Last of January Tribute, with Eagles

RC and I hiked up to the Tiger South launch early in the hopes for a mellow sledder. Upon arrival it was blowing in 10-15mph from the South with cumulus clouds filling the sky. Right after I launched a young Eagle was flying in front of me and slowly working its way up the ridge. Since I had no instruments I just followed and hoped I could keep up. He led out and I followed until I saw him get a small climb off a low ridge. I proceeded there and climbed up too. We topped that out a few hundred feet or so and he led out again. We glided for a while further up the ridge until he hooked into some more lift along a ridge and climbed, I followed and hooked in for a few hundred feet or more of lift. He led out again deep, I followed and he took a climb and was gone. I lost him but not before hooking into the same lift that he had found. I bobbled around TM and checked out the frosted treeline and crisp Mountains further back for awhile alone. I went back the way I came and RC and I soared around in the mellow ridge lift with other birds, mainly Bald Eagles. A wonderful day to be flying with the birds. I just trusted that this Eagle knew what he was doing and followed along with no instruments. It's always a pleasure to try to mimic their senses and follow along with these guys. They are excellent fliers and instinctively know what we are always trying to pursure. It was a pleasure soaring with you young eagle, thank you for letting me follow for a few brief moments in our little dance.
After an hour of soaring around, I bumped into a sailplane that was following the clouds but it didnt seem to be working as well as following the Eagle. Wearing only running tights and a small jacket it was time to land after an hour or so. What an excellent day and a tribute to a fallen pilot. SM