Ptarmigan among the rocks. Later in the day cloud base lifted amazingly (to >2800m) and lots of people were flying around take off but we just played at some ground handling comparing xc2 and brontes2.
Dolomiti Day 4
We awoke to cloud base low in the valley snd so we decided to walk up to the bottom of the Marmolada glacier. After walking up throught the cloud it was great to pop out of the top of the cloud sheet at 2800m with some great views.
Ptarmigan among the rocks. Later in the day cloud base lifted amazingly (to >2800m) and lots of people were flying around take off but we just played at some ground handling comparing xc2 and brontes2.
Ptarmigan among the rocks. Later in the day cloud base lifted amazingly (to >2800m) and lots of people were flying around take off but we just played at some ground handling comparing xc2 and brontes2.
Dolomiti Day 3
Higher pressure so a later start but still poss 2 climb 2 3000m just after 1pm. Ian and Trias both topped out on marmolada today at same time as me and I did same xc trip as yesterday this time with plenty company while others landed to take ian airport..
Flight track log here
S face of Marmolada (3300m)
Flight track log here
S face of Marmolada (3300m)
Dolomiti Day 2
Frost overnight. Cable car up. 300 pilots at launch. Tagliatelle funghi 2 mins from takeoff. Nice xc flight including exciting trip up s face of marmolada 2 meet 25k met wind coming over top then exciting trip 2 s to squeak through 2600m pass and w before mellow drift home n with the valley breeze. Classic.
Track log from this flight is here
Track log from this flight is here
Dolomiti day 1
late flight down to gatwick, early flight innsbruk. No sleep. 2.5 hrs later at col rodella above val di fassa. 1.5 hrs later have left the first launch at passo sella (dust devils) and gone to a safer one (col rodella). Still time 4 2 hour flight and above langkofel and sella/pordoi topping out at 3k+. Need bigger gloves Fresh snow sprinkles. Classic scenery. Active air due to the NE met wind making everything feel a little "leeside" and up to 5m/s thermals but no dramas. Big sleep.
Bushwhack ridge July 13th 2008
Decided to stay away from the crowds and the comp in the borders on Sun. Was very tempted to go and meet up with lots of people I haven't seen for awhile but had already arranged to go flying with Trias (greek bloke, based in Dundee, trying to escape Murray's clutches who I flew with in Annecy earlier this year).
Gary C and Paul M led us to the "bushwhack ridge" - a new take off for me.
It's just E of Ben Ledi and leads norwards to Ben Vorlich. Take off is
at about 1700ft about 4k NE of Ben Ledi summit. It faces W and overlooks
Loch Lubnaig. Dense forestry covers most of the hillside below and the
treeline is not far below take off.
Wind was zero when we got there but turned SSW and 20-30kph shortly after
which led to us trying to climb out in some rather horrible/dangerous rotor
blowing along the hill. I had one big collapse while quite low when trying
to give the others space as we all converged on the small S face of the take
off spur in a down-cycle.
Paul decided not to land (good decision, several of my rotory landings had
felt close to crashes) but went for the glide crossing several km of trees
NNW (brave decision) toward the only possible lochside landing halfway up
the loch (the generous landings at the S end of Loch Lubnaig were too far
into wind) but when he got there he worked a S facing spur and then caught
a strong thermal and went N up Glen Ample landing close to Lochearnhead.
After seeing Paul's success (it didn't look certain he would clear the trees
at one point) I relaunched and took a similar route getting 4m/s lift
interspersed with 6m/s sink before getting to 3200ft near where Paul had
climbed out and heading up glen ample. I stayed away from Ben Vorlich
proper (too much wind near the ridges for me) and caught some weak thermals
off the lower hills at the end of glen ample which gave me enough height to
clear Loch Earn. 
I picked up a 1m/s climbs mid-loch and then more on the
N shore which got me to a reasonable height again before a dissappointing
glide with no more lift (wind had now gone much more West) along to St
Fillans at the E end of the loch.
Lots of lenticulars filled the sky at the end of the day as the front
approached.
Look forward to trying the bushwhack another time in a more suitable wind
direction...
Tarmachan to Cruachan 21st June 2008
Took off about 12 into ugly gusty thermic air so I went quickly to the back bowl which gordon g(?) on his blue niviuk showed was working but then pushed forward to join paul m and johann (?) and tim in a strong thermal to base at 5000ft (soft cumulus forming under the top cover). wind seemed SSE low down and straight S up high.
Joe g prepares his passenger for take off
screaming up to base with paul m
cocked up the entry to glen lochay (johann breezed it getting a great climb off the bump W of creag na callich) and despite regaining height in the lee behind creag na callich and the the small ridge to the north with bob g i missed the right moment to follow bob round the top of meall ghaordie and landed high on the flat moor there. I wasn't actually too sad to be landed as it allowed me to release a knot in one brake line. After walking forward for a bit I took off again and enjoyed gentle thermals all the way along lochay (SE wind) resisting the temptation to get drifted back into glen lyon.
tim j with glen lochay behind and twin peaks of cruachan just visible in the distance
at the head of the glen i made a long glide SSE on full bar to get onto the SE face of ben challum where i arrived very low in a SW valley wind flowing up from glen dochart.
looking wsw at ben challum at the head of the glen (bob went through the notch on the north side not so visible here which was probably a better route)
view from head of glen lochay. ben cruachan on the horizon
just managed to work my way up after a long fight and my reward was a glide towards tyndrum and a good thermal from the valley/lee taking me back to 4500 over the village (strong ESE wind)
looking back east to Tyndrum and Ben More behind
from there ben cruachan started winking at me and i headed west again down glen lochy before jumping back into lower glen orchy
lower glen orchy where a zero with strong drift eventually scraped me enough height
and then glen strae before the best climb of the day on ben eunaich....cruachan was now only a glide away but it started to rain and with strong lift everywhere and a wall of black over loch awe i burned 4000ft and landed at the top of loch.
cruachan and glen noe
gathering rain over loch awe
Joe g prepares his passenger for take off
screaming up to base with paul m
cocked up the entry to glen lochay (johann breezed it getting a great climb off the bump W of creag na callich) and despite regaining height in the lee behind creag na callich and the the small ridge to the north with bob g i missed the right moment to follow bob round the top of meall ghaordie and landed high on the flat moor there. I wasn't actually too sad to be landed as it allowed me to release a knot in one brake line. After walking forward for a bit I took off again and enjoyed gentle thermals all the way along lochay (SE wind) resisting the temptation to get drifted back into glen lyon.
tim j with glen lochay behind and twin peaks of cruachan just visible in the distance
at the head of the glen i made a long glide SSE on full bar to get onto the SE face of ben challum where i arrived very low in a SW valley wind flowing up from glen dochart.
looking wsw at ben challum at the head of the glen (bob went through the notch on the north side not so visible here which was probably a better route)
view from head of glen lochay. ben cruachan on the horizon
just managed to work my way up after a long fight and my reward was a glide towards tyndrum and a good thermal from the valley/lee taking me back to 4500 over the village (strong ESE wind)
looking back east to Tyndrum and Ben More behind
from there ben cruachan started winking at me and i headed west again down glen lochy before jumping back into lower glen orchy
lower glen orchy where a zero with strong drift eventually scraped me enough height
and then glen strae before the best climb of the day on ben eunaich....cruachan was now only a glide away but it started to rain and with strong lift everywhere and a wall of black over loch awe i burned 4000ft and landed at the top of loch.
cruachan and glen noe
gathering rain over loch awe
Black mount to Loch Voil
not far but fun with bob g and gary c on sunday 16th June....a bit of everything.....midges and moaning on take off at black mount e side ... sun patches on the moor .... only 10 minutes til first usable cycle and a climb out with bob g into a nice northerly drift.... getting decked on ben dorain from above the summit by the shadows and a light southerly valley wind and a lack of a brain.... boosted straight back up minutes after .... running in front of a wall of wispy snow showers at 6000ft over ben challum.... scooting past ben more in a strong westerly breeze ...buttercup landing near loch voil...rain shower as i packed up....a lift straight down the glen and a pint in the Rob Roy with the boys...
leaving black mount with bob g
looking back to glen coe
Beinn Achaladair (front left), Beinn an Dothaid (front right) with Beinn a Chaisteil behind Bob Gair.
looking east to loch lyon from inside the snow showers above ben challum
glen dochart wispies
approaching ben more in the blue between two walls of snow showers
leaving black mount with bob g
looking back to glen coe
Beinn Achaladair (front left), Beinn an Dothaid (front right) with Beinn a Chaisteil behind Bob Gair.
looking east to loch lyon from inside the snow showers above ben challum
glen dochart wispies
approaching ben more in the blue between two walls of snow showers
Plan Fait out and return - 2nd May 2008
Big friday on the forecast and all the local xc hotshots have taken the day off work! But too many beers round the bbq the night before for us and its a bit of a late start. I try hard to convince jon to leave the valley for the chance of a 150 or even 200k flight but fail.... St Marcel near Chambery is probably the place to start – its probably ok to take off about 11 on such a good day - and the out and return trip with end turnponts of Grenoble and Annecy is achievable. However this means leaving Verthier at 9am and it just doesn't happen.
Nevermind, we walk up to Plan Fait (after some practice its feeling a lot easier now!) and get into the air around 2pm. After some mincing around the teeth we climb to 2500 and try to decide what to do - its one of those days when you could choose to go literally any direction. ”Pointe D'andey”, I bawl to jon and we head off north staying well above 2000m for most of the trip over Lachat du Thones and then on to Jallouvre where I get the jump on Jon finding a better core among the many under a large spread out cloud. Base is now 3000 – definitely big friday!
From there its a quick sprint through sinky air to Pointe D'andey where there is a classic cumulus waiting. Its obvious that the next transition is going to be a key one for the day. Going back the way we came looks sinky and I don't want to try it having been decked by it previously (it got jon too on this day unfortunately) but the way I want to go is SW to Parmelan and it looks worse!
Its very shaded by active cumulus forming a bit out in the valley but I get the feeling it can work and after taking a few turns in the white room I set out. Mega sink and a bit of head wind and its not long before I am ridge surfing but one unexpected climb gets me out of a hole just as another glider lands on a grassy summit to wait out the shadows. Good climbs follow and soon I can push round the corner at Parmelan. I can hear Irwyn and Hairy have taken off at Forclaz on the radio – they have a different type of adventure in mind and it is great fun to join them in beautiful and easy thermals above the teeth and we share the climbs along beefy and on to Mageriaz. There they head off for their bivvy spot and I turn for home to complete the circuit feeling there is plenty of time left in the day but mindful of the thick cirrus layer that has pushed in mid-afternoon. I needn't have worried as the good climbs continue and its a breeze to get back to the lac via Columbier and Rocs de Boeufs again. Not bad for a late start! My final flying day of what has been a great trip.
Track log is here.
Nevermind, we walk up to Plan Fait (after some practice its feeling a lot easier now!) and get into the air around 2pm. After some mincing around the teeth we climb to 2500 and try to decide what to do - its one of those days when you could choose to go literally any direction. ”Pointe D'andey”, I bawl to jon and we head off north staying well above 2000m for most of the trip over Lachat du Thones and then on to Jallouvre where I get the jump on Jon finding a better core among the many under a large spread out cloud. Base is now 3000 – definitely big friday!
From there its a quick sprint through sinky air to Pointe D'andey where there is a classic cumulus waiting. Its obvious that the next transition is going to be a key one for the day. Going back the way we came looks sinky and I don't want to try it having been decked by it previously (it got jon too on this day unfortunately) but the way I want to go is SW to Parmelan and it looks worse!
Its very shaded by active cumulus forming a bit out in the valley but I get the feeling it can work and after taking a few turns in the white room I set out. Mega sink and a bit of head wind and its not long before I am ridge surfing but one unexpected climb gets me out of a hole just as another glider lands on a grassy summit to wait out the shadows. Good climbs follow and soon I can push round the corner at Parmelan. I can hear Irwyn and Hairy have taken off at Forclaz on the radio – they have a different type of adventure in mind and it is great fun to join them in beautiful and easy thermals above the teeth and we share the climbs along beefy and on to Mageriaz. There they head off for their bivvy spot and I turn for home to complete the circuit feeling there is plenty of time left in the day but mindful of the thick cirrus layer that has pushed in mid-afternoon. I needn't have worried as the good climbs continue and its a breeze to get back to the lac via Columbier and Rocs de Boeufs again. Not bad for a late start! My final flying day of what has been a great trip.
Track log is here.
Plan fait - Sire - Plan fait - 1st May 2008
Lots of happy pilots at Plan Fait launch in prospect of another good day. Looks a bit windy though. Quickly to the middle of the Veyrier ridge at 1950m. It is windy and coming from the SW which means there will be a strong headwind going towards our stated goal of Croix de Nivolet. Its windy enough to make you pause before you cross the lake but me, jon (from geneva) and jon shaw all go for it anyway.
The transition goes well for the 1st half but the 2nd half requires full bar into the head wind coming round the corner of Semonoz.
On the far side various tactics emerge. Jon S tries for a good thermal wide, high and handsome over the industrial park and finds several but gets strong drift and makes little progress. I go for the opposite tactic, surfing only 5m above the ridge and only looking for climbs when I need the height to pass an awkward corner or gap. When I do it often takes several attempts to winkle out something useful from the rough broken lift. Progress is slow with forward speed down to less than 10kph at times. Jon fg tries an intermediate way trying to gain height in the best thermals above the ridge but it seems that only my ridge hugging allows net progress.
Just before the powerlines which I know to have a bowl on the far side which is a good thermal generator even in this wind direction I almost get caught in the wind shade of the spur and have to fight like crazy to get back up. Eventually i do and reach the powerline and taking advantage of a lifty cycle squeak over and then maintain with some difficulty until the next cycle comes and I can step climb into wind back up to 1500m.
Pretty soon I am up at 1800m above Semonoz launch and the first critical part of the flight is done. At the far end of the Semonoz ridge there are half a dozen pilots who, having taking off on Semonoz, are all trying to work the broken thermals before jumping the big gap over Aiguebellette to the Revard/Sire ridge. Several are trying the transition but going direct into wind and sinking badly when they hit the lee. I decide to go for it with 1900m and pick a curving line out to match what should be lifty air coming up the SW facing spur. This keeps me well out from the front of the hill and I use plenty of bar and it works out fine and I arrive above the little cliff on the other side which guarantees a friendly boost to start the scratch up the other side.
5km further on there is another critical section where the ridge kinks back to form a huge bowl. The options are to follow the rim back into the bowl (partial lee could be very messy) or strike straight across the mouth of the bowl for a much longer transition and hope to have just enough height to squeak round a rather difficult corner. I leave for the latter with 1700m this time following a blue glider about a k in front. Rough, rough air but full speed bar is the only thing that will get me through the -3.5m/s sink and 25kph head wind and round the corner. The glider in front is pushing less bar than me and sinking lower and lower until he hits mega sink in the partial lee behind the ridge and only a few seconds later is picking out a landing option among the small fields below. By good choice of line and a bit of luck I arrive just at the spot which i decided was the lowest point i could get up from. Unfortunately, the wind is stronger than ever here and as i come off to half bar as terrain approaches I find myself pinned on the windy corner which turns out to be a washing machine of angry anabatic air feeding up the spur mixing with met wind blowing along the slope.
Suddenly the glider isn't flying any more and I look up to see what is going on. I am puzzled as it didn't feel like normal asym or frontal. Various thrashing and I sort it out just in time with trees rushing up towards me and I'm flying again and take advantage of the adrenaline rush to fight my way round the corner to some easier air.
There is one more tricky section getting round the windy corner onto the main Revard face which feels distinctly uncomfortable given the previous shenanigans. Eventually i find a section where i trust the anabatic flow closer in more than the rotory air from an upwind spur further out and manage to gain just enough height to take a glide round the final tricky corner where I am blasted above the Revard take off and join the many other gliders enjoying the section of ridge down to Croix de Nivolet which since it is facing more into wind is much more friendly. 3 hours of pushing to the Croix!
The section from Aiguebellette to the Croix which took 1.5 hrs on the way out takes only 25 minutes on the way back but i get careless and leave at only 1500m for the downwind crossing back onto Semonoz ridge expecting there to be a great thermal on the other side. When i get there all is quiet - this spur is being wind shaded by the ridge I have just left and the normally reliable late afternoon anabatic breeze is absent. Forty minutes later including some marginal scratching over clearings not far above tall trees I have abandoned the W facing aspect and worked my way into the gorge proper and it is here, protected from the met wind that i get a hint of an escape following a weak thermal as it breaks off a minor ridge line and then following it over minor bluffs and humps working each uneven half turn until it bumps into the S face of Semenoz and forms properly. What a delight to sit back, rest my abdominal muscles and not care about maximising the climb anymore! This one is going all the way up!
The flight has one more treat in store for me for as I climb gently to 2000m above the S end of the Semenoz ridge admiring the hard won view of the lake. There in front of me are 3 puffy cumulus at about 2300m in a line leading directly to Plan Fait above the middle of the valley between Semenoz and Roc de Boeuffs. It can only be a convergence line so i go for it and with a couple of turns top up from the middle cloud lose only about 500m in the next 12 or 14km glide direct to Plan Fait.
An unusual and wonderful way to end the day. Not nearly the longest flight of the trip but definitely the most tiring and demanding!
Track log is here
The transition goes well for the 1st half but the 2nd half requires full bar into the head wind coming round the corner of Semonoz.
On the far side various tactics emerge. Jon S tries for a good thermal wide, high and handsome over the industrial park and finds several but gets strong drift and makes little progress. I go for the opposite tactic, surfing only 5m above the ridge and only looking for climbs when I need the height to pass an awkward corner or gap. When I do it often takes several attempts to winkle out something useful from the rough broken lift. Progress is slow with forward speed down to less than 10kph at times. Jon fg tries an intermediate way trying to gain height in the best thermals above the ridge but it seems that only my ridge hugging allows net progress.
Just before the powerlines which I know to have a bowl on the far side which is a good thermal generator even in this wind direction I almost get caught in the wind shade of the spur and have to fight like crazy to get back up. Eventually i do and reach the powerline and taking advantage of a lifty cycle squeak over and then maintain with some difficulty until the next cycle comes and I can step climb into wind back up to 1500m.
Pretty soon I am up at 1800m above Semonoz launch and the first critical part of the flight is done. At the far end of the Semonoz ridge there are half a dozen pilots who, having taking off on Semonoz, are all trying to work the broken thermals before jumping the big gap over Aiguebellette to the Revard/Sire ridge. Several are trying the transition but going direct into wind and sinking badly when they hit the lee. I decide to go for it with 1900m and pick a curving line out to match what should be lifty air coming up the SW facing spur. This keeps me well out from the front of the hill and I use plenty of bar and it works out fine and I arrive above the little cliff on the other side which guarantees a friendly boost to start the scratch up the other side.
5km further on there is another critical section where the ridge kinks back to form a huge bowl. The options are to follow the rim back into the bowl (partial lee could be very messy) or strike straight across the mouth of the bowl for a much longer transition and hope to have just enough height to squeak round a rather difficult corner. I leave for the latter with 1700m this time following a blue glider about a k in front. Rough, rough air but full speed bar is the only thing that will get me through the -3.5m/s sink and 25kph head wind and round the corner. The glider in front is pushing less bar than me and sinking lower and lower until he hits mega sink in the partial lee behind the ridge and only a few seconds later is picking out a landing option among the small fields below. By good choice of line and a bit of luck I arrive just at the spot which i decided was the lowest point i could get up from. Unfortunately, the wind is stronger than ever here and as i come off to half bar as terrain approaches I find myself pinned on the windy corner which turns out to be a washing machine of angry anabatic air feeding up the spur mixing with met wind blowing along the slope.
Suddenly the glider isn't flying any more and I look up to see what is going on. I am puzzled as it didn't feel like normal asym or frontal. Various thrashing and I sort it out just in time with trees rushing up towards me and I'm flying again and take advantage of the adrenaline rush to fight my way round the corner to some easier air.
There is one more tricky section getting round the windy corner onto the main Revard face which feels distinctly uncomfortable given the previous shenanigans. Eventually i find a section where i trust the anabatic flow closer in more than the rotory air from an upwind spur further out and manage to gain just enough height to take a glide round the final tricky corner where I am blasted above the Revard take off and join the many other gliders enjoying the section of ridge down to Croix de Nivolet which since it is facing more into wind is much more friendly. 3 hours of pushing to the Croix!
The section from Aiguebellette to the Croix which took 1.5 hrs on the way out takes only 25 minutes on the way back but i get careless and leave at only 1500m for the downwind crossing back onto Semonoz ridge expecting there to be a great thermal on the other side. When i get there all is quiet - this spur is being wind shaded by the ridge I have just left and the normally reliable late afternoon anabatic breeze is absent. Forty minutes later including some marginal scratching over clearings not far above tall trees I have abandoned the W facing aspect and worked my way into the gorge proper and it is here, protected from the met wind that i get a hint of an escape following a weak thermal as it breaks off a minor ridge line and then following it over minor bluffs and humps working each uneven half turn until it bumps into the S face of Semenoz and forms properly. What a delight to sit back, rest my abdominal muscles and not care about maximising the climb anymore! This one is going all the way up!
The flight has one more treat in store for me for as I climb gently to 2000m above the S end of the Semenoz ridge admiring the hard won view of the lake. There in front of me are 3 puffy cumulus at about 2300m in a line leading directly to Plan Fait above the middle of the valley between Semenoz and Roc de Boeuffs. It can only be a convergence line so i go for it and with a couple of turns top up from the middle cloud lose only about 500m in the next 12 or 14km glide direct to Plan Fait.
An unusual and wonderful way to end the day. Not nearly the longest flight of the trip but definitely the most tiring and demanding!
Track log is here
Plan fait - Lugrin - 27th April 2008
After a short day yesterday (for me anyway) the pysche returned and it was a happy bunch heading for launch in anticipation after a rather later start than optimal. Despite me moaning about being late jon insisted we walk up (thanks it was good for me even if it didnt feel like it at the time!) and got in the air about half two. Forecast and sky were good with no OD risk but higher met wind on the way for the end of day was mentioned.
Jon and I shared quick climbs up to the teeth in thermals with a pronounced drift in the SW met wind which was driving the thermals round the N end of the teeth. Jon had already shouted the task he wanted to try - heading to the Mole near Mieussy and then taking the range of hills to the NW of Mieussy towards Lake Geneva and although I probably wouldnt have tried going that way in a SW myself I followed eagerly to Parmelan where we got a nice climb to 2500m before diving round the corner towards Sommet d'Andey. I missed the first leeside climb that Jon got and after that I was guinea pig - ahead and low making the most of the glide close to the trees. Thermal theory said that there should be some N inflow/valley breeze at least at low levels into the mouth of the valley below d'Andey (this is the valley that leads up to St Jean le Sixt) and indeed there was just enough to maintain on the NW facing spur when I got there.
Eventually, we worked our way up and I sussed the side ways (NW) drift of a feeder thermal towards a ridge line exposed to the SW met wind higher up quicker and got the jump on Jon after a satisfyingly swift climb from the ridge line to 2500m. No waiting as you gotta use your height in this game and I struck out for the summit of the Mole relishing the view and the memories of having been on the same glide on my first big flight in the Alps in spring 2003.
I quick top up on the Mole and its decision time. I decide against jon's ridge line - it looks small and quite a wooded route so head to Mieussy where another easy transition puts me above launch where a couple of other gliders are climbing ineffectively. I decided to fly across the wide bowls towards Pte Marcelly and its not long before i hit a good one.
Its quickly approaching a more serious decision time now as the drift is still strong from the SW and there is a fair amount of high, roadless and snow covered terrain over the back. But with a few wisps of cloud to go for and feeling the force is strong i go for it and fly through some amazing terrain. After working some zeros in the middle just to make sure, its clear I have a glide out and arrive high on the spur above Montriond (ha, this is where Owen got to in 2003!).
I fail to climb out from this spur as there is only gusty inconsistent lift so head N again down the valley. Huge powerlines cross the valley and of course its low over one of these that i get a climb out (why does this always happen) and get to base under what looks like a rather black cloud street leading NE to Switzerland.
Unfortunately, I bottle it. In spite of no signs of increasing met wind - it is still 15 or 20 kph from the SW I am concerned about trying to cross the near 3000m ridge before the border so take a more conservative line N towards Lake Geneva which is still spectacular and spend some time just hanging out on the peaks close to the lake and the border wondering what landings are like if I glide round the corner towards Villeneuve. Scheisse, should have packed my passport!
While wondering indecisively about higher winds coming and even lake/low level winds and while still in orbit I spot a glider setting up to land 10k away on the lake shore. Its not til I land beside him that I realise the other glider is Jon who can't believe it either. He had gone NW from Mieussy as originally intended and had an exciting full frontal after squeaking low through a col to get a glide to the lake.
Hitching back was a whole other adventure (a very cute girl who flirted a lot with us, a poseur in his monster V8 truck going out on the pull in Geneve, the sky-diver going home for dinner, the guy who invited us to his village country and western festival the following weekend and several more).
Damn no camera!
Jon and I shared quick climbs up to the teeth in thermals with a pronounced drift in the SW met wind which was driving the thermals round the N end of the teeth. Jon had already shouted the task he wanted to try - heading to the Mole near Mieussy and then taking the range of hills to the NW of Mieussy towards Lake Geneva and although I probably wouldnt have tried going that way in a SW myself I followed eagerly to Parmelan where we got a nice climb to 2500m before diving round the corner towards Sommet d'Andey. I missed the first leeside climb that Jon got and after that I was guinea pig - ahead and low making the most of the glide close to the trees. Thermal theory said that there should be some N inflow/valley breeze at least at low levels into the mouth of the valley below d'Andey (this is the valley that leads up to St Jean le Sixt) and indeed there was just enough to maintain on the NW facing spur when I got there.
Eventually, we worked our way up and I sussed the side ways (NW) drift of a feeder thermal towards a ridge line exposed to the SW met wind higher up quicker and got the jump on Jon after a satisfyingly swift climb from the ridge line to 2500m. No waiting as you gotta use your height in this game and I struck out for the summit of the Mole relishing the view and the memories of having been on the same glide on my first big flight in the Alps in spring 2003.
I quick top up on the Mole and its decision time. I decide against jon's ridge line - it looks small and quite a wooded route so head to Mieussy where another easy transition puts me above launch where a couple of other gliders are climbing ineffectively. I decided to fly across the wide bowls towards Pte Marcelly and its not long before i hit a good one.
Its quickly approaching a more serious decision time now as the drift is still strong from the SW and there is a fair amount of high, roadless and snow covered terrain over the back. But with a few wisps of cloud to go for and feeling the force is strong i go for it and fly through some amazing terrain. After working some zeros in the middle just to make sure, its clear I have a glide out and arrive high on the spur above Montriond (ha, this is where Owen got to in 2003!).
I fail to climb out from this spur as there is only gusty inconsistent lift so head N again down the valley. Huge powerlines cross the valley and of course its low over one of these that i get a climb out (why does this always happen) and get to base under what looks like a rather black cloud street leading NE to Switzerland.
Unfortunately, I bottle it. In spite of no signs of increasing met wind - it is still 15 or 20 kph from the SW I am concerned about trying to cross the near 3000m ridge before the border so take a more conservative line N towards Lake Geneva which is still spectacular and spend some time just hanging out on the peaks close to the lake and the border wondering what landings are like if I glide round the corner towards Villeneuve. Scheisse, should have packed my passport!
While wondering indecisively about higher winds coming and even lake/low level winds and while still in orbit I spot a glider setting up to land 10k away on the lake shore. Its not til I land beside him that I realise the other glider is Jon who can't believe it either. He had gone NW from Mieussy as originally intended and had an exciting full frontal after squeaking low through a col to get a glide to the lake.
Hitching back was a whole other adventure (a very cute girl who flirted a lot with us, a poseur in his monster V8 truck going out on the pull in Geneve, the sky-diver going home for dinner, the guy who invited us to his village country and western festival the following weekend and several more).
Damn no camera!
Plan Fait - Notre Dame de Commiers - 25th April 2008
Great forecast and base at a good level in the morning - game on! Hairy and Jon force me to walk up to Plan Fait and i arrive in quivering sweating mess. Unfit as I have ever been. At least in the air i may feel more able to keep up!
In sparkling spring conditions with active clouds and with big streets leading unusual directions over the Bauges we climb quickly to the teeth at about 2pm before pushing into the NW breeze to Veyrier as we check out the day.
too much snow on the aravis - lets go to the bauges!
hairy ahead on the anteater as we glide for veyrier
cloud streets cover the bauges
Jon has set the task of going down to Dent D'Arclusaz, crossing to Grand Arc and then trying to find the way back to Perroix - a very tricky final leg based on previous efforts and I am not much enthused but in the absence of better suggestions we acquiesce.
Jon and I get a much better glide from Veyrier to Roc de Boeuffs than Hairy and he is trapped low as we surf up and ping out to over 2000m immediately.
hairy approaches beefy
High at the end of Roc de Boeufs I wait for Jon who is a glide behind but this almost decks me as i get trapped in sink cycle ending up way below ridge height in an awkward along slope breeze. It takes 15 mins to get back up by which time Jon has cruised over my head at base heading for the next mountain.
Now a glide behind Jon i see him skying out ahead and heading for Dent D'arclusaz but I miss the cycle and have to head to Colombier where a scratch up over trees leads to a ballistic thermal which cartwheels me into the sky sucking me up only metres from the rocks on the N face and exploding me up over the snowy summit bowls. No photos but images burned in my brain. Thinking i can see jon on Arclusaz I cut across but it turns out to be a different Mantra although i spot him far head on the next transition to Grand Arcs.
When I get there there is ragged lift but with the help of a couple of boisterous half thermals and another glider to locate the best lift I am back up to 1700m and am surprised to note a northerly drift has shifted me away from Grand Arcs. No sign of jon (turns out he pushed N along grand arcs).
I was expecting the southerly valley wind to dominate even at mid-levels here and this break from the brain model helps me make a snap decision to follow the wind and push South - there are great clouds to go for.
A sinky glide puts me back surfing trees and drops me into a weak low level southerly valley wind for a few minutes until I manage to push round a corner and get my reward - one of the biggest smoothest 5m/s climbs ever which boosts me to the base of a classic cumulus directly above 4 gliders laid out on Chamoux take off.
For the next 50k i fight a balance between staying on the lower ridges where the wind is 15-20kph NNW ( a quartering tail wind) and the temptation to go high on the snowy Belledonne. Every time I go high however the wind is directly from the W and is strong enough to severely reduce my progress to the S. The sail planes mock my lack of speed and glide performance from above.
A low save at Allevard (school gliders out ground handling by the lake) and a beautiful climb from a col just as I thought I was landing on the low hills between valley and Belledonne get me past Grenoble by about 7pm.
I almost cock it up near the end pushing for a few extra km and dynamically soaring a series of hills until I have nowhere else to go - my narrow valley is blocked by a lake and the potential of surfing the slopes in increasing winds looks dodgy. My chosen landing place proves less than ideal and some heavy bar not far off the ground is needed to help push back into wind to avoid landing in a deep bowl and I come down vertically rather close to some powerlines.
looking N to the conspicuous Dent Crolles on the ridge above St Hilaire from my rather windy landing place
A lorry driver late for work in Grenoble deposits me tired but happy by the train station but a rail strike means it takes ages to get to Annecy its well after midnight til i get a taxi up the lac to the maison du moulin where all is quiet except for Irwyn who has waited up to greet me with a dram by the bbq embers. Slainte mhath!
Track log
In sparkling spring conditions with active clouds and with big streets leading unusual directions over the Bauges we climb quickly to the teeth at about 2pm before pushing into the NW breeze to Veyrier as we check out the day.
too much snow on the aravis - lets go to the bauges!
hairy ahead on the anteater as we glide for veyrier
cloud streets cover the bauges
Jon has set the task of going down to Dent D'Arclusaz, crossing to Grand Arc and then trying to find the way back to Perroix - a very tricky final leg based on previous efforts and I am not much enthused but in the absence of better suggestions we acquiesce.
Jon and I get a much better glide from Veyrier to Roc de Boeuffs than Hairy and he is trapped low as we surf up and ping out to over 2000m immediately.
hairy approaches beefy
High at the end of Roc de Boeufs I wait for Jon who is a glide behind but this almost decks me as i get trapped in sink cycle ending up way below ridge height in an awkward along slope breeze. It takes 15 mins to get back up by which time Jon has cruised over my head at base heading for the next mountain.
Now a glide behind Jon i see him skying out ahead and heading for Dent D'arclusaz but I miss the cycle and have to head to Colombier where a scratch up over trees leads to a ballistic thermal which cartwheels me into the sky sucking me up only metres from the rocks on the N face and exploding me up over the snowy summit bowls. No photos but images burned in my brain. Thinking i can see jon on Arclusaz I cut across but it turns out to be a different Mantra although i spot him far head on the next transition to Grand Arcs.
When I get there there is ragged lift but with the help of a couple of boisterous half thermals and another glider to locate the best lift I am back up to 1700m and am surprised to note a northerly drift has shifted me away from Grand Arcs. No sign of jon (turns out he pushed N along grand arcs).
I was expecting the southerly valley wind to dominate even at mid-levels here and this break from the brain model helps me make a snap decision to follow the wind and push South - there are great clouds to go for.
A sinky glide puts me back surfing trees and drops me into a weak low level southerly valley wind for a few minutes until I manage to push round a corner and get my reward - one of the biggest smoothest 5m/s climbs ever which boosts me to the base of a classic cumulus directly above 4 gliders laid out on Chamoux take off.
For the next 50k i fight a balance between staying on the lower ridges where the wind is 15-20kph NNW ( a quartering tail wind) and the temptation to go high on the snowy Belledonne. Every time I go high however the wind is directly from the W and is strong enough to severely reduce my progress to the S. The sail planes mock my lack of speed and glide performance from above.
A low save at Allevard (school gliders out ground handling by the lake) and a beautiful climb from a col just as I thought I was landing on the low hills between valley and Belledonne get me past Grenoble by about 7pm.
I almost cock it up near the end pushing for a few extra km and dynamically soaring a series of hills until I have nowhere else to go - my narrow valley is blocked by a lake and the potential of surfing the slopes in increasing winds looks dodgy. My chosen landing place proves less than ideal and some heavy bar not far off the ground is needed to help push back into wind to avoid landing in a deep bowl and I come down vertically rather close to some powerlines.
looking N to the conspicuous Dent Crolles on the ridge above St Hilaire from my rather windy landing place
A lorry driver late for work in Grenoble deposits me tired but happy by the train station but a rail strike means it takes ages to get to Annecy its well after midnight til i get a taxi up the lac to the maison du moulin where all is quiet except for Irwyn who has waited up to greet me with a dram by the bbq embers. Slainte mhath!
Track log
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