Oh... its snowing right now.. I've heard the side streets are gone in downtown DC, and the main roads look crummy (havent been outside myself). People are already panicking and trying to get home before it gets "bad".

It's pretty sh-T out there right now. Mostly because they didn't treat the roads ahead of time, so the cars driving over it are causing melt and then refreeze.

Unless things change dramatically, both wind and snow, doesn't look like I'm gonna make the trip this weekend. I'm on the road the next 2 weekends, but may be able to make it up on the 1st - if there's snow and wind..

Well, we got about 4" in the valley overnight. Wind on the NOAA site for Sat. is predicted from the SSW @ 14-20 at noon dropping off from there. Watertown Aviation site calls for a peak of 10 mph around 1:00 pm. Sunday not so good, peaking at less than 10. Could really use more of both, but we'll probably try to make the best of it on Saturday.

Yesterday I met up with Jan and Jackie in Honeyville, and there were some kiters from the Syracuse area, and also the NYC/CT area. Wind was SW at about 10, and I got a first flight of the Pansh Flux proto being sent by WG.(see review thread) Jan was on his new 2011 Frenzy 11M, the Syr. crew had a 13M LEI they were sharing, then Jan loaned his 'old' 9M Frenzy to one of the guys so both could ride. Started out on the South side of 177, ended up across the road, behind the cornfield. Rolling terrain, there's a wind suckhole in the NW corner that caused the guy on the 13M LEI to post hole back from. Got some(500+!) pics on the helmet cam, which I have to sort through, and will post some shortly.

Wind was kind of light at this point. I tried Jan's 11M long enough to get pulled over forwards(face first) kind of stretching me out a little, and tweaking my already painful hip, so I gave up early and just watched, with helmet cam snapping pics from time to time. Some follow.

Gotta learn to be a little more conservative with the helmet cam in photo mode, 500+ pics to screen through is a ton!:ticking:

One more, then I'll see if I got any video worth watching.

I wish it would be cold and stay cold here. Every time the ponds freeze enough to skate on it warms up just enough to wreck it. Last 2 days highs in the 20's next two days mid to high 30's. Getting annoying! Oh and no snow either.

Well, I just had a discussion regarding our Tug Hill Map project with Jan. He told me that it was nice that we are consolidating this information, but as access to these lots has to be reconfirmed every year, then this map will have to be taken down, or revised each year, and that all of this should be controlled by the chamber of commerce, as they are footing the bill for site signage, and hopefully flags that mark each site. I told him that this is a difficult subject, because many already know which sites have been used in the past and could therfore show up at any time and throw up a kite, not even having looked at a map, current or not. He is quite concerned about the public nature of this map, and how any one person or group could come here and destroy in one afternoon what we have taken 5 years to develop. I tried to point out that this is a dilemma any community faces, but the fact that most of these lots are privately owned certainly complicates things. In a perfect world, we would all know each land-owner, stop in and say hey, etc.before accessing their property, etc. I'm thinking that if each designated site has a sign/flag, why not also a sign in box like they have at trailheads, etc., with liability release forms protecting the landowner, and reminding each kiter of their responsibility to take with them what they brought, respecting private property, etc.
I know this is long, but it is an important subject that needs to be discussed, so that we can keep good rapport with landowners that have been gracious enough to let us use their land, as well as potential new ones. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

My first thought, make Jan, local organizer, and Bob D., local trail coordinator, collaborator status on the map, I think they just need to e-mail bigben. Is that right bb?

Here's a link to Jan's posting on kiteforum. http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2368009&...

Bob, while it's a bummer to take down the map I definitely understand where Jan is coming from. He and others have put in a ton of work as ambassadors to the sport, last thing we want to do is lose the benefits of their efforts or enable a few to ruin it for a lot, that's the last thing I want. I hope he knows, and I think he does, that our intentions were good with putting the map together.

Anyway, I removed the link from my previous posts on this thread and made the map "unlisted" so only collaborators are able to view it at this time, which is Me, you and Ragden.

I'd be happy to add Bob D. and Jan as collaborators, all they have to do is email me. If and when they are comfortable with making it public we'll open it back up at that time.

As an infrequent flyer on Tug Hill I want a web site or a printed map of the available sites and some indication as to what wind direction works best at each site. Everyone involved in trying to create "the Skyline of the east" needs to understand that as things are now the Tug is not as convenient as it could be. I have yet to see on the two major forums a link (other than BB's)to maps of this years available sites.
What I am looking for is a way to save time and money , daylight is short and gas is not $1.50 any more. I want to be able to arrive at a site and have half a chance of having a good day.
While most everyone who posts on PKF may feel comfortable calling Jan for updates the other 90% who just like to look may like some thing more formal.
With all that said , if any one sees a guy in a grey van , two kids ,and a bunch of kite gear . please just point me in the right direction. THANKS

Well ss, you know that the Hanno lot has been open for snowkiting since the start of the Tug Hill fest, might not always have the best wind, but snow, almost always the most. What you may not know, is last year someone decided to try to drive out on to one of the sites, in knee deep snow, taking out a road sign in the process, in an attempt to retrieve a kite? I wasn't there, only heard about it, but more clown like acts like that and the county will likely not be so welcoming to any of us. We are trying to come to grips with issues like this, and as simple as it seems to post a map, would you want any clown in the world to google snowkite spots in the N.E. and come up with your address? I try to do my best to help by posting conditions as close to the weekend as possible, but as you said, gas is not 1.50 any more, and the 100+ miles I put on each week trying to help out comes out of my pocket. That being said, the best link for county right now is the one on the Tug Hill Festival thread, the adirondacktughillregion or whatever, but I see they haven't updated their festival info yet. We have talked about a public map, and signs and flags at permitted spots(I'll tell you that a major concern is theft of these items) and we have another meeting scheduled for mon after Christmas, and all of this will be brought up again. Doing my best, b

My post should be taken to the meeting as "consumer feed back."
If it were not for you and everyone else posting where to go and what to do I'd still be sliding in the back yard, a pretty cool place but it aint Tug Hill.
See you at the festival if not sooner.

Will do, and thanks for your feed back, it should help to illustrate the need for such a resource to be available.

I talked with Jan this morning. He's meeting with the chamber of commerce on Monday and after that I'm going to work with him get 2010 map of the authorized sites. Once that's done we'll post it up for everyone to see.

It looks to be shaping up for a great day for the Hanno lot on Friday, wind 10-15 from the North, Ptly sunny, low to mid 20's. Santa's bringing me an early present!

Darn, I just realised I was looking at the NOAA prediction for Southwick Beach, which being on the lake is always somewhat windier, and a little warmer. :embarrased: Forecast for the hill is not so good. wind WNW @ 10, temps mid to upper teens. :Ange09: Maybe if I flap my arms...

Met up with Jan, his son Mike, Jackie, and Mike H. for a session at the new Porterdale site on the Killenbeck Rd., in Honeyville. I could have used more wind, what with my fat a$$ and riding a snowboard, but those on skis fared a little better. Here's a short, raw vid of the fun!

Looked like conditions are halfway decent! Hope it just gets better between now and this weekend.

Bob- You need a bigger kite dude.. What size were you flying there?

Agreed, that was my 8M Access II, prolly only 25-30 hrs on it, I bought it new in the bag, but 2yrs old model. Got a good deal, but wish I'd gone for the 10M, now. It was my first depower, and I didn't want to go too big. haha It works well in 15mph+ and steady, I need steady wind to make up for my poor board skills, but I'm still having fun, so I'll keep trying! Now if I could just get far enough ahead to get Brad's 11M Neo, I could use it in the snow, and I might be able to get out on the Lake in the summer, too! Hmmmmm.....