I'm not totally clear on the geometry, but if you are trying to get to a ridge it is perfectly classic final glide MacCready theory. Set a ridgetop point as your final glide point, then fly to it as if final glide. It is much faster to climb higher in a strong thermal and bomb to the ridge than it is to stop soon and go to the ridge slow. For example, if your best glide is 53 kts, and you're in a 53 kt wind but have 10 kt thermals, going higher and faster will get you there, flying 53 kts will not. Same downwind.

John Cochrane