What Wind?

In most landscapes, the windward sides of hills are often the best places to look for lift.  This is usually true of clouds as well, especially if the sun is weak due to haze, high thin cover, or low sun angle.  It's even more true of very large cloud masses or thermal streets, and the shade they produce.  Conversely, downwind or down-sun sides of hills, clouds or shaded areas are places to expect sink.  Where wind and sun are coming from the same direction, the windward/sunward side of any hill or cumulus is nearly always a best bet.  When forced to choose between sun and wind, go with whichever seems to be exerting the strongest influence (e.g. high clear sunlight with light winds, or strong breeze in low, hazy sunlight).There are notable exceptions to this generalization about the windward side of terrain features and clouds.  In some mountains, thermal lift is often better on the lee side of hills, where the air is protected from wind and has more time to heat.  Another exception is the case of shear or sea-breeze front, where a cooler, stable air mass is wedging under a warmer or less stable one.  In this situation, an interface between the two may be anchored on a piece of high ground.  Also, it may spawn a street-like line of cumuli that will likely lie upwind of the lift found at lower altitudes.  From low on the cooler/stable side of a shear, you may have to run downwind beyond any cumulus to find good lift… Confusing?  You bet, but it becomes easier to comprehend with experience.