MacCready in the Mountains

"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.