On Monday, September 30, 2013 7:32:10 AM UTC-4, Tim Hanke wrote:
We had a soaring encampment in Lake Placid, NY. We had a complaint from the Adirondack Park Rangers about a sailplane ridge soaring a particular set of mountains. The Ranger noted that the sailplane was in danger to hikers walking the ridge line. What FAR's allow the sailplane to stay a loft using the ridge as a source of lift? We stopped all ridge flying for now.

There must be some reason for the complaint. Per the other posts, an honest dialog with the Rangers about what happened is in order. It's hard to believe that anyone would be flying that close to the ridge that someone perceive it as a danger to people on the ridge.

A dialog with the Rangers on who actually saw the alleged close encounter would be helpful.

I am not aware of any complaints about our 50 years of ridge soaring on the ridge east of Dansville, NY. This ridge is tree covered and sparsely interspersed with residences so it may be different than a bare ridge where you were soaring in the Adirondacks.