Interesting runway environment... no trees.. but when the cross winds get
nasty here we get mechanical turbulence on final from the multi story hotel
about 1/2 mile to the offset to final.. clear that and the burble goes away
and just deal with the decreasing performance crosswind as you get closer to
the ground.
BUT !!
The runway is slightly elevated above the drainage ditch between the two
runways.. more of an easy swale than a ditch.. and the low level breeze can
create "ridge lift" in glider pilot language.. as it comes up the swale to
the runway.. low level lift right over the runway.. and you find yourself
with the power back.. wing low crosswind approach and "soaring in ridge lift
and climbing".. with the tire looking at the terra firma only mere inches
below.

The "code to be cracked"?
NEVER EVER stop flying the airplane.. tail wheel or nose tragger.. until it
is in the chocks and chained.

I experienced the same "tree line cross wind shear" when I first learned
taildraggin in a J3 more than 25yrs ago on a grassy runway just off the
beach in New Hampshire.
BT

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
news
I'm always puzzled by the impact obstacles (trees, buildings, etc) have on
a crosswind.

On the day ten years ago when I earned my tailwheel endorsement, there was
a 15 knot direct crosswind above the treeline. But, the field was buried
in a small gap between 75' trees and the crosswind effectively disappeared
once the airplane descended below the trees. Even better, there was no
turbulence. I'm still surprised at how easy it was to land in those
conditions.

As opposed to yesterday, when I was landing at a nearby field in a 10
knot, 60 degree crosswind. There was a row of 50' trees a hundred and
fifty feet upwind of the runway, and those trees (presumably) created a
nasty burble at groundlevel.

Because of my widely varied experience with obstacles interacting with
crosswinds, I struggle to pick the *best* runway or landing spot. Is it
better to bet on an obstacle reducing the crosswind, or is that obstacle
likely to cause a burble that will result in a rotten (or exciting)
landing? I'm still trying to crack the code on this one...

Thoughts?

KB