Final New England flight before I return

morey · Post by **morey** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:21 pm

There have been a number of good days in the northeast over the last two months, all of which I missed due to social and family obligations. Finally, a free Sunday coincided with what looked to be a nice day.

A lovely 50min drive through the countryside takes me to Brace Mountain, a sizeable 1600ft vertical ridge with launch at 2300msl and a PG mini-Mecca for New England. Rides were leaving Boston and NYC at 6am to make it to Brace today and many were already here, as evidenced by the wings in the sky when I arrived at 10:30am. It's about a half hour drive and a 40 min easy hike from LZ to launch, or a rigorous 1 hr hike up the front (easy for ‘zonans). The scenery had evolved from the deep green hazy humid days of summer; trails once lined with blooming mountain laurel and bushes heavy with blueberries and huckleberries were magically gone. Replaced now with tall strands of bare hardwoods, the smell of decaying leaves and a nip in the air, Brace had been transformed in all five senses.

The site log book stated that 37 pilots signed in today at Brace and wings dotted the sky all afternoon. Even though it was mostly cloudy with just patchy sun, the perfect 12kt breeze and apparent low pressure conditions kept everything buoyant and lightly thermally. My launch run was weak (doah!) but it was controlled and straight so I got safely into the air. A few nice 600+ fpm up rides and I was eating cloud at 5200msl before diving into a blue escape. Back around, up and down, in and out. Just enjoying the day flying up and down the 3 mile long ridge, overlooking mountains and lakes behind, and farmlands in front, each of which had been laid dormant for a winter’s hibernation. Sitting nearly motionless for 2 hours in a 45 degree, 20kt wind will encourage even a well wrapped pilot to think about landing. Flying out high, wrapping the Atis 2 into some light spirals and arcing over the large green LZ. Nary a picker, spine, spindle or anything even remotely pointy for hundreds of yards, nor chance of a dust devil or turbulence, a stress free touchdown on the grassy knoll just past the spot. Plenty of clean fresh thick grass on which to fold up you wing. I’ll miss this place- although it’s about to be buried in snow for the next 6 months.

The LZ contains everything a pilot really needs. Clubhouse with real bathrooms and showers. Equipment shop. Camping area. Training hill. Big deck with covered area and refrigerator stocked with drinks (just leave a donation). Hot tub. Above ground pool in the summer. This weekend was a going away party for Robert, the guy that owns and runs the place- as he goes to Mexico (San Miguel de Allende) for the winter to fly there. Plenty of great food and drink were served around an open fire, to end what is likely the last great flying weekend of the season. Ahhhh.