Crestline Soaring Society

Two options for Yosemite over the next two weekends:

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1072

Details: Camp at Bridalveil Campground (5-8 miles from launch). Arrive at launch between 6:30 and 7:00. Set up right away. Paperwork/briefing. Preflight (monitor does one on your glider too, but you must do your own as well.) Walk to launch. Fly! Land and break down. It is still early, you can raft, hike, bike, lay out and watch the best view in the world. On Sunday, the Ahwahnee (sp?) has a great (but expensive) Sunday Brunch. In a humongous room with a view of the cliffs. And if you fly Monday, there are fewer people on the valley floor than on the weekend.

Sunny and warm at 0930, humid with clouds forming over the desert slopes. Basically no wind at Marshall, gusts from several directions. Steady light flow from the south at 1130, easily soarable, lift breaking off all around the LZ. Got to 5700 in 600-1000 FPM lift a little after 1300 and it was ridge soarable at Crestline; fought lift around the LZ to land. Quite bouyant at 1500 and still active around the LZ.

After years of working with the developer, and some helpful modifications along the way, the Draft Environmental Impact Review is out for the proposed development next door. There are still houses planned right in the approach. According to the review that would have "no significant impact". I suppose that's correct if you don't count hitting a house on your downwind.

Public comment runs through Sept 15 and we would like to ask each of you to write a letter of comment and help preserve our site. We've drafted some sample letters, but they're just a start point. Write of how the site affects you; your first flight, the times you've spent here, the international reputation of Andy Jackson. Please ask the city to keep homes out of the approach and have the airspace dedicated to the Department of Water Resources. They own the land we lease for the LZ and are tied to us through the licensing of the Devil's Canyon project.