Congrats Tom... I followed your IGC file along with Ramy. Below is a discussion with 1km Satellite movie and other comments.

____________________________________

I've collected some nice GOES 1km Visible imagery movie loops and HRRR model high resolution soaring data. Planning on publishing more detailed model analysis information and annotations within the next week.

Satellite Movies North and South segments:

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/m1rak4doyo2...50912.mp4?dl=0

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/j5biubqb54o...50912.mp4?dl=0

The TP database is version 1.1 of Jim Staniforth's SW 2015 file. The last five frames show the label names... otherwise just '+' symbols so as not to clutter up the picture.

NOTE regarding video viewers. It works fine with the Windows Media Player. Apple's Windows Quick Time player also worked well with the additional advantage of being able to single step with cursor keys. The VLC player required Direct X acceleration on my Windows 7 system. But, once that was changed in 'Options', one can single step frames with the 'E' key, start/pause with the space bar, or drag the video marker to the end to see label names. VLC also has a nice snapshot feature for grabbing just one frame.

MY COMMENTS ON THE SOARING WEATHER

Obviously, it was a weaker and more difficult day getting out of the Tehachapi Valley. The most important part of my briefing was the comment about "....staying well West of the normal course line..." to work the convergence pushed west by the 15kt southeasterly flow. When you see the HRRR model convergence graphics it dramatically shows the optimum path due north from West Tehachapi Valley up into the Kern River Canyon:

Chart Convergence Lines (Purple) 80 meter agl wind vectors HRRR Model Valid 1pm PDT

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/w91ne9vpgl5...PD T.jpg?dl=0

Chart Thermal Heights (see color bar at top) feet msl and 80 meter agl wind vectors Valid 1pm PDT

https://DL.dropbox.com/s/sr0vspme3rg... PDT.jpg?dl=0

Notice the convergence zone extending due north from the west end Tehachapi Valley to the lee of the Paiute Mtns (north of Flying S Ranch). Then convergence on ridges either side of Kern River Valley canyon. On the thermal heights page... first 17-18k msl thermal heights near the Waypoint "Needles" which is where Tom Serkowski and Terry Honikman/Thorsten got the first good altitudes. Thermals heights W end of Tehachapi Valley and West of the Paiute Mtns are indicated 13-14k msl... but in fact were much lower... probably only 10-11k msl.

Here's my take on why it was far weaker that my briefing indicated. The prevailing SE flow 8-15k msl 13-18kts advected in a more stable (subtropical) airmass thereby modifying the sounding profile, so that developing thermals were slower to "erode" into the free atmosphere layer. the normal "thermal hotspots" on peaks was not working. Instead, you had to move downwind and find the lee convergence areas... or locate thermals in the shear line. My flight, WX, launching at 1:10pm, allowed a climb just NW of MVA at 1500agl.... eventually working to 11k msl over Golden Hills.

The HRRR model soundings, closest of which was Mojave, did show slower than normal ramping up of the thermal layer... only to about 10kmsl by noon. But, I mistakenly ignored that clue... and assumed that the mountain tops would trigger faster. But, the HRRR model was clearly too aggressive in developing the thermal layer. Version one of this model operational at NOAA is known to be too hot... by 1-2degC developing thermal layers too high. The next Version 2 (which is already viewable experimentally) has reduced this dry hot bias. Unfortunatley, I am unable to view the soaring information from that experimental model. It will go operational over the winter and be ready for next soaring season.

So much for my excuses...

Great flight everbody.. especially for those who "Went West" to follow the convergence. Sorry, Kathy... your Libelle just didn't quite make it to the first convergence lee mtn thermals west of the Paiute's!

Walt Rogers WX