Be safe Zane.

All packed including IFR charts wheels up a 0500. I'll be listening for you Zane. Or anyone else on 122.75.
Happy landings.
Tom

I'm planning to come to JC thursday midday. Cathy is planning to come Friday with our friends, the Kandles.
Steve

Hey everyone.

We woke up this morning in Orcas to find a forecast of lower ceilings and rain for tonight and tomorrow. So, we ran over to Friday Harbor for lunch whileof we waited for the latest forecast to come out. The wind was already blowing 15 kts. Smooth flying though. Got back after lunch and decided to get while the getting was good. 1,500 ft ceilings in the Seattle area for a short time, 2,000-2,500 the rest of the way. Fueled in Scappoose. Zane, we thought of you as we flew by PDX and TTD. The winds were cranking in the Gorge, but it was smooth. Cascade Locks was reporting 25G35. Saw 150 kt GS for a good part of the way through. A few bumps as we headed south prior to DLS.

We got to Madras, grabbed Rob's car, and are now chilling in his place. Thanks again Rob! You have a nice place here. Hope you don't mind we came a day early. Everything is set for tomorrow at Cowboy Dinner Tree. Spoke to Mark and he said no problem. It's Adam's birthday tomorrow, so we will take him to the lake before a big dinner.

Fly safe everyone and see you on Friday!

I'm trying to leave early Fri from central WA.....Fuel stop.....somewhere. Grangeville, mebe, or New Meadows. Depends on how lost I get.....
Which meal/meals are potluck so I can bring something presentable?
(instead of granola bars, apples, sandwiches, etc-what I do for me)

Looking forward to JC
Watch out for NORDO
lc

Wx sucks from Roseburg through the Cascades, IFR with mod terb. below 15K, tops 10K.
FSS says were looking better later today. I'll be watching for an afternoon departure now.
Hopefully see you guys this evening.
Tom

Thunderstorms and low clouds in Jackson this morning.. I am still planning for a 5 am launch tomorrow.. Hopefully it won't look like todays weather...

Ben.

Great weather in McCall and JC this am

Mostly clear on this side of the Cascades. So glad we got over here today. Now I know what Rob is talking about when he makes his run over here to avoid Wx that arts in the PDX area.

Area forecast discussion...corrected
National Weather Service Boise Idaho
311 am MDT Thursday Jun 23 2011


Short term...today through Friday...thunderstorms from last
evening have moved to the northeast with radar showing lingering
showers along the Idaho/Nevada border. A Pacific cold front is
still on track to move over the region today. This cold front will
be on the dry side with little to no precipitation. So far this
morning no precipitation is showing up on radars in Oregon but
enough low level moisture ahead of the front combined with
instability and low level convergence still supports a mention of
showers and thunderstorms ahead and with the front. Best chance
for any precipitation will be over the central mountains of Idaho.
Cooling temperatures today through Friday as the upper level
trough moves into the Pacific northwest. Temperatures will cool
the most today over southeast Oregon. High temperatures today
ahead of the front in the Magic Valley will be around 6 degrees
cooler than yesterday while southeast Oregon will be 10 to 15
degrees cooler than highs on Wednesday. Lingering showers over the
central mountains of Idaho tonight as the cold front continues to
move to the east. Dry but cool conditions on Friday as the upper
level trough weakens and a dry zonal flow sets up over the region.


Long term...Friday night through Thursday...a broad upper level
trough will be the dominate feature through the weekend with
suppressed heights and generally dry weather. Models in good
agreement and temperatures expected to average slightly below
normal. A transient upper ridge will then build over the area early
next week with slightly warmer temperatures but continued dry
weather. Temperatures in this period look to be close to normal
values and models still in good agreement. Differences arise by the
middle of next week with the European model (ecmwf) showing the expansive hot upper
ridge over the southern U.S. Moving west and northward toward our
region while on the other hand the GFS shows yet another upper
trough over the Pacific northwest while holding the Bermuda ridge in
place to the south of our forecast area. Recent patterns and trends
says the GFS will be correct with the cooler temperatures...yet the
European model (ecmwf) with the building upper ridge reveals a more normal Summer
pattern taking shape and closer to climatology for late June. Due to
these uncertainties...we will take a blend of the two solutions but
skewed toward climatology. The climate prediction center seems to agree
that temperatures just west of our area will be below normal closer
to the upper trough while just east of Idaho will lie warmer
temperatures similar to what the European model shows.


&&


Aviation...widespread VFR. A cold front will move through eastern
Oregon this morning and southwest Idaho early this afternoon. Expect
isolated thunderstorms to redevelop along and ahead of front after
18z east of a kmyl-kboi line. Breezy conditions behind front with
west to northwest surface winds 10 to 20 knots gusting to 30 knots.
Gusts up to 40 knots in and near cumulonimbus activity. Clearing all areas
after 00z. Moderate west winds aloft 15 to 25 knots.

Having never been in the Idaho backcountry, I have a question for the landing judges.
What's the earliest one could expect to get in to JC in the afternoon/evening? And what's the optimal arrival time after the mid-day winds die down?
Thanks
Tom

Trying to get out KAWO tomorrow morning, but..... weather is crappy here. Those weather guys are liars!

Anyhow, may have to try South and then an end around through the gorge. Crossing my fingers now!

TomW wrote:Having never been in the Idaho backcountry, I have a question for the landing judges.
What's the earliest one could expect to get in to JC in the afternoon/evening? And what's the optimal arrival time after the mid-day winds die down?
Thanks
Tom

Tom,

Last Saturday we departed JC at 6:30am to go play, the valley was still in the shade (with a bit of sinking air but not bad, and lift when you hit the sun) and vis. was excellent. Sunset was about 9:10pm with twilight in the valley till 9:20 or so. We flew all day most days but the temps were cool without any difficulty. If you arrive mid-afternoon and the sun is HOT it can/will be bumpy and/or if the wind is blowing strong at the ridge tops more bumpy… you can always stop short or divert to Cascade or McCall or any of the easy strips in the bigger valleys for a nap and come in later... nice flying in the evenings.

Amateur flatlander advise, you mileage will vary;

OC

Oldcrowe wrote:Tom,

Last Saturday we departed JC at 6:30am to go play, the valley was still in the shade (with a bit of sinking air but not bad, and lift when you hit the sun) and vis. was excellent. Sunset was about 9:10pm with twilight in the valley till 9:20 or so. We flew all day most days but the temps were cool without any difficulty. If you arrive mid-afternoon and the sun is HOT it can/will be bumpy and/or if the wind is blowing strong at the ridge tops more bumpy… you can always stop short or divert to Cascade or McCall or any of the easy strips in the bigger valleys for a nap and come in later... nice flying in the evenings.

Amateur flatlander advise, you mileage will vary;

OC

I agree. Last weekend was my first time there. I was surprised how calm it was there throughout the day compared to the Rockies. Maybe it was just a lucky weekend other than the rain and clouds. For tomorrow I plan on getting into McCall around 3pm. I'll play it by ear, but I might just go to the Pancake House and eat and relax a bit and let the day cool off before I go into JC.

In McCall It is 11:00 hrs and there is some dark cloud build up overhead @ 10k ft, to the SW rain, to dark clds, south the same. East near JC looks clear except for high clouds. Forecast are calling for TS @ 13:00 hrs. Main runway close using taxiway for landing clearly marked. Will advise later.
Bill

In Nampa now hope to make JC later tonight if the CB passes. I'm eager to meet some of the people on this forum including the guy from TRK where I'm based.

Anyone else bringing a dog?

Very bumpy today up high with a strong northeast wind. Most like some TS's this afternoon.

Johnson creek is huge, and wind is usually down the runway (17), but it can gust. If arriving afternoon (between noon and 3), keep your speed up and utilize the long runway.

There is light until after 9pm, so you can have dinner in McCall and come in after 6pm, weather permitting.

Several dogs. Some wolves. Cubs. Huskys. I was Mauled earlier today. By a Maule.

I'm ready to go dawn tomorrow, and I'm glad I wasn't able to go this AM, due to work, as we had some thunder bumpers move through, not good at all. The first glance out the window tomorrow AM will determine how my day goes, whatever Mother Nature decides I'll roll with!

I am bringing twice as much (warm) beer as I could possibly want to drink, but no ice, and hope to do some trading? That has always worked in the past.

emflys wrote:Several dogs. Some wolves. Cubs. Huskys. I was Mauled earlier today. By a Maule.

How about a flying beagle? Or at least he looks like it when he sticks his head out the window.