SAFA Skysailor Magazine

12 SKY SAILOR November | December 2020 quite small and light due to the inversion at 1850m. These were ideal conditions for the 18 PG2 pilots we had, many of whom had never flown in thermals before. Some pilots were able to fly for two to three hours, others made their first thermic top landings, and many, after bombing out, climbed back up the hill a second time for a late afternoon flight. With the last of the lift and light fading at 1630, we set a task for the remainder of the pilots still flying to maximise their height and fly back to the campsite to land by our tents. There is something really special about landing metres away from your camp site (and cold beers) with your flying mates after a great day hiking and flying in the hills. The Saturday evening was filled with the usual shenani- gans of pilots camping and drinking together after a fun day flying, and everyone was looking forward to the following day and another day of hike and fly. Sundays forecast was for strong wind above 600m (17kt and upwards) with one forecast showing the wind decreasing at 600m to 13kt after midday. Ever the optimist, I lead the more experienced pilots up a different section of the hill for a mountain/speed/mini-wing flight (most had only ever soared these wings and were eager to try a descent). We managed to get up (and quickly down) before the 1030 group rendezvous. Once more, we set off in groups to take the northern track up the mountain back to launch. The north hike is a gorgeous walk which is not as steep and takes you through different types of forest before joining the 4WD track which runs up the east side of the hill. As we hiked up, there was growing disquiet in the group as the wind howled in the tree- tops above. Most feared I had set them on a forced march Lake St Clair Hike & Fly