skybytch 273 #1 January 18, 2006 This weekend I was reminded why I don't like to do RW in the winter. It was cold on Sunday. Yes, I am a cold wussy but even people who normally don't complain about how cold it is were complaining about how cold it was. So of course I let myself be talked into jumping. Not only did I let myself be talked into jumping, I let myself be talked into doing RW. RW is fun and I'm better at it than I am at freeflying (which isn't saying much). But I let myself be talked into doing a four way on which I was the person with the slowest fall rate and the person with the fastest fall rate falls pretty fast. Since it was damn cold I wasn't going to do any skydiving without multiple layers of clothing under my jumpsuit. My "fast" belly suit allows only one layer of clothing underneath before it begins to look like the casing of an overstuffed sausage so I grabbed my "slow" (i.e. baggy) suit. Of course I had left my fullface helmet at home, primarily because I haven't gotten around to cleaning out the little pieces of the warning label that the mice left behind when they were gathering material for their nest. Instead I wore my open face helmet and a pair of goggles. And off we went. Did I mention that it was cold? Well, it was. It was the kind of cold that makes it hard to breathe, much less think about the points we were supposed to be turning. My chin, cheeks and nose quickly went numb, which did help a bit. My baggy suit, while comfortable even with multiple layers of clothing underneath, makes falling fast far from effortless. I spent the entire skydive trying to stay down with the formation and wondering whether I would get warmer sooner if I pulled high or sucked it low. I compromised and pulled at 3k. It was a bit warmer under canopy than it had been in freefall, but I still could barely feel my fingers and what I did feel there hurt. Obviously my Neuman gloves are not the winter variety. And my feet were cold too. And then my face started warming up... I should've pulled higher. Let's just say that the spot wasn't ideal. Despite my best efforts to get back I ended up landing as close as I could get to the road in the (muddy) south field. It was a beautifully executed stand up landing, way out there where no one could see it. Did I mention that it was cold? Did you know that cold mud all over your shoes makes your already cold feet even colder? Well if you didn't, now you do. So, all you fast falling chunks of meat out there. I love ya, but don't expect me to do RW with you in the winter if you can't learn how to fall slow enough that I don't have to wear my sausage suit to keep up! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #2 January 18, 2006 Yes, but you got to see me. So the weekend wasn't a total wash. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #3 January 18, 2006 Quote Yes, but you got to see me. So the weekend wasn't a total wash. I also got drunk, got laid and had someone cook me breakfast this weekend. While nice, none of that makes up for what I went through on Sunday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #4 January 18, 2006 Except for the fact that you actually got into the formation and stood the landing up , and that I pulled at 4500 , that was my jump sunday .... hands were so cold I could not gather the lines... then again my gloves I had borrowed had holes, I had one layer of clothing, and it was a sunset load...small hail or big rain drops were getting us in the door ...I hate cold jumping also Thank goodness the DZ had a dryer and I had 4 quarters Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #5 January 18, 2006 QuoteI also got drunk, got laid and had someone cook me breakfast this weekend. I thought that part was just going to be between us. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrelr 0 #6 January 19, 2006 Try CRW in midwinter. First load takes off before sunup. Open out the door... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leapdog 0 #7 January 19, 2006 QuoteQuote Yes, but you got to see me. So the weekend wasn't a total wash. I also got drunk, got laid and had someone cook me breakfast this weekend. While nice, none of that makes up for what I went through on Sunday. Dude, I would walk up hill both ways in a blizzard to get laid and have someone cook for me. Are you on medication? Gunnery Sergeant of Marines "I would like it if I were challenged mentally at my job and not feel like I'm mentally challenged." - Co-worker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #8 January 19, 2006 I don't do it cause it just feels way colder than when I am in a sit. In fact, winter is the reason I started freeflying last year. Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
