In the absence of a prevailing wind, thermals will:
1) Go down slope before the sun comes up
2) Go down slope after the sun goes down
3)Between when the sun come up and goes down, there are NO hard and fast rules.
During periods of sunshine last week, I had up themals, down thermals, and swirling thermals at ALL times during the day. There are so many variables, you just can't predict.
Yes, if you are on a sparsely treed slope facing directly east, the thermals will go up after sunup, but not so on the west/north side of the mountain. Clouds going between you and the sun, they switch, etc.
So, it is interesting to try and play the thermals, but when the sun comes up, you just can't rely on them.
Correct about the slopes, a hot slope with rising air has to "pull" the air displaced from somewhere, sometimes the opposite slope or an adjacent dark timber face, etc. The air can't just all rise from everywhere at the same time, not physically possible.
Both of these things have an affect on thermals.
Wanna hunt CO before they turn into CA and experience it first hand. Just gotta suck two other guys into coming along.
