I sloped the Smokies!

[dee-grose]

Well, I did it...I sloped the Smokies!

I got to fly three different sites: 1) from the driveway of our cabin on the hillside, 2) from the ridge a little ways up above our cabin, and 3) Newfound Gap!

Now, keep in mind that what you're reading and seeing here are the attempts of a person who was determined to find a slope somewhere while on vacation. The slopes may not have been ideal, but flying was done for the sake of saying "been there, done that". :D

Since I got several good pictures at each site, I'll break each location up into three different posts.

I've got to thank my brother Gary for so generously offering to perform throwing duties for me. He also got some great pictures and video. I think Dad snapped a few of these as well.

As far as sloping sites go in the park, there are several good overlooks on the drive across the mountain that any wind direction should have at least one good overlook with slope-able wind direction.

Enjoy the pics!

Andy

[dee-grose]

Our cabin was off of Upper Middle Creek Road in Pigeon Forge...just down the road from Dollywood. It faced generally south towards the Smokies. We had some decent SW winds one day that I was able to venture out past the trees. I probably had a couple of flights nearing or just past a minute. I even let Gary fly for a bit and he got some decent flights as well. As you can see from the pics, this wasn't an ideal slope site, but it worked better than I expected. The winds weren't really strong and consistent enough, but several flights involved a half dozen passes back and forth in the lift before I lost it. One flight in particular was probably six tight circles of maintaining altitude right over the driveway. Only contact with the trees was one brush of a little limb and then one "grab" by a really high limb right over the road. A minute or so later, a good strong gust dislodged the Weasel. Whew! :eek:

[dee-grose]

Figuring that stronger winds had to be at the top of the ridge, we drove up there to find almost no wind blowing at all. There was a slight breeze that was tempting enough to toss the Weasel a few times. No sustained lift, so all flights were a good toss from Gary and then down and back to landing...mostly handcatches I might add.

[dee-grose]

This is where I was thinking about all weekend. Winds on Sunday were forecast for West/Northwest at 15 or so. The overlook at Newfound Gap seemed an obvious choice. The sky was overcast with 42 degrees as we departed Pigeon Forge. The tops of the mountains were white with snow. Here we go!

At an elevation of 5048 feet above sea level, it was 24 degrees with winds kicking 15-20 with occasional gusts. That put the windchill down around zero and slightly below. A light snow was blowing as well.

Gary and I got out and walked over to the observation area that faced into the wind. Let me tell you, it was cold! We stood there for a little bit and I'd just about decided to chicken out. The winds were coming just right up that slope, but I was thinking they were just too much for the Weasel (with only .75oz of ballast). We walked back to the car to warm up.

After thawing out for a minute, I decided I'd better at least give it a try after all this effort to get here. I powered up and we headed back to give it a try. Now, where I decided to stand was back on the observation deck so I could have a better view. That is about 50-60 feet back from the lip. I figured Gary could get a good enough toss to get me up and out into the lift. I was almost right.

The first couple of tosses ended up getting forced to the ground by the whipping rotors or whatever back behind the lip. The second flight ended up against the rock wall on the far side of the road. Gary retrieved it and tossed it from there for the third and final flight.

Man, when he tossed it that last time, it went up like a rocket! It was the strongest wind I'd flown in by far. The Weasel held its own though. I flew back and forth a little but mostly held it into the wind. I did a few rolls just in case anybody happened to be watching.

Unfortunately, I'd made the mistake of taking off my right glove for the flights. About a minute into the third flight (just when I was getting a little comfortable), I realized my hand was getting so cold I could barely feel the stick. I tried to let Gary take the stick for a second while I put my glove on, but I was too nervous we'd lose it, so I just flew for another minute or so. I doubt the flight lasted five minutes.

Now it was time to land. I decided the best landing approach would be a big swooping left turn back over the parking lot and back into the wind to land it near the observation deck in the snowy grass. It went as planned until on final the Weasel was way too fast. Go around! Another left turn made it most of the way around and then I kinda forced it into the ground before it leveled out. The whipping wind flipped it backwards a time or two and it came to rest propped up agains one of the orange cones that marked the ice. It almost got blown off the backside into North Carolina!

I decided that was enough and I was lucky to have my plane and even luckier to still have my fingers and thumb still attached to my right hand.

So, in closing, if you ever go to the Smokies, take a sloper just in case. Oh, and I'd advise doing so when it ain't so c-c-cold!

Hope you enjoyed it...

Andy

[GLIDERGIDER]

This is where I was thinking about all weekend. Winds on Sunday were forecast for West/Northwest at 15 or so. The overlook at Newfound Gap seemed an obvious choice. The sky was overcast with 42 degrees as we departed Pigeon Forge. The tops of the mountains were white with snow. Here we go!
<big snip>
So, in closing, if you ever go to the Smokies, take a sloper just in case. Oh, and I'd advise doing so when it ain't so c-c-cold!
Andy
Andy,
It's good to have you back. Thanks for the pics and the post. I will definately take a sloper should I go to the smokes.
Dave

[ghee-grose]

The sloping on our vacation was definitely fun! My right arm is still pretty sore from all the weasel chucking, but I think it was worth it. :D

The pictures turned out real nice. I'm surprised I got any at all up on the Gap cause I was shivering so bad and the lens was fogging/freezing over.

[dee-grose]

So, Dave, would you have tossed it up there? :D

[GLIDERGIDER]

Andy and Gary,
I'm impressed, I was just looking at those pictures again. You are the man, thats all I can say, to brave that cold weather for a slope session. I'm sure there will be more of those opportunities here in Hsv soon. So keep that cold weather gear handy.
Dave

[Mars Flyer]

Andy,

You guys are hard core slopers. Sloper frostbite may be a new kind of injury.

You got me thinking about other good vacation slope sites. How about Stone Mountain, GA? Or just about any bluff on Lookout Mountain, TN and GA? I'll bet the Grand Canyon would have some nice lift. I used to do research at an observatory on a mesa in New Mexico. It had 1000 ft steep cliffs on 3 sides. I've watched a hawk slope soar there for an hour without flapping his wings once.

You need to start putting tourist stickers from your flying locations on the bird.

Rob

[GLIDERGIDER]

So, Dave, would you have tossed it up there? :D
What do you think? I think Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't get the Elvis leg going, at the moment before the first throw, and during the first 5 minutes of that flight.

[dee-grose]

Good idea, Rob! I'm gonna break out the Sharpie and mark up the Weasel.

Dave...Elvis leg! Ha! I was so worried about my block-of-ice hand I couldn't tell you what my legs were doing at the time!

[Tram]

Nicce looking pics.. :) Me and the fiance' will be heading to the smokies the end of this month..

[atjurhs]

You guys ROCK!

You need to post your pics in the "Slope" section of RCGroups. You're playing with the big boys now. Those SoCal Surf Bums ain't got nothing on you two.

[dee-grose]

Glad you guys like the pics.

I did post a link to this thread in a thread I started in the Slope forum.

[dleviner]

Ahhhhh....
Love those pics. Those are our "stomping grounds".

Next time your out there in maybe late spring or early fall try Clingman's Dome or Silers Bald. Those would be great places to slope as well.

[dee-grose]

Just wanted to post a couple of pics from this year's trip. Took the Weasel along and got to fly for a few minutes. Not great slope conditions, but it was the best we could find.

These were taken just down the road from our cabin on a NNW-facing slope. Kinda tight! :D

EDIT: Photo credits to Dad and Gary.

Andy

[dleviner]

Awesome Andy!!!

So did you try Clingman's Dome or Silers Bald this year?

[dee-grose]

Nope...didn't have much time and there wasn't an abundance of wind either. Maybe another time. I got tons more pictures of the Weasel and the SlowStick. I'll post a few of the SS over in the the Let's Go Flying thread.

Andy

[ghee-grose]

Hmmm... who took all these cool pictures???

[ghee-grose]

Notice the difference in his clothes from last year to this year. :D

[aeris316]

Nice view!! We all know Andy's true intention when he goes on vacation.... :D

[IBCrazy]

Andy, you're a true hardcore sloper. I just went out Sunday to fly when it was 6 degrees out. I only lasted 2 minutes before I couldn't feel my face. I decided it was a dumb idea and went inside.

[SYAWLA INVERTED]

Notice the difference in his clothes from last year to this year. :D


Dare I say it.......Global Warming :rolleyes:

[dee-grose]

The weather forecast was looking great for our annual trip to the Smokies last weekend...great for vacation that is, but not so great for sloping. The winds were forecast to be 5mph or less all weekend. I took my Weasel just in case. I ended up flying at a site that was actually private property, but I had the owner's permission.

These pictures were made during the morning when we found the place. I almost didn't toss it then because the wind was so light. Standing on the crest of the hill, I could barely feel any wind in my face. Occasionally, a "gust" of 5mph or so would come thru. Most of the 15 minutes or so of flying that morning consisted of hefty tosses by Gary followed by a few passes back and forth then an approach to landing (sometimes a nice handcatch). There was one flight where I got out and up enough to stay aloft for a few minutes. Considering the steepness of the slope and the slim chance of recovery if I landed down, I played it rather safe.

That afternoon we went back for more. The wind was a little stronger, but not by much. I got several long flights and was able to climb up a couple hundred feet or so out away from the slope. Toward the end of the session as the sun was starting to set, things started getting crazy and I found myself doing high-speed dives at the hill and seeing how many weed tops I could clip. Man, it was funny.

A nice-flying plane, good weather, my brothers and Dad, and unbeatable scenery made for an unforgettable slope experience. :D

Enjoy the pics!

Andy

[brivers]

LOL, wish I had known you were in the Smokies last weekend, I was there too!

Do you have any preferred sites in the Smokies? We go there quite often, and it would be nice to pre-plan some sloping for next time (assuming I have a glider the next time I go).

[GLIDERGIDER]

Andy,
Very nice.

So many hills, so many trees. We need more of the first and less of the second.
Dave

[dleviner]

cool Andy. Which "bald" were you on???

[dee-grose]

Brian, we were actually there Nov 9-12...I was just late getting the post up here.

David (Cousins), thanks. We don't have the best slopes around here, but we sure make do with what we got, right? I still wish you could have joined me last Thursday.

David (Leviner), this was in somebody's yard, not up on one of the big balds. Speaking of balds, have you ever been to Gregory Bald? Man, it would be a sweet place to slope, but man, what a hike to get there!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Bald

Maybe one day!

Andy

[dleviner]

Andy, you guys need to go up to Table Rock in SC. It's about 50 miles South of where you were in the Smokies off of Hwy 11.

[GLIDERGIDER]

Table mountian looks like a long hike.

Another mountain in the same area has parking at the top. Check it out here.

I know, a pipe dream