Winds and A's

[rfarris 2]

I thought I'd start a new thread about winds and antennas.

I'm curious as to what winds some of you are willing to climb in, anticipating jumpable conditions at altitude, and at what point in the climb do you make the decision to climb back down.

I recently climbed back off of a 600' that when I started there was no wind at all on the ground. At 1/2 the way up, the winds were down the wire, or in my face as I was facing the sector I intended to fall in. But as I went on up to 600' I found the wind in the opposite direction, splitting the wires, or in my back, pushing me in the sector I was facing.

Thinking that I'd be facing a head wind at opening altitude even though I'd be exiting with the wind at my back, I climbed back down, went home with a .

Maybe I was being overly cautious, but I survived the climb back down.


Has anyone ever encountered 180 degree wind conditions, especially from such low altitudes?

Later,

Rod

[SwePercy 0]

You still live, can't see why that would be too cautious. If you're i doubt you are.

My experiences tells me that winds can change in a very short period of time. This has almost caught me in the trees a couple of times.

Avoid headwind at planned opening/canopy altitude.

Even though bones heals and chicks dig scars it must hurt like hell to strike the steel.

And to answer your last q, YES and I stood down.

Take care

Percy

[Faber 0]

Quote

Has anyone ever encountered 180 degree wind conditions, especially from such low altitudes?

I havent seen 180 but pretty near.. Most times when i climb,it aint weather to jump(too much wind),but as it get sun set,or near the wind drops alot,and some times change dirrection aswell.

It aint fun to climb down,but its far more fun than spend time in hospital or worse.

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[mac266 0]

i have climbed down more times than i have jumped my local A - I always make the decision when I get to opening altitude - its amazing that you can have nil winds on the ground but get to 150ft and its blowing a gale!

We are lucky that we have 3 different exit points on this A - but sometimes the winds decide that there is no way we are getting off it this time!!!



I never walk down that pissed off! cause every drive back unhurt is a sucessful raid!

[base311 0]

it's been my experience that there is almost always some shift as one climbs. I always assess what the winds are doing at opening altitude and keep that in mind as I'm climbing. generally I haven't experienced a situation where the winds do a full 180, but also I generally only go to about 500feet and slider down when climbing.

When there's an elevator, it pays to stop at opening alti and get out and see what's happening. you can't tell what the winds are doing when you're inside the elevator. If the elevator is one that is so sensitive and fickle that you're afraid to stop it once you've got it going, then you probably have someone riding on top of it anyway and that person can check the winds. I'm wondering if this might not be what happened to the fellas mentioned in the darwin candidate II post where they exited and opened on the upwind side... they may have actually been exiting with the winds on their backs or down the wire - only to have it become a headwind at opening. I don't know for sure, but without stopping and getting out of the elevator at opening alti, there's not much way they could have known (unless they went against the flight pattern that prior loads had used - which would have been cause for alarm for me) what the winds were doing there.

Yes, it's typical for it to be nil on the ground and downright breezy at alti. I've jumped in winds of perhaps 30-40 (maybe 50) mph on my back at exit... perhaps 15-20 at opening and zero on the ground. I'm more concerning when there is no wind at all at opening alti. On towers it is good to have a tailwind splitting the sector in which you'r'e jumping; that helps you when there are off-headings. If the wind is down the wire it has been theorized that even that is better than no wind at all (see outrager's post on blinc mention in another thread), though I'm much more cautious of winds down the wire... usually opting out or altering my exit heading - exiting so I'm facing more toward the wire on the opposite side away from the downwind wire - putting the opening more crosswind hoping for an off-heading away from the downwind wire (most times it works). YMMV

bsbd,
Gardner

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

I'm wondering if this might not be what happened to the fellas mentioned in the darwin candidate II post where they exited and opened on the upwind side... they may have actually been exiting with the winds on their backs or down the wire - only to have it become a headwind at opening.

I'm certain it was not, for two reasons.

1) The wind, although variable in speed, was consistent in direction for the entire height of the object, from exit to landing.

2) RIP and Wire Rider were climbing our elevator tower. They had so little regard for common etiquette that they made no attempt to contact the locals (around a dozen different people) who could have fired up the elevator for them (and kept them out of trouble--by, for example, showing them the correct exit direction in wind). Instead, they simply rolled up and climbed (how's that for foolish? Climbing when the elevator is going... ).

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com