Saturday May 23, 2015
Task: Cowley to Cardston Airport to Waterton Park Entrance back to Cowley. 195km


All winter in have been planning a Silver distance or Silver leg triangle to get my Silver soaring badge. Being a instructor of the newly formed Lethbridge Soaring Club does not give the two instructors a lot of time to fly our own private gliders. Thanks to the members May 23 was put aside for myself and Pavan to fly our ships. Mine is a ASW19 and Pavan in his Libelle. We are winch only club with the use of the ASC Roman Design winch. I got there early to rig the 19 with help from members withe intention to get going around noon. Best played plans of mice and men we did not get going to later. I was first on the line at around 1;30pm. First launch to 1,400ft agl not bad and staterd to hunt for a thermal right off the launch, I tried to connect with one but it did not develop enough to gain any height, started to look for another but nothing so landed. Pavan was next with a launch to 1500ft. He managed to connect to weak thermal then onto a stronger one and got altitude after scratching around over the runway. As soon as he was clear I tried again no lift to be found so landed again. I said to myself one more try if that does not work I will instruct. Next launch to 1800ft wow best launch ever now I thought this gives me a chance. Started searching with some ground radio help pointing clouds out, but nothing again, now I was getting a bit mad at myself. I announced I was going land. Undercarriage down on the downwind leg, then I hit a thermal I had the height for a couple of turns to try, yes I was going up slowly got to 1000ft agl and tucked the undercarriage away. The lift got stronger and I got 7000ft asl. Started to look for something stronger and managed to get into 6knts lift and went to 11000ft asl. The task was Cowley to Cardston Airport to Waterton Park back to Cowley. Pavan had the same task and had started the task ahead of me. I headed back to Cowley to cross the start line and headed out on task to Cardston airport thinking if I could make it to Cardston airport and conditions were not that good I could land there. Pavan informed that the lift was better on track. I got to Pincher creek and was in lift again knowing I could get back to Cowley easy from here. Now the challenge is on, turning my back on Cowley I committed to get to Cardston. With my heart pumping I was now out of range to get back to Cowley so on I went. I found lots of lift but at one point I hit serious down but knowing this cloud looks really good put the nose down to get through it then I hit the lift at 6 to 8 knts took it to 11,500ft and headed on track again. Now I must relax and enjoy this, I am going to make it. Time for a quick snack and a drink. Now I can see Cardston and the airport. I rounded Cardston Airport at 10,000ft very good I was thinking now I was having fun. Onto Waterpark with a tail wind but I could see very dark clouds over waterton and virga which had me worried as I got closer I noticed it was over the park and not the entrance which is my turn point so no worries, that leg only took 23 minutes. Homeward leg I needed 3000ft according my Mini Kobo with TopHat soaring, Found lift which took me just plus of the height I needed, not that confident how accurate my computer is I wanted more just to be safe. Over Waterton refinery I found lift at 4knts which I grabbed till I could see I had 3000ft more then needed to get back to Cowley. Final glide home was very enjoyable with fantastic views West over the snow capped Rockies. What a welcome site to see Cowley airfield. Wind was down runway 03 instead of 11 for the take off so I announced I was going to land. Safe landing and a call to the wife I had made it. 
Task declared was 195 km with my total distance 216km average speed 64km/hr. Task Time 3 hours 24 minutes. 
Thanks to the members who helped Pavan and myself to achieve this.