2/1 - 2/2 Strawbs

[matt dadam]

Opened up February with 2 days at Strawbs. East wind in the forecasts was enticing. Showed up at CC east on tues at 10:30 and it was blowing hard enough east to rig 9m frenzy and shred the east faces by the lot then across the lake around the the Marina. Windward faces out there harbored excellent snow and steady strong wind. Around noontime wind came down and I returned to get a bigger kite. Another dozen or so kiters had showed and some were riding powered. Within another half hr, maybe 1pm, the wind had died. I went to check the cabins site and there was enough to launch the 15 manta for a late session on E facing and E of the parking area.

Today I was there an hour earlier. No signs of wind till Strawb River, where it was blowing NW at 20. Surprise! Checked CC and no wind so returned to SR. Rode 15 for an an hour and a half or so till the wind felt fluky and got back to my truck as it dropped to single digits. There was some turbulence involved as the wind backed off around noon. The flats E of the lot and gullies hold good settled pow and the hilltops are boiler plate. Saw one other kiter who showed as I was packing up. At the summit on my drive out at 1pm it was blowing at least 20 from the NW again... hope that kiter got some of that.

The early train delivered out there both days with the NE forecast. I think the direction emphasizes drainage winds off the Uintas until they run out of steam midday. Just a guess.

ps - sorry for the lengthy post but want to give Kenny his $20 worth

pss - oh wait Dave posted already. Damn!