Ground bound

I took the opportunity to try for my first airtime of the season, even though the forecast was for strong pre-frontal winds and mostly cloudy skies. Upon arrival at launch, my hopes were dashed by the obviously blown-out conditions of 30 mph winds, gusting to 38. I have flown 30 mph winds before, but only when they were smooth and steady. On this day the gust factor and lowering wave-like clouds convinced me that I was much better off to stay "on the ground, wishing I was in the air" rather than be "in the air, wishing I was on the ground." So I decided to make the most of the blustery afternoon, and went for an exploratory hike up the mountain, to check out potential "upper launches". While roaming along a high wind-blown corniced ridgeline, I suddenly came upon a big elk shed antler! I looked for the matching opposite side, but no such luck. Nonetheless, the fortuitous find caused my bummed-out lack of airtime attitude to flee as I made my way back to the pick-up.

The elk shed measures about 47" long, weighing just over 10 lbs. Keri was quite concerned about "that thing" being inside the house. I told her I would keep it in the garage, but apparently that's still too close for her comfort! It is a good thing that I have my Utah Antler Gathering Ethics Certificate. Yes, believe it or not you need a "license" to legally gather antler sheds between February 1st and April 15th. The reason is to protect the big game from any harassment induced stress after a long, hard winter. Late Winter and early Spring are critical periods for big game, who at this point may be barely surviving on what little fat reserves they have left. http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/09-02/shed_antler.php

Anyway, It was a fun afternoon - even if it was on the ground. I am still looking forward to my first flight of 2010. I guess I needed to learn a bit more patience, but I know it won't be long now - if only it would stop snowing!!

Equinox Outing

Chober and I took advantage of a bright sunny first day of Spring to check out the road to launch again. With it's southern exposure, the Box Elder side is dry and open all the way to the top cattle guard! The Cache side is still closed and snowed in. *(Sorry for the lower quality pic's - I forgot our regular digital camera, and had to use my cell phone camera . . . Dohh!)


We parked and walked in the short distance from the gate to launch - where there was still plenty of snow. At 11:30 am, the wind was coming straight in to launch at about 10 mph, with some nice little cycles. We watched a group of six familiar resident golden eagles ridge soar up to launch level, hook a thermal, and climb out over the top! I hadn't brought my glider, because I didn't think the road would even be open, and the winds were forecast to be "light and variable". Oh well - the entire experience was a favorable harbinger of this year's flying season!


We hiked around and explored a while, as Clobberhead ran wild across the packed snow. As Firth would say, "Good times were had by all!"

It's Official

Tanner passed his driving test on his first try!

He is now an officially licensed Utah driver! They issue this temporary paper license first, then his permanent license card will be in the mail in a week or two. He only lost points on one or two "head checks" and on his parallel parking. Other than that he did great!

I had spent a number of hours with him practicing all of the required maneuvers. I know I'm not the best teacher, but nonetheless he could do them all pretty well - with one exception. He would nail the parallel park perfectly about half the time - the other half he would miss it and end up at an angle against the curb.

Anyway, so you can't say I didn't warn you - Tanner is now out on the streets!

We DO appreciate the responsibility that he has shown thus far! Way 2 Go, Tanner-Man!
PS: I stand corrected: Keri reminded me that she deserves credit for having..."escaped near death and endured long long lines at the Driver License Division, while Tanner was sarcastic and sassy." So there you go! Whaddya want - a Medal? :-))

Mr Rigby Goes to Washington

We The People: SV Team Gears up for Constitution Contest in D.C.

SMITHFIELD - For We the People team members at Sky View High School, the days are filled with talk of Supreme Court cases, federalism and separation of powers, among other things.

In February, Sky View's team won We the People on the state level for the fourth year in a row and now, it is preparing for nationals. The team will compete the last week of April in Washington, D.C., with hopes of placing in the top 20, and maybe even landing in the top 10.

"I think it would be a lot of fun to break Top 10. I would hope that we could maybe get close," said 18-year-old Katelin Gines.

Advisor Mike Rigby said Sky View placed 18th in the nation last year. No Utah team has ever placed among the first 10, he said.

Rigby said he would argue that We the People is the "most rigorous" academic competition in the nation. The program challenges students' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, he said, adding that students have to prove their understanding in a forum much like congressional committee hearings.

He said he has a great group of students who are working hard because they love to learn.

"They live, eat and breathe this stuff," Rigby said. "They really do."

The students said that to prepare for We the People competitions, they arrive at school early, leave late in the afternoon and continue their studies at home.

"We put a lot of time into it," said Gines, as she and fellow team members discussed the different materials they study.

At each participating school, We the People participants are divided into six units, Rigby said, and each unit prepares responses to three questions. He said when students compete, they don't know which question they will be asked.

Sky View competed in district- and state-level competitions. Student Matt Orme, 17, said that at state, there were two schools competing from each of the three congressional districts in Utah. Mountain Crest, which is also a major competitor in the state, took second in Utah this year.

At nationals, the group will have four minutes to present their response, Rigby said, and their presentation will be followed by six minutes of open questions. Students will be questioned by three judges, Rigby said.

Units at Sky View are working on their responses for the national questions now. Gines, Orme, Jessica Murdock and Jessica Swenson are members of unit four. They said they are nervous and excited to compete in nationals.

Murdock, 17, said, "I'm a nervous wreck." The best preparation, she said, is knowledge.

There will be two days of competition in D.C. If Sky View makes it into the top 10, its team will be invited to stay for a third day and compete on the Senate floor in the U.S. Capitol, Gines said.

But, to the We the People participants, it's more than the outcome of the competition. Swenson said one of the best parts of being involved is getting to know other team members.

Rigby said they are like family. Seventeen-year-old Swenson agreed.

"We're 29 kids who weren't necessarily friends, and now we're 29 kids who are basically part of this family," she said.

For more information about Sky View's We the People team, visit http://wethepeoplesv.blogspot.com.

(taken from HJNews article http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_9a102802-2674-11df-a7dd-001cc4c002e0.html )