Arosa (again)

While this exceptional weather is continuing, I returned for the third time this month to Arosa.
Thermals often have been (too) weak, but also on some flights ok. I flew locally as well as to Chur (I landed at Domat/ Ems - lots of valley wind: close to 30kmh) and also to Langwies. There I arrived (surprinsingly) high enough, but the thermals have been very weak -almost non-existent- only strong enough for the eagle to climb away ;-)

Chur

abm Felsberg, looking West towards Domat/ Ems

Medergen

Langwies

Next day (Wednesday): finally really nice conditions! After having 'cruised' around 
Arosa for almost an hour I decided to fly again to Langwies. Today I arrived much higher at 'Seta'. The thermal there was really strong, but I was unable to center it properly and it didn't feel confortable. So I headed away and found something much smoother/ more mellow near Pirigen. 2 or 3 more nice thermals brought me to Chur. I made the crossing over to 'Calanda', but knew, that I wouldn't find anything useable there. Landing at my 'favorite' spot in Masans, just 2 minutes from the bus stop...

Langwies / Seta

over Pirigen

Montalin: Chur, Calanda

Chur

Thursday, my last day in Arosa in February: quite some wind in the forecast, as well as actually also on the Säntis and Weissfluh. Fortunately conditions on the Weisshorn still permitted an easy (forward) launch direction Sattelhütte. Some very nice thermals, but also lots of sink at the same position just 10mins later...

about 2750m

Arosa's ski area seen from Schafrügg

(Full) Moon

found on Instagram ©Filip Singer

Arosa (more)

4 consecutive days with great weather... (actually even more, but I could only take advantage of 4).

Thursday: 3 flights - I can't rmember the last time I made 3 flights in Arosa on a single day. Nice -but weak- thermals: 1 flight lasted more than 50 mins :-)

Friday:3 flights: first flight very similar to yesterdays first flight, second flight - absolutely contrary to the forecast and my expectations: NADA!!! 3rd flight again to Chur ('playing' with my Alfapilot).

Erich

Langlaufloipe Maran: Marlies?

Saturday: my first flight here this year that lasted more than 1 hour (actually 1:32) and where I could climb (a little) above launch :-))  On the second flight - just an hour later - absolutely nothing.

Tschuggen Hotel: Spa by Mario Botta

Today also 'Fullmoonskiing' or for us: fullmoon flying:
Peter (Nold) and Andy (Schlegel) both had good lauches; I aborted twice and then packed up as the catabatic wind slowly got stronger. Many thanks to Marlies for her assistance!!

looking towards Arosa

But the trip up to the Weisshorn was well worth anyway: great views.

Sunday: only 1 flight: conditions much less favorable than yesterday :-((.
Then I started driving home early in order to pass the 'bottlenecks' before the traffic would jam there. So I got home without any problems, but lots of traffic already..

... the early days...

https://vimeo.com/311987833

Unfortunately, I have not been able to upload the video to my blog :-(
Just click the link and enjoy  :-))

Arosa (cont)

Two more nice days here in Arosa.

Tuesday: 2 flights; ideal launching conditions in a light NE-wind. Contrary to all expectations (for this time of the day/ year) on the first flight I found some weak thermals above 'Tschuggen'. I could climb 100+m and prolong the flight to 25minutes :-))
On the second flight unfortunatley no more thermals.

Wednesday: 2 flights; launches in nil wind (or even a hint of tailwind)
- sledder to Arosa: landed for the first time on the 'temporary' LZ near the train station;

Medergen

- sledder to Chur: taking pictures and 'playing' with my Alfapilot.

Chur - historical city

Weisshorn: Sunset at 1730 (Webcam)

Arosa

Webcam Weisshorn

The webcam at 0750 is showning a beautiful sunrise; so a sledder should be possible; Chur is still covered by clouds, which are supposed to break up later...

--------------------

The day turned out as 'promised', actually even less cold than I had anticipated. so for the first flight I was rather 'overdressed'  ;-)

1. flight: conditions on top/ at launch:absolutely no wind. Just a sledder to Arosa-Isla: no thermals at all, not even reduced sink as it was still too early.

Maran/ Golf: cross-country tracks

There is so much snow this year, that we've 'got' a new LZ ;-)

LZ Winter 2018/ 19

In order to dispose of the huge amounts of snow, it was dumped onto the lake, thus building a nice 'platform' near the train station we can now land on.

2.flight to Chur: a little West-wind on launch. On the way to Maladers reduced sink and above Maladers and also in Chur some weak thermals, allowing me to extend the flight beyond 30', which is rather unusual at this time of the year.

Chur, Sapünweg (?)

Tomorrow hopefully more of the same ;-)