FlyBC "Site of the Day December 2003 Archives"
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/1000' (stable) | 3300 ft. |
Fraser Valley Report - very windy and cold all day, strong North winds and drifting snow made it a day to stay indoors.
/1000' (stable) 2300 ft.
Fraser Valley Report - it snowed all day, and it scared many party-goers from travelling to Eagle Ranch for the New Years Party but the 40 or so that showed up enjoyed Bob's Pig Roast and Norm's salmon.
| Bob Fletcher was voted the FlyBC 2003 Rookie of the Year, and was presented a Flytec 4010 vario as his prize. He also just took delivery of his new Makalu XL. 
Bob Fletcher, pig roaster and Rookie 2003 (left) with Garry Hache, DJ for the evening. /1000' (stable) 3344 ft.
Fraser Valley Report - snow most of the day with lighter than expected winds. No pireps.
| /1000' (stable) 3344 ft.
Fraser Valley Report - gusty NE winds all day with the local birds having penetration problems flying north. Windchill factor - 4° made it hard to work outside for long, but the barn is all sealed up ready for New Years Eve and the heaters are in place ready to be fired up for the party.
| Grouse Report - Peter G told me he had a great 45 minute flight at Grouse after hiking up the back to launch. He had all kinds of lift and could have stayed up for 2:00 but his hands were frozen (time for electric mitts). Grouse Management doesn't want anyone hiking on the ski slope during the Christmas Season as it is too crowded with skiers. No Peak Chair anymore, so you would have to ski to the bottom of Blueberry and take the new chair to the Peak. Unfortuantely the lift lines were at least an hour long so hiking is faster. /1000' (unstable) 3344 ft.
Woodside Report - we started working on the barn early in the day (thanks to everyone who helped build the wall renovations in the barn).
We decided to fly later in the day and had to hike from Lower Launch (about 40 minutes), but our hike was a lot shorter than Fred Carter's (his Cherokee was much lower on the road up, and we followed his tracks up to launch but missed him).
When Colleen, Kirril, Kelly and I arrived at launch Ian J buzzed us with his paramotor as we got ready to fly. Light tail winds made the takeoff very committing with a short runway due to the drifting snow created by the new launch shape. We all got off first time and we were rewarded with nice flights in the clouds and mist - Jim
| /1000' (stable) 3344 ft.
Woodside Report - beautiful blue sky until noon and then the clouds rolled in from the coast, it started snowing after dark but no one flew. Conditions at launch were light and variable despite soarable wind forecasts and visible high winds at 6000 feet on Cheam.
| /1000' (unstable) 3344 ft.
Woodside Report - Norm, Rob S and Thomm McE flew Woodside and had extended sled rides. Norm sid trhat if he launched around 1:00 pm the birds were soaring, but they were soaring in the clouds! We went snowboarding at Hemlock and the snow was great! My legs are very sore today - Jim
| /1000' (unstable) 3644 ft.
Lots of Turkey but not much flying, it rained on and off all day. Snow level dropped to lower launch at Woodside during the day and forecast is for more snow Friday.
| /1000' (stable) 4500 ft.
Fraser Valley Report - Alan and I discussed the upper level winds and they looked strong despite light valley winds. Eventually it started raining later and we saw no one trying to fly at Woodside.
| 
Norweigan Rescue Report Paraglider rescued from waterfall  Paraglider waiting to be rescued Dec 24, 2003 A paraglider trapped for two hours in a freezing waterfall was plucked to safety in a dramatic rescue at Reinaas Falls in southern Norway.  The 30-year-old man launched himself from the top of the waterfall, but was unable to build up sufficient lift and speed. The wing clipped the water and the adventurer was dragged with the current until reaching a small ledge midstream, 100 metres above ground.  The temperature outside during the emergency was minus 10 degrees Celsius. The victim was winched to safety by a team from the 330 Squadron Sola Air Base, the Royal Norwegian Air Force Search and Rescue Squadron based near Stavanger.  Despite being caked in ice, the man sustained only minor injuries and was taken to hospital for immediate treatment. /1000' (stable) 2500 ft.
Fraser Valley Report - rain and more rain.
| A mix of sun and cloud. Locally windy this morning. High 10. /1000' (stable) 2500 ft.
Woodside Report - strong NE winds all day, a few up cycles at launch but otherwise very cross with gusty landing conditions. Jeffrey did some kiting for an hour but the conditions were not favourable for a flight. The new barn floor looks beautiful after the finishers worked on it all day, there goes my new wing for 2004 :-(
| A few showers ending this morning then cloudy with sunny periods. Fog patches this morning. High 8. /1000' (stable) 2500 ft.
Woodside Report - the forecast SE winds never materialized, in fact we had North winds at launch and Eagle Ranch all day. Kirril logged three flights to Jeffery's two. Colleen and I flew one flight off Woodside as well, dodging forming clouds on the way out (maintaining VFR at all times of couse). Later Ian J and I flew our motors up to Woodside launch and across to Sasquatch Mountain before landing as we were frozen - Jim
| Showers. High 8. /1000' (stable) 2600 ft.
Rain most of the day in the Fraser Valley, we saw one blue hole just as we started hauling gravel into the barn. No pilots observed at Woodside.
| Increasing cloudiness early this morning then rain beginning late this afternoon. Fog patches early this morning. Locally windy. High 10. /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
Rain all day in the Valley, good time for barn renovations to get ready for the New Year's Bash at Eagle Ranch.
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
More NE winds, good kiting weather but gusty at times.
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
Strong NE winds all day, but sunny and beautiful!
| /1000' (unstable) 3600 ft.
Ugly weather all day, very strong SW winds in the Valley.
| /1000' (unstable) 5000 ft.
Woodside Report - Alan, Rob and I headed up Woodside at 12:30 pm and drove to the top easily, most of the snow is gone.
Light cycles defied the 20 knot forecast and we waited a bit for it to build but it never got strong enough to soar for long but Rob had the best flight probably around 15 minutes before landing at Eagle Ranch.
I had a bit shorter flight but the lift was very dis-organized and hard to turn in, and I was flying in light snow.
I also made it into Eagle Ranch but not with much margin. There was a helicopter doing training circuits around the Harrison Mills area but we had no conflicts. Alan decided to drive down rather than ruin his flight time average. Norm showed up just as we got to the launch and decided to not bother coming up as he had to go to work in the afternoon.
I was out at the barn working later and the winds became calmer rather than the forecast stronger upper level winds - Jim
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
No flying today at Woodside, hard rain all day. Barn is looking good for the New Years Party . . . don't forget to RSVP so we have enough beer and food!
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
WCSC Christmas Party Report - a great turnout! and a great venue at the Shark Club Burnaby. Thanks to Nicole and Robin for organizing a multimedia show and fun agenda. Highlights included the Gift Exchange and just talking to pilots in a different setting.
| FlyBC's own student Rick House won WCSC Rookie of the Year awards, shown here on the left with presenter Bob Fletcher and Nicole McLearn. 
/1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
No pireps, but Alan didn't think it would clear up in time to fly Woodside. Vancouver was nice around 12:30 pm but the North Shore was "socked in".
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
No pireps but the Abbotsford NOAA looked promising from Edmonton (-27!).
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
Victoria Report - just like a scene from "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", I had to go to Victoria today. I headed to the Tssawassen Ferry terminal early and on the way I heard there was no 7:00 AM sailing, and maybe not even a 9:00 AM one so I headed towards Abbotsford Airport to take HeliJet when they announced a 7:00 AM sailingwas on so I made it to the ferry in time,but left my car there and walked on. Didn't want my car stranded over there. Around noon the news announced the Ferry Staff walked out, so I was stranded and all the air carriers were full. But to take a chance I headed to HeliJet and they found me a standby seat on the 4:05 pm trip to YVR. A nice flight just below cloudbase at 500 feet or less with some nice turns to avoid the hills on Mayne Island, with a nice touchdown at the South Terminal. A $50cab ride got me back to the Tsawwassen terminal to get my car and I was home free. But at least I got to fly!
| /1000' (stable) 3000 ft.
No pilot reports but it looked like gusty outflow winds all day! | /1000' (stable) 2330 ft.
Woodside Report - I was out at Eagle Ranch all day and we had clearing around 1:30 pm but no one showed up and Alan couldn't be convinced to come over to try Woodside so I kept working on cleaning the barn for New Years.
| /1000' (stable) 3130 ft.
Woodside Report - I was busy cleaning out the barn for the New Years Party and had no time to fly but it was wind still all day at Eagle Ranch.
| Sumas Report - Mark Fraser's dad saw two paragliders above Sumas launch for some time today, no pireps yet. /1000' (stable) 3130 ft.
Woodside Report - Finally a pilots report.
Norm and I headed out to the "Ranch" and on our way Barry Mansfield was
walking down the road just before Eric's house. He was going to walk and
hike up Woodside to retrieve his vehicle. Barry had a sled ride. We all
crammed in the little Subaru and headed up, the roads are good and you can
drive all the way to launch. When we got there two hangies were there Greg
and Don. The wind seemed a bit strong to my thought but it would have some
nice lulls. I wasn't going to go but changed my mind as I need some air time
bad! So I laid out and hooked in, I waited for a reasonable lull and off I
went, up up and up. I ridge soared without my vario and had a great time,
until I froze and needed to land. It didn't take too long to freeze because
I needed warmer clothing. Anyway the hangies launched and I stayed above
them, Finally Norm launched and sunk out right away. (I landed because I was
frozen). All Norm kept saying was "sky pig". But I am one happy "sky pig". I
still have that grin all over my face. And Gerry was at the landing zone playing with
his little kite and witnessed a great landing! Good day for me - Bev
| Elk Report - the "hike and flyers" were up at Elk early with Chris H arriving at 5:00 am! He flew all day top-landing and playing until the others arrived. Blanchard Report - It would be a nice if its flyable tomorrow at Woodside, since Delvin, Doug and I got blown out at Blanchard today, so we then had to drink beer. see ya tomorrow, maybe? - Russ O. /1000' (stable) 3130 ft.
No flying today!
| /1000' (stable) 3130 ft.
Fraser Valley Report - east wind all day and rain in the PM.
| /1000' (unstable) 3130 ft.
Woodside Report - I was planning to hook up with Peter Graf to fly Seymour today
but he was unable to get away so instead Lee and I headed to Woodside after lunch,
arriving at 2 pm to find Don (HGer), Alan and Nicholai at launch. It's great to play hookey!
Cycles were light and no one was able to stay above launch but we were all able to scratch around
a little before finding ourselves at lower launch level heading out to Eagle Ranch in smooth and bouyant conditions.
Alan and Nicholai landed at Riverside. Lee and I drove back up and Lee had a second flight,
no lift but a smooth ride into the LZ - Jeffrey
| /1000' (stable) 3130 ft.
Windy and rainy all day, power outages in eastern Frazer Valley!
| No Gin Gangster demos as Will Gadd just took it to attempt to fly over the Andes! He is leaving for Chile on Thursday night, we will try to follow his escapades on-line. /1000' (stable) 3130 ft.
No flying, too wet and windy
| |
November 2003 Site of the Day archives windy and wet with the odd good soaring day, not many pilots out these days.
October 2003 Site of the Day archives Women's Fly In was great fun, some good soaring days mid-month, most of the students are signed off.
September 2003 Site of the Day archives good conditions until the last days of the month when it got stable. Most days were flyable at Woodside or Bridal.
August 2003 Site of the Day archives Forest closures made the end of the month a non-flying period unless you headed to Blanchard. FlyBC SIV 2003 was a great success with 9 stunt pilots and no deployments or crashes.
July 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most days early at Woodside until it got windy, then over to Bridal. Good Golden flying reports from the "Willi".
June 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most weekdays at Bridal, Woodside worked most weekends. Bridal Air Races had one great day with only two tree landings!
May 2003 Site of the Day archives not a great weather month on the coast, especially on the weekends but a few pilots managed to get some great airtime at Bridal. The Nationals were held in Lumby and it didn't rain!
April 2003 Site of the Day archives rain for 28 of 30 April days, but we managed to get a few flights in between showers. Even the golfers were complaining!
March 2003 Site of the Day archives some high spring flights in early March, but not a great weather month. Still no HPAC Insurance!
February 2003 Site of the Day archives some nice long spring flights in late February. HPAC Insurance expired on Feb 14, so many pilots stayed home instead of getting USHGA coverage.
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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