wrote:

scurry wrote:

Interesting thing about the flight; By following the ridge lines
keeping wind and sun in mind, I was able to run out of the hills at
300-400 feet over the ridges, maintaining my altitude until I had enough
altitude to circle comfortably (which, remember includes the thermals
spreading out enough to be useful).



Ridge flying is practised currently *much* closer to the ridge than that, in
fact so close than not touching some tree is the real problem.

Right, but I didn't want to burn up 300 feet just to get down to the
ridges. The terrain west of Boulder, CO drops rapidly to the east (and
the airport). I was just wanting to get over lower ground so I could
thermal. I'm pretty sure I was using thermal and orographic lift as I
snuck out of the foothills.
Later in that flight after regaining some altitude, I was ridge soaring
much closer to the Flatirons. Very nice views.
http://tinyurl.com/4zotd

Shawn