I took off from the Arlington airport and gradually worked my way toward the hills. There were thermals everywhere but I kept the engine idling while I drifted in them waiting for Werner to catch up and examining the earth below.
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When I got to the hills I spent a couple hours thermaling over Ebey Hill and, um..., "Ditch Hill" with the engine off. There we hooked up with a few other gliders in the air. Airwreck has much better pictures of that area than I do on his site so I'll continue with shots I took after I left there. From there I glided east until I was lower and warmer. This is heading toward Darrington.
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OK time to soar again. Let's see, I think I'll take that cloud.
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Drifting toward Three Fingers.
I remember years ago climbing that mountain and staying the night in a lookout that is anchored to pointy rock top with steel cables. I remember it creaked ominously in the wind. I think we roped up for bathroom breaks :) There was a sailplane back here above me but I never got up to him/her.
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The next mountain closer to Darrington is the fabulous Whitehorse Ridge and Whitehorse Mtn.
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There were thermals everywhere on this day but I don't know if there would be much soaring on the sides of this valley on a high pressure day or not. I've heard there is good lift where the valley winds hit the end at Darrington. I didn't get a good picture of that area but here are two shots on the way back of the very interesting Mt Higgins.
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