One of our newer XC pilots came back from the (NH) White mts with cockpit video showing an uncommanded, 180 degree turn *into* the mountain. He was well above the ridge line, cruising straight ahead, mountain on the right, flying about 50 kts (too slow!). Then the left wing comes up, he applies full left stick as this happens and that darned glider gets forced around a tight right turn anyway. As the glider turns through 90 degrees -- now facing the mountain but above ridge line, he regains control continues the turn until parallel to the ridge, mountain on the left. Just a typical Summer day, no crazy weather. It takes no imagination at all to figure out how this would have played out had the rocks been close aboard.

That mountain demands your reverence, respect and deep suspicion.

See Henry Coombs, Sep 84 Soaring Mag, "That Beautiful Mountain and Her Sinister Trap".

I fly a lot of figure 8s.

Evan Ludeman / T8