45 - Jim







Bridal Report - we overheard two pilots at Bridal, who remain nameless, that launched off Lower Launch at 3:00 pm and were soaring in front of Upper Launch at 1600 meters. They landed around 5:45 pm in moderately windy conditions.

February 26 Woodside (if you have complied with the new waivers, insurance), otherwise Bridal Cloudy AM, Sunny breaks in the PM. High 6° 0% POP 050° at 5 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1900 m
6100 ft.
Woodside Report - Andy flew his requisite sledder in the AM, then caught up with Delvin and Russ from WA State (both current USHGA members and insured) but they didn't get any lift as it was overcast. I flew a couple of paramotor flights later in the day testing a couple of new gliders on the motor. Just a few bumps over the LZ, nothing to climb in - Jim

February 25 Woodside (if you have complied with the new waivers, insurance), otherwise Bridal Sunny. High 9° 0% POP 240° at 6 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
2200 m
7100 ft.
Woodside Report - it looked promising so Colleen and I headed out to the "Ranch" for a flight arriving at launch around 2:45 pm. Cycles were coming through nicely. The plan was for us both to fly and retrieve later, Colleen flew first and was maintaining over the lower launch and when I pulled my harness out I noticed I had no carabiners (swapped them to another harness, doh!).

So I drove down.

Derek arrived at 3:30 pm and we headed up for another flight, but the cycles had quit and after a few tries I was off for a sled ride, following Derek out on his sledder (better than nothing on a cold February day) - Jim

February 24 Stay Home or go kiting in Tssawwassen Sunny. High 7° 0% POP 100° at 10 knots -2.5°/1000'
(unstable lapse rate)
1000 m
3250 ft.
Woodside Report - it was blowing over the back all day with gusty conditions at Eagle Ranch. Andy was kiting for awhile when it wasn't too strong - Jim
February 23 Stay Home or go kiting in Tssawwassen Sunny. High 7° 0% POP 100° at 28 knots -2.5°/1000'
(unstable lapse rate)
1000 m
3250 ft.
Grouse Report - Went up to Grouse Mtn. to do some snowshoeing as I figured the winds would be too strong so didn't bother bringing my glider. Met up with Peter at the gondola and he was planning to fly. A while later from the lookout at Dam Mtn. I saw him in the air getting lift over the cliffs. On my way back I hiked up the back of the peak, and Peter arrived for flight #2! He launched (it was cross from the west) and went back up over the cliffs, looks like he got back to launch height easily and lots of lift all over the south side. As I left the mountain he was still soaring (at least 1 hour by this point), with no wind problems. Don't know where those strong easterlies got to, they certainly didn't manifest at Grouse! Makes me wish I had brought my glider along! - Nicole

Woodside Report - there was snow down to Lower Launch, but it was gusting to 20 knots all days til dark. No one was flying but the odd eagle (got some work done in the garden and the barn, ready for spring) - Jim

Tsawwassen Report - Charles, Justin and Thomm went down for some interesting rides into the bowl. They stayed warm while the spectators froze.
February 22 Reserve Clinic in the morning, Woodside later if you are a brave PGer Cloudy with sunny periods. 60 percent chance of showers eastern sections. High 9° 60% POP 300° at 17 knots -2.5°/1000'
(unstable lapse rate)
1000 m
3250 ft.
Colleen said it rained most of the day in Harrsion Mills, it was sunny and clear in Cloverdale all afternoon. Maybe Blanchard was working!

Lil Nick Non-Flying Report - Got a crew together to fly Little Nick, as the wind direction was right and we figured Woodside would be blown out, plus not worth the current political hassle. Got out there to pouring rain and low cloudbase; the winds were perfect (we could see birds soaring the ridge with no problems penetrating) but we didn't want to be flying in the rain and cloudbase was obscuring launch every so often (yah we're wusses). But the day was not shot; got back to the city and the westerlies were still strong so went to Vanier and did some high-wind ground-handling. (Pretty much an obstacle course now, with the new sign plus the park bench, bushes, and garbage cans around, but the other side of the park next to the flag is still clear.) Alex soared his RC on the rocks, and Wayne B. showed up to also ground-handle so we had kiting wars. Very fun even if we didn't fly! - Nicole

Blanchard Report _ 14 PGs and 4 HGs shared the sky for 2+ hours while I packed reserves! The CUs looked great to the south and you need USHGA down there! - Jim

February 21 Stay Home Rain developing. High 8° 100% POP 270° at 7 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
550 m
1750 ft.
Too wet to do anything but stay inside!
February 20 Stay Home Rain developing. High 9° 100% POP 240° at 6 knots -2.1°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
800 m
2650 ft.
Edmonton Report - woke up to -17 below with a 29 degree windchill factor, so don't even try to complain about the rain! Stopped into Mike and Barb's place in Red Deer to say hi and they haven't even unpacked their gliders from Mexico a month ago. BC is the place to be, and it even looks like it will be flyable this Sunday!
February 19 Stay Home Rain developing. High 9° 100% POP 240° at 17 knots -2.1°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
800 m
2650 ft.
Rain and low clouds all day.
February 18 Woodside (if you comply with the new rules posted on the right) Cloudy with sunny periods. High 9° 30% POP 180° at 10 knots -2.1°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
800 m
2650 ft.
Woodside Report - it was flyable all day, but it look like sled rides.

Mexico Report - WE ARRIVED IN YELAPA JUST AS A SQUALL CAME THROUGH AND GOT TO SEE THE LAST PILOT IN THE AIR FROM THE MORNING FLIGHT GET PASTED TO THE MOUNTAIN FOR A WHILE, AND COME DOWN ON EARS. LATER IN THE DAY WE HIKED UP TO THE LOWER LAUNCH AND FLEW A SLEDDY. THE LOWER LAUNCH IS A RIDGE SITE, 620 FEET OVER THE BEACH. IMAGINE HIKING SKIRT, IN THE JUNGLE, AT 80 DEG F, BUT STEEPER (WAY STEEPER). NEXT DAY WE WENT TO THE UPPER LAUNCH (HIKE UP 600 FEET, THEN RIDE IN A TRUCK TO THE TOP AT 2,200 FEET). I LAUNCHED 4TH AFTER I SAW SOME LOCALS GET SOMETHING. HOWEVER, THEY SUNK OUT, AND EVENTUALLY SO DID I (ABOUT A 45 MINUTE FLIGHT) DON LAUNCHED 20 MINUTES LATER AND FLEW IN PUNCHY THERMALS FOR 2.5 HOURS, SKYING OUT ALL BUT ONE OF THE LOCALS. LATER, I WENT BACK UP TO THE LOWER RIDGE LAUNCH AND GOT 45 MINUTES OF WILD RIDGE (JAYSON, A LOT LIKE THE DUMP IN SAVONA LAST SPRING). EARLY THE NEXT MORNING OFF TO PV TO RENT A CAR AND HEAD TO THE INTERIOR. CAR TURNED OUT TO BE EXPENSIVE. WE GOT LOST FOR AN HOUR OR SO TRYING TO TAKE A BACK ROAD THAT TURNED OUT TO BE NOT THERE, THEN BACK TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND OVER THE MOUNTAINS TOWARD SAN MARCOS. WE ARE IN MAGDELENA, A SMALL TOWN IN THE STATE OF JALISCO. WE.RE GETTING THE SITE GUIDE INFO FOR A COUPLE OF SITES AND HEADING OUT IN A MOMENT. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE AT SAM MARCOS IN ABOUT AN HOUR Bruce - "Stuck Keys" McG.

February 17 Stay Home (forecast worsens) Rain in the AM. High 9° 100% POP 260° at 9 knots -2.5°/1000'
(unstable lapse rate)
700 m
2500 ft.
No pilot reports, but they did get some sun in the Fraser Valley around 3:00 pm. It just looked to ugly to bother driving out.
February 16 Stay Home Rain. High 11° 100% POP 240° at 19 knots -1.8°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1300 m
4300 ft.
Woodside Report - it opened up at 1:30 PM, and I headed up to Woodside with Colleen. Launch cycles were great and I was dancing with the eagles near cloudbase immediately. I flew for 30 minutes and as the sun started to get blocked, I headed out so I wouldn't risk landing out with the new restrictions (I have my USHGA, current member 64132 since 1995 so I am insured).

I had lots of height over Eagle Ranch and spiralled in behind the house to save the walk in. The Keara is flying beautifully now that I know how to fly it. There is a video of my Keara at Keara top landing in Mexico , many wings on launch at Tapalpa so I had to use the south corner to land.

Snow level on the Bridal side of the Valley is right at lower launch - Jim
February 15 Stay Home Rain developing this AM, windy at times. High 11° 60% POP 190° at 36 knots -1.8°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1300 m
4300 ft.
Lots of rain afternoon. I am sure Bruce McG and Don H are having good flights in Yelapa right now, cause it sucks here.
February 14 Woodside Overcast. High 9° 40% POP 190° at 8 knots -1.8°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1000 m
3300 ft.
Woodside non-flying Report - I used the excuse to drive out to the valley on my day off to get the cheap gas!! But ended up driving all the way up to Woodside launch. ( damn truck kept steering that way couldn`t help it ! ) One o`clock and it was blowing up steady at about 8-10 kms . . . The valley however had two smoke indicators that showed NNE on either side of Eagle Ranch . . . . . Hmmmmmmmm called on the radio to see if any other pilots were in the vicinity but to no avail. :( Somewhere out there where the convergence of that northerly air was mixing up I`m sure it would have been a trashy ride to the ground anyways . . . ( at least I can use that as an excuse not to fly and then hike back up to retrieve) - :( Thomm
February 13 Woodside Sunny. High 12° 0% POP light and variable -1.8°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1500 m
4600 ft.
Bridal non-flying Report Went for a hike up to Upper Bridal via Lower Bridal, to check things out and enjoy the view. The road up to Lower Bridal is practically snow-free, just a few icy patches which should melt soon, and the cross-ditches are no bigger than last year. No snow on Lower Bridal launch. Got to the saddle area just below Upper launch and it was blowing in nice and straight; Ian was motoring and reported thermals around the Upper launch. Not much snow up there, or on Upper launch; looks like it's going to be an early year for flying Bridal! - Nicole

ps: what Nicole didn't mention was that this little hike took 4.5 hours!
February 12 Woodside Sunny. High 13° 0% POP 140° at 9 knots -1.5°/1000'
(inverted lapse rate)
1500 m
4600 ft.
Woodside Report - Andy flew all day, leaving at 3:00 pm to pick up his daughter at school.

Congratulations to Andy on being the first local pilot to proactively join USHGA in the face of the HPAC Insurance crisis.

Andy says "It is only 50 cents a day for the additional coverage and it is worth it to not miss a day of flying at Woodside or Hemlock".

JB also flew, not much lift.

I worked on the barn rather than flying with an un-named helper, reinforcing the south wall in preparation for placing the new floor.

Weather for the weekend looks bad locally. Road Trip to avoid confrontation??

February 11 Woodside (as soon as the fog lifts) Sunny. High 9° 0% POP 300° at 0 knots -1.5°/1000'
(inverted lapse rate)
1500 m
4600 ft.
No pireps.
February 10 Woodside (as soon as the fog lifts) Sunny. High 7° 0% POP 300° at 8 knots -1.0°/1000'
(inverted lapse rate)
1500 m
4600 ft.
New Hemlock Valley Paragliding Rules in Effect Feb. 2003 go to FlyBC's News Page for more details.

FlyBC's Paragliding School is back bigger and better in 2003!, go to FlyBC's Eagle Ranch Page for more aerial shots taken by Colleen on Sunday Feb 10, 2002.

February 9 Woodside (as soon as the fog lifts) Mix of sun and clouds. High 8° 0% POP 290° at 11 knots -1.0°/1000'
(inverted lapse rate)
1500 m
4600 ft.
Woodside Report - we got skunked all day, after an hour at launch doing some cleanup we headed down because it was too cloudy and foggy. Good cycles all day but you couldn't see the LZ. It finally cleared around 4:00 pm for a short time but we weren't motivated as the days are too short right now. Bridal was clear all day but the chance of a good flight this early in the season is remote.

February 8 Sumas in the AM, Woodside in the PM Sunny. High 12° 0% POP 080° at 19 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1700 m
5280 ft.
Woodside Report - we could see Sumas all day and the LZ never got out of the fog, but launch was clear frm 9:00 am on. Harold and Frank both bagged a flight by 11:00 at Woodside, starting a great day of buoyant flights. Some pilots logged three flights, all in smooth conditions. I don't know how the Upper Level forecast was so far off, but there was light east wind in the Agassiz area all day.

February 7 Sumas Sunny. High 12° 0% POP 070° at 12 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1700 m
5280 ft.
Woodside Report - I think I may have been the only one to fly Woodside today. I arrived about 1:30, and Tim O. was there. We headed up to launch. Cycles were coming in nicely. It was inflow in the valley for a change. Even the wind in your LZ was coming in from the SW. We could see the "fog line", at about Abbotsford, with everything west of there shrouded in dense fog, but the skies were completely clear from Chilliwack east. Anyway, I laid out and flew, nearly maintaining at launch height for 15 minutes or so, before heading out to land for about a 20 minute flight. There were plentiful but tiny thermals, and not quite enough wind to make it ridge soarable, but I could tell that spring is just around the corner. Very nice! - Robin

February 6 Woodside might be flyable Sunny. High 9° 0% POP 060° at 6 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1500 m
4500 ft.
Woodside Report - Jim T called me to see where to fly and when I said Woodside he exclaimed "but it is forecast to be NE winds aloft!". I explained that if it is as light as 6 knots, Woodside and Agassiz Mountains shield launch and the thermals can overcome the leeside winds (it is always a gamble to believe the Upper Level Wind forecast anyway).

As it turned out, Woodside was flyable all day 'til 4:00 pm. Harold got 3 flights, the first flight he was above launch for some time, the later flights were buoyant extended sledders. Jim T, Robin, Derek T, Keith and a PG pilot from Hong Kong all flew and had nice flights but no one go above launch after Harold. Spring is coming!

February 5 Sumas Sunny. High 10° 0% POP 040° at 11 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1100 m
3600 ft.
No pireps received, Allan said it there was quite a lot of east wind at his house near Bridal, so Sumas was probably working.

February 4 Flying suspended to honour Glen Sunny. High 11° 0% POP 300° at 9 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
1100 m
3600 ft.


February 3 Woodside Showers ending. High 8° 20% POP 340° at 15 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
800 m
2600 ft.
Woodside Report _ I arrived at the Ranch around 1:30 pm and observed Allan setting up at launch. He said it looked real good and would give me a report as I was trying to get rid of the moles. He flew for about and hour and then sunk into Riverside, so I picked him up and we both went back up. I flew first and was getting boxed in by low clouds so I flew out a bit farther and cruised around for about 35 minutes. Maximum lift +4.2 m/s, max sink - 3.9 m/s. Everytime I got low, I could hook a thermal and climb back to cloudbase in 2.5 turns, pretty strong cores. The clouds left us and I thought it would get good but the lift stopped. Of course, the clouds quit forming as the convective activity quit - simple logic. Allan drove down to save the retrieve - Jim

February 2 Stay home if you are in BC Showers. High 7° 60% POP light and variable -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
500 m
1500 ft.
Woodside Report - it rained all day with one clear period around 3:00 pm, but it wasn't worth getting a wing wet.

February 1 Stay home if you are in BC Showers. High 7° 60% POP light and variable -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
500 m
1500 ft.
Woodside Report - we had to go to the Ranch to clean up after being away for 3 weeks, but were suprised when we got there and saw a wing in the air. It was raining all the way out until the Sasquatch Inn and there was a rainbow over the Sandpiper Golf Course. We went up and saw a few sledders occur and Norm and Colleen launched and got extended flights as Martin H. climbed out on his Russian Rocket after getting low over the bailout. He and Allan D won the day with 1:30 each. I logged 1:02 duking it out with Rob S and Allan close to the hill as we all tried to top-land to save the retrieves, but it was a bit strong. Both Rob and Allan made it in as the sink hit and I hung out on the hill longer than usual, trusting the Keara would get me into the Eagle Ranch LZ. It was quite windy on the wau out, but I made it in fine, landing with no forward speed - Jim

Elk Report - Carl and the usual hikers were out but conditions were not soarable. Don't fly Elk without prior permission from the landowners, too many people have presumed that it is their given right to have a place to land, even on private property.

Blanchard Report - Blanchard worked today. A good number hang gliders and paragliders where able to soar for multiple hours and get well above launch. There were locals everywhere sharing the lift and the wind coming off the water is butter smooth. One hang was a good 1500+ over launch, and I managed to get about 700 over on a flight of a little less than 2 hours. This a wonderful ridge soaring site for those south/southwest/west days we get this time of year, and the views out over the sound are incredible. Launch and landing are very friendly. Tomorrow might work again if it is blowing anywhere from south east to straight west. Enjoy! - Steve W.

January 31 Stay home if you are in BC Showers and windy. High 8° 60% POP 230° at 23 knots -2.0°/1000'
(standard lapse rate)
600 m
2000 ft.
Some sun but I don't think anyone flew.

January 2003 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month in BC so we bailed and headed to Tapalpa Mexico for three weeks. Norm and Lucille had a great XC flight the first day we arrived.

December 2002 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month.

November 2002 Site of the Day archives not a great flying month, lots of rain in the beginning and then super stable and inverted for the balance of the month. Even the Savona Road Trip wasn't that great. Looking forward to Mexico!

October 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable some days, great fun at the Women's Fly In 2002 in Chelan. Allan logged 15 hours and only flew a few days. Most of the students are ready for signoff soon to get ready for Mexico trips!

September 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable most everyday! Some scary incidents at Woodside. Fun flying at Ashcroft.

August 2002 Site of the Day archives More spring-like days with super lapse rates, great fun up-country at Revelstoke and Mara, with some good XCs for all.

July 2002 Site of the Day archives Some spring-like days with super lapse rates, but still rather wet at times.

June 2002 Site of the Day archives another rainy and windy month with great lapse rates, some great flights at Bridal with some getting above Cheam Peak. The Clup Cup was nearly rained out but they got one valid task in on Sunday June 30.

May 2002 Site of the Day archives an extremely rainy month with the more spring mayhem, another reserve deployment at Lil Nick and a pilot crashed at the top of Deroche Mountain, uninjured but with a ripped glider and long hike down the mountain. Colleen placed 5th place at the Canadian PG Nationals in rainy Lumby!

April 2002 Site of the Day archives a rainy month with the usual spring mayhem, one reserve deployment at Woodside and a pilot hit a parked car at Bridal LZ, fracturing his leg.

March 2002 Site of the Day archives a few great days days with lots of snow and rain mixed in.

February 2002 Site of the Day archives two epic days already (4.5 hours and 2.5 hours!).

January 2002 Site of the Day archives Mexico vacation shots, some local flying but it was wet on the coast.

December 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, wettest December on record, some good days sprinkled thru the month.

November 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, had some good days at Woodside +2 hours, lots of rain later in the month.

October 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, but great flying at Chelan at the Women's Fly In.

September 2001 Site of the Day archives starting to get pretty stable, more sled rides forecast for October.

Aug 2001 Site of the Day archives Mara, Bridal, till some great flights locally

July 2001 Site of the Day archives Road Trip Month, Golden, Mara, points east!

June 2001 Site of the Day archives Great Month, 3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower! Some getting up to 6 hours in a single flight!

May 2001 Site of the Day archives Unstable Month, 2-3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower!

April 2001 Site of the Day archives Rainy Month, not as much airtime for some pilots

March 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring has Sprung!

February 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring is in the Air!

January 2001 Site of the Day archives - Mexico Flying Trip

December 2000 Site of the Day archives

November 2000 Site of the Day archives (great month for airtime!)

October 2000 Site of the Day archives

September 2000 Site of the Day archives

July - August 2000 Site of the Day archives

June 2000 Site of the Day archives

March - May 2000 Site of the Day archives




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