So, any good snow jumping stories out there?

brokeneagle · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 42

It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

Archived from group: rec>skydiving

PeterLucas · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 27

brokeneagle wrote in
b0b06f031d84@i3g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

> It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
> brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
> been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
> a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
> jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
> seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
> on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

>

No snow jumps, but plenty of water jumps. Same same. Hard to judge exactly
how far till you get wet. Even harder to judge a good cutaway height.

I used to carry a pocket full of rocks Smile

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

You will travel through the valley of rejection,
you will reside in the land of morning mists, and you will find your home.
Though it will not be where you left it.

Don · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

brokeneagle wrote:
> It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
> brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
> been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
> a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
> jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
> seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
> on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

My first civilian jump was a 30 second delay from a C-182 in November
1969 at the UMass club in Turners Falls, MA using a 28' round lopo with
a 7TU mod. It was about 30 and clear as a bell - on the ground. At
altitude, there were ice crystals from about 5,000 ft and up & 0 at
7,200 ft. I looked like I had a sunburn when I got down. My hands and
face were so cold when I opened that I grabbed all the front riser I
could reach and pulled them way down so I would get to the ground as
fast as possible - standard practice for HALO. Because I had a B
license, the ASO (todays S&TA) didn't look at my logbook to check my
experience and background, and everyone thought I was trying to kill
myself. At about 50 feet, I let the risers go, turned a bit to face
into the wind and did a standup. They weren't going to let me jump
again (ever), but fortunately the President of the club was an ex SF guy
who had about 100 HALO jumps, and when I explained why I had done what I
did and they looked over my logbook (and found out that I was a rigger),
all was forgiven.

the unknown flailer · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 158

On Jan 16, 10:39 pm, Don wrote:
> brokeneagle wrote:
> > It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
> > brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
> > been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
> > a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
> > jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
> > seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
> > on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

>
> My first civilian jump was a 30 second delay from a C-182 in November
> 1969 at the UMass club in Turners Falls, MA using a 28' round lopo with
> a 7TU mod. It was about 30 and clear as a bell - on the ground. At
> altitude, there were ice crystals from about 5,000 ft and up & 0 at
> 7,200 ft. I looked like I had a sunburn when I got down. My hands and
> face were so cold when I opened that I grabbed all the front riser I
> could reach and pulled them way down so I would get to the ground as
> fast as possible - standard practice for HALO. Because I had a B
> license, the ASO (todays S&TA) didn't look at my logbook to check my
> experience and background, and everyone thought I was trying to kill
> myself. At about 50 feet, I let the risers go, turned a bit to face
> into the wind and did a standup. They weren't going to let me jump
> again (ever), but fortunately the President of the club was an ex SF guy
> who had about 100 HALO jumps, and when I explained why I had done what I
> did and they looked over my logbook (and found out that I was a rigger),
> all was forgiven.

you still actve?

Don · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

the unknown flailer wrote:
> On Jan 16, 10:39 pm, Don wrote:
>> brokeneagle wrote:
>>> It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
>>> brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
>>> been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
>>> a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
>>> jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
>>> seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
>>> on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

>> My first civilian jump was a 30 second delay from a C-182 in November
>> 1969 at the UMass club in Turners Falls, MA using a 28' round lopo with
>> a 7TU mod. It was about 30 and clear as a bell - on the ground. At
>> altitude, there were ice crystals from about 5,000 ft and up & 0 at
>> 7,200 ft. I looked like I had a sunburn when I got down. My hands and
>> face were so cold when I opened that I grabbed all the front riser I
>> could reach and pulled them way down so I would get to the ground as
>> fast as possible - standard practice for HALO. Because I had a B
>> license, the ASO (todays S&TA) didn't look at my logbook to check my
>> experience and background, and everyone thought I was trying to kill
>> myself. At about 50 feet, I let the risers go, turned a bit to face
>> into the wind and did a standup. They weren't going to let me jump
>> again (ever), but fortunately the President of the club was an ex SF guy
>> who had about 100 HALO jumps, and when I explained why I had done what I
>> did and they looked over my logbook (and found out that I was a rigger),
>> all was forgiven.
>
> you still actve?
Nope, I made tandems for 4 or 5 years after I got crippled, but my bones
have gotten too brittle. I can break a leg just falling out of my
wheelchair. I still manifest at Jumptown (Orange), though.

Don

brokeneagle · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 42

On Jan 16, 9:12 pm, PeterLucas wrote:
> No snow jumps, but plenty of water jumps. Same same. Hard to judge exactly
> how far till you get wet. Even harder to judge a good cutaway height.
>
> I used to carry a pocket full of rocks Smile

>
> --
> Peter Lucas
> Brisbane
> Australia

LOL! Yup, landing depth perception difficulties/similarities with
water and snow are equally hard to judge, all right- haven't practiced
deliberate cutaways at any tall heights above water yet; only done the
water training necessary to get my D-- but I love to travel, love to
fly, love to swim, crave the ocean/beach, and can taste salt water up
my nose in anticipation of untasted fun... like to try it for the joy
factor sometime soon-- Very Happy

brokeneagle · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 42

On Jan 16, 11:39 pm, Don wrote:
> My first civilian jump was a 30 second delay from a C-182 in November
> 1969 at the UMass club in Turners Falls, MA using a 28' round lopo with
> a 7TU mod. It was about 30 and clear as a bell - on the ground. At
> altitude, there were ice crystals from about 5,000 ft and up & 0 at
> 7,200 ft. I looked like I had a sunburn when I got down. My hands and
> face were so cold when I opened that I grabbed all the front riser I
> could reach and pulled them way down so I would get to the ground as
> fast as possible - standard practice for HALO. Because I had a B
> license, the ASO (todays S&TA) didn't look at my logbook to check my
> experience and background, and everyone thought I was trying to kill
> myself. At about 50 feet, I let the risers go, turned a bit to face
> into the wind and did a standup. They weren't going to let me jump
> again (ever), but fortunately the President of the club was an ex SF guy
> who had about 100 HALO jumps, and when I explained why I had done what I
> did and they looked over my logbook (and found out that I was a rigger),
> all was forgiven.

DEFinitely understood- great job!... you can get in so much trouble so
fast in cold weather- THAT sounds like a great adventure, my friend-
(grin)
Brokeneagle.

Mike Spurgeon · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 15

brokeneagle wrote:
> It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
> brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
> been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
> a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
> jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
> seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
> on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

I started at a little grass strip operation in Bidwell Ohio in 1976.

One winter day, with a foot of snow on the ground, and a morning
temperature of -14 on the ground (it warmed up to -7 in the afternoon),
the owner spent the whole day on a tractor with a blade, scraping snow
off the runway. He would work for a half hour, and spend about the same
time inside around a pot bellied stove trying to get warm enough to do
it again.

He finished about a half hour before sunset, and came bouncing into the
clubhouse with a "OK, who wants to jump".

No takers...

I felt we had to reward him with one load for all the work, so convinced
two others to get on the Cessna with me.

By the time we got to 7500, it was a little dark.

A nice three way, track, and deploy (two PCs, and I had a 28' rag), and
it was more than a little dark.

On landing there wasn't even a blade of grass sticking out of the snow
to help judge altitude.

And the winds had picked up to 15mph...

I looked down at what I thought was about 50 feet to prepare to land.

Too late...

As I reached up for the risers, I slammed in hard enough to hit the back
of my head hard on the frozen ground.

That's what helmets are for, right?

Then the 15mph dragging across the frozen snow commenced.

I got one capewell released to collapse the main.

And stood up in time to watch the other two repeat pretty much the same
routine.

My logbook entry says:

Too cold, too windy, too dark. Fun jump.

Don · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 20

Mike Spurgeon wrote:
> brokeneagle wrote:
>> It's snowing pretty good here in the shitty city of Atlanta, GA.;
>> brings to mind the times I've jumped in snow as a regular jumper and
>> been put out hanging on the strut of our old Sky-Tractor Cessna 182 on
>> a static-line jump with sleet peppering me in the face by an unnamed
>> jumpmaster as a student years ago; many small bruises and much fun- it
>> seemed sometimes harder to gauge decent landings due to depth of snow
>> on the ground... anyone else? Very Happy

>
> I started at a little grass strip operation in Bidwell Ohio in 1976.
>
> One winter day, with a foot of snow on the ground, and a morning
> temperature of -14 on the ground (it warmed up to -7 in the afternoon),
> the owner spent the whole day on a tractor with a blade, scraping snow
> off the runway. He would work for a half hour, and spend about the same
> time inside around a pot bellied stove trying to get warm enough to do
> it again.
>
> He finished about a half hour before sunset, and came bouncing into the
> clubhouse with a "OK, who wants to jump".
>
> No takers...
>
> I felt we had to reward him with one load for all the work, so convinced
> two others to get on the Cessna with me.
>
> By the time we got to 7500, it was a little dark.
>
> A nice three way, track, and deploy (two PCs, and I had a 28' rag), and
> it was more than a little dark.
>
> On landing there wasn't even a blade of grass sticking out of the snow
> to help judge altitude.
>
> And the winds had picked up to 15mph...
>
> I looked down at what I thought was about 50 feet to prepare to land.
>
> Too late...
>
> As I reached up for the risers, I slammed in hard enough to hit the back
> of my head hard on the frozen ground.
>
> That's what helmets are for, right?
>
> Then the 15mph dragging across the frozen snow commenced.
>
> I got one capewell released to collapse the main.
>
> And stood up in time to watch the other two repeat pretty much the same
> routine.
>
> My logbook entry says:
>
> Too cold, too windy, too dark. Fun jump.

Yep, we thought that those were the good old days! I remember talking
to Lou Sanborn at a West Point (USMA) invitational meet in Walkill,NY in
'74 or '75 and talking about how the Strato Star had revived his
interest in jumping because the landings were so soft.

Don

brokeneagle · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 42

On Jan 18, 11:52 pm, Mike Spurgeon wrote:
> I started at a little grass strip operation in Bidwell Ohio in 1976.
>
> One winter day, with a foot of snow on the ground, and a morning
> temperature of -14 on the ground (it warmed up to -7 in the afternoon),
> the owner spent the whole day on a tractor with a blade, scraping snow
> off the runway. He would work for a half hour, and spend about the same
> time inside around a pot bellied stove trying to get warm enough to do
> it again.
>
> He finished about a half hour before sunset, and came bouncing into the
> clubhouse with a "OK, who wants to jump".
>
> No takers...
>
> I felt we had to reward him with one load for all the work, so convinced
> two others to get on the Cessna with me.
>
> By the time we got to 7500, it was a little dark.
>
> A nice three way, track, and deploy (two PCs, and I had a 28' rag), and
> it was more than a little dark.
>
> On landing there wasn't even a blade of grass sticking out of the snow
> to help judge altitude.
>
> And the winds had picked up to 15mph...
>
> I looked down at what I thought was about 50 feet to prepare to land.
>
> Too late...
>
> As I reached up for the risers, I slammed in hard enough to hit the back
> of my head hard on the frozen ground.
>
> That's what helmets are for, right?
>
> Then the 15mph dragging across the frozen snow commenced.
>
> I got one capewell released to collapse the main.
>
> And stood up in time to watch the other two repeat pretty much the same
> routine.
>
> My logbook entry says:
>
> Too cold, too windy, too dark. Fun jump.

Bravo! Excellent narrative- Told well as I followed along in pain and
grinning w'ye-- (grin) Southern snow seems to be a gentler creature by
far, from my limited experience- Capewells were before I started; our
DZ's student rigs (Skydive N. GA.- Ellijay, GA. Bob Holden and Melvin
Bryant, DZOs) all had the modern riser configurations of the time
(1990) Most of our jumpmasters had jumped Capewell rigs and would
regale us students on rainy days with horror stories of nearly
impossible cutaway situations with them...

The snow by way of the handsome sink is the medal that menti after the wild stem on which they are grafted. If what I say does not serve to enlighten you, it will be of use to the people. If these are silent, the stones will speak. Silence is the greatest persecution; the saints were never silent. It is true that a

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