Discussion: Mt Norwottuck Meet

NEOC's annual post-Thanksgiving meet will be held at Mt Norwottuck this year, instead of Mt Tom, on Sunday, Nov. 28; starts from 10-12. Norwottuck is underutilized: there hasn't been a meet there of any sort since the 2005 Billygoat. It's a monster of a mountain, and only a long score-o can do it justice. There will be 32 controls with varying point values. It's about 12k and 600 meters of climb to get them all. Choose between two divisions: 2 hours or 75 minutes. Whether you try to get them all or only a few, having a good plan is essential to success. Strategic thinking will rule the day.

It's hard to trust the forecast this far out, but if things continue to look the way they do right now, I'll be looking for a couple of people to give me a hand with a bit more exercise after orienteering. Specifically, I may be hoping to find a couple of people willing to help me carry my hang glider up Mt. Holyoke in Skinner State Park (just a couple of miles down the road from Norwottuck), and wait around for me set it up and launch. Chances aren't real high that the weather will hold, but if you're interested, drop me a note. (To give you an idea of what's involved, one end of the glider weighs about 26 pounds, so it's not really heavy lifting.)

Might be more fun to have you buzz the orienteers during the race.

JJ, how does the weather look for flying?

As of right now (Friday PM), it's still looking doable.

Forecast is still looking good, so I loaded my glider onto the roof of my car, and I'll be hoping to find a couple of willing Sherpas after the meet tomorrow.

Courtesy of awesome Sherpa heroes kadley and dness, I was able to get a nice half-hour flight at Skinner this afternoon. And I didn't even have to twist their arms too hard! Thanks! And thanks to Phil and company for some mighty fine orienteering as well.

Was wondering if you got aloft this afternoon... Looked like a great day for O...

Pictures? ;)

Results are posted already, too. Nice job!
:-)

J-J had competition?! ;)

Okay, results for the secondary event are posted. :-)

You are a good sport, Janet!

kadley got some pics, including video of my landing.

Watching j-j launch off the cliff was one of the most amazing sites I have witnessed. Too bad kadley didn't manage to catch it. Maybe he'll share a pic of j-j in flight?

getting it downloaded from the camera. Missed the launch as battery was almost dead and had the phone off.

Where is JJ's MD80 video footage?

I didn't bring the MD80, as I was trying to simplify the whole operation. I did get a few still photos that I'll upload later.

Impressive - like the distant views of Mt. Tom in particular. As good as a bird....

I love the shot down the Seven Sisters ridgeline.

And thanks to Ken:

Thanks, J-J, Ken, and Dean!

Traveling from NJ and didn't get close enough in time to start. Missed a good meet.