flyangel2

Good luck, and if there is anything we as skydivers can do, let us know. (I know, I just raised everyone else's hands to volunteer on this issue.) May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

I did my HnP from 6000 yesterday, If I had been on the previous hotload fromm 2500 I would have been in a whole different world, By the time i cutaway I would have been REALLY low. Glad I had more height to compensate for lack of skill. When I was under my reserve I was at about 2800, if i had left at 4000 I would have been below 1000 feet. If I have been on the previous load I may have been 6 feet under Yes, you admit that your experience level is low, but you can't plan what load you will be on that does force you out at a low altitude. Just something to think about I have to laugh to myself when I'm helping a recent AFF graduate out the door (no insult to you intended) doing their first hop n pop. They look out the door when you're at 4,000 and you tell them to exit and they get all nervous. I learned over 22 years ago doing S/L and the higher up I went, the more nervous I got Now I know I maybe opening a can of worms with this post, but it's IMO. Each their own and find your comfort level. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

I guess it's good that you don't have pets in your house. When ever I have meet people that don't like animals, that's a sure sign to me that they lack caring and loving emotions. I think it's a great idea that you never have contact with animals. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Michael, just because it's you, they aren't going to allow you to board, with our without your rig. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Sorry to hear your vacation was wrecked. My suggestion to you is to not give up, push the issue with them till they give you free airline tickets to fly were ever you want. (where were you traveling from and going to?) I've only had one problem years ago, and I can't remember the airline. Finally they let me board with the rig. I fly on buddy passes so naturally I get all my bags opened and inspected. I've never had a problem with United. They seem to know what the rig and cypress is about. Too bad they may not be around Please keep us posted as to what Delta says so we are prepared the next time we travel. Oh, don't take the cypress out, your safety is important. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Oh, now I understand. IMO, going to 5,000 is enough if it's winter time where you are. I would get too cold if I go any higher. I've been very lucky to be able to do some CRW with some of the best guys out there, and during the summer we will ground ourselves due to turmoils. But, you're doing a solo, so you don't have to worry about the turmoils with other canopies around. Some days the winds aloft are higher, and that makes for a very nice cross county canopy ride. You can even learn how to steer the canopy by leaning into the harness to give your hands/arms a rest. Checking with more experienced jumpers at your DZ is a good idea before heading up, to see if they can give you some good advice. Have fun

I thought the reason for recent AFF graduates to do hop and pop's was to prepare them for emergency exits. IMO, I don't think that getting out any higher than 4,000 is necessary. As for weather conditions, it depends on the weather at the DZ. I guess I'm not understanding the question. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

I too am a POP's, I guess with age comes wisdom At least I can hope I've gained some wisdom from my past mistakes. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Quoteflyangel and I disagree on the issue of neck gators. I believe neck coverage is worth its weight in gold during winter jumps and I always wear a neck gator during winter jumps. __________________________________________________ In my experience a turtle neck works just as well, and I don't have to worry about the gator flying up into my face. __________________________________________________ The mistake that most people make is to spend huge amounts of money on fancy gloves, but jump bare-headed or bare-necked. If your head is un-covered, heat will escape so fast there will be no warm blood left to warm your fingers. __________________________________________________ I agree with you on that. Heat escapes from the head. That's why I wear a stocking hat in the plane and then put it in my jumpsuit before putting my helmet on, I stay warmer. I have a factory diver, so it's hard to wear the stocking cap under that. __________________________________________________ Light weight long underwear and turtlenecks provide excellent insulation without limiting mobility. __________________________________________________ How true, now a days there are so many different kinds of long underwear. But I suggest staying away from the 100% cotton, they really don't do much for keeping you warm and "whipping" the sweat away __________________________________________________ If you are worried about overheating, then leave your neck and head uncovered until the plane is halfway to altitude, then zip up your high collar, don your neck gator and pull on your helmet. If you are worried about your neck gator blowing up then catch a few inches of it under your chin strap. __________________________________________________ It's hard to catch the gator under a factory diver. No chin strap __________________________________________________ If you have done the preceding steps properly, them all you need on your hands is something to cut the wind. __________________________________________________ Some people's hands, like me, tend to get cold no matter what I do I guess it's a girly thing. (Cold hands, no heart) __________________________________________________ Remember that pulling handles is the most important part of any freefall jump. __________________________________________________ Oh yes, we agree on that. But if the hands are cold, and numb, you can't feel the handles. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Glad to hear that you are okay. Yes, practice, practice, practice. Also glad to hear that you're getting back in the air so soon. Good luck to you and keep us posted with your improvements. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

I had a PC in tow on one of my malfunctions. I really didn't have time to think about what I was doing. After I threw out, I just laid there, wondering why I was having such a slow open. Then it hit me, I didn't have anything out. Or that's what I thought. I went straight to the silver handle. After opening shock, I now had two canopies out. I just waited till the main bounced off the reserve and cut it away. I don't advocate what I did, but it work for me at the time. I teach low timer jumpers that what ever they decided to do, do it early and don't deviate from their plan. It worked for me that time, and I hope if ever put in that situation again, I will once again make the right decision. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Well you know me, drive 20 minutes to a DZ that I don't like the politics at, or drive an hour and ten minutes to a DZ that can get winded out Then again there is a good buddy of mine who flies me out in his plane and that only takes ten minutes. Plus, he's willing to fly me to Eloy (four hours) or Perris Valley (five to six hours) I think I'll stick to snowboarding and traveling to warmer climates during the winter months May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Sounds like the lesson was learned and you didn't have to pay too high a price. Take what you've learned and pass it on to other jumpers you see that are about to make the same mistake. I would approach those that you are teaching with kindness, since you don't know how they are going to react to your advice. Heal fast, I just got metal out of my ankle a month ago that I had put in two years ago. Freak landing, got my foot when I was swooping in. The foot stayed and the body continued forward. Again, take it easy and heal fast

What they all said. Don't have your gloves too thick, and practice on the ground first. As for a neck gator, don't do it, I've seem some of them fly up into the face of the person wearing it. Oh one more thing about keeping the hands warm. Try not to put your gloves on in the airplane during the ride up. Your hands tend to get too warm and then sweat, so now you leave the plane, and your hands turn to ice. The hot hand pads work great. Put them on the back of your hand. The blood flow is better and if the pad is in the palm, it causes too much bulk. I tend to not jump during the winter too much unless it's in Florida or Calif. Being from Colorado going to those places in the winter feels like the tropic to me. Be safe and have fun. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

QuoteBut things like that get a lot harder as you get older! Now I look at tthings like mortgage payments and health insurance, and I realize I am sort of a slave to a steady paycheck and benefits! Hey, I'm over 45 and I do the travel thing almost every summer. I don't think age has anything to do with it. Just pack away enough money that will make the mortgage payments and etc....... I say do it now, while you are young and you don't have kids! Especially if you don't think you'll have any problem finding a decent job when the summer is over! I have kids too........but I admit, they are older and take care of the house while I'm gone. Just plan for it, and do it, you'll love it. But like any vacation, it's nice to get home. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Congrats May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

I'll turn my camera off...I swear...what red light? I don't see any red light.... I have already had to bribe a video guy to erase what he caught on video on a ride up to alitude. It wasn't easy to get that tape to disappear . Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, F*** you. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

In a way I do that almost every summer what with all the traveling to the different boogies. It's a great way to spend the summer. I have a van that's just big enough for me and all my junk. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

I can't read the label well enough to see the numbers. If you're worried, I'd have a rigger look at it before jumping it. Oh, and have fun. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Only when no ones looking and there's no video around. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

That's not me you're talking about. I only organize at the WFFC, and I don't have big boobies. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

When I was jumping the old PC I had to land under my front mount round reserve. It was so big, I didn't have a problem. I had a spinning malfunction a few years ago and had to use my reserve. It's a 145 something. My main in a 120, so I landed just fine. My rigger hates me when I need a repack, since my rig is smaller. Oh well, I want something that's going to set me down nice. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Like Amy said, I'm not the "feel good" organizer. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey