"Tom Seim"
If you haven't flown western mountains you've got to try it. It is
soaring at its ultimate. We are talking about big mountains and big
sky; 15 kt thermals to 18K. And you Nevada guys: you haven't lived
until you have ridge soared Mt. Ranier! Eat your hearts out!

I agree. Glad I had a chance to fly some comps at Minden and Livingston MT.
I've always thought that competitive soaring is the most *efficient* way to
experience different sites. The schedule and tasking drives you to fly to
places and on days you might otherwise opt for a beer.

Of course, a part of your life is yet to be lived unless you've ridge soared
the appalachians. Post frontal 30 knot wind out of the northwest can give
you the choice on a single cc flight of a good pounding 20' from the trees,
10+ knot thermals about a wingspan wide, and wave. You never get as high or
as strong as out west but redlining a wingspan from the ridge and less than
1,000 feet over the tree covered valley can curl the hairs on your neck just
the same.

Of course there is a certain joy in waking up in Uvalde to a cool overcast
morning that turns into the 10th straight day of horizon to horizon cloud
streets. Boring? Nah.