I ended up in the trees one time because I was "hoping" for a save and
not paying close enough attention to where I was going to land if
those good looking clouds didn't produce any lift. Believe me, this
is something I won't do twice! Much better than hoping and praying,
is to have a plan! You should have a plan at 5000ft agl, and re-think
the plan every thousand feet as you get lower. Way too many crashes
happen because pilots wait until they are way too low to start
thinking, and praying about their plan of action and panic start to
cloud thier decision making.
Ever notice how hot it gets in the cockpit when you really need to
catch that thermal?

Gary Boggs

* * *I'm sure I'm not the only X-country sailor who negotiate the lift
deals with the God. You know. You get low, nothing is working, landing
options are limited and there....a little too far away... you see the
very last chance. You have to ask The Almighty for a little help and
have to promise Him something.
Please share you thoughts and ultimate outcomes ?

I'm usually too busy looking for lift, or a somewhere to put my glider
that won't total it, to enter any negotiations. I do spend some time
swearing at my audio vario! *Regular sacrifices to the lift gods
during campouts (last year's soaring hat, well used sectionals, etc.)
accompanied by clever (or not) speeches or TOSTS are just the ticket.
So far, so good.