'Winter' in Arosa

Summer has come to an abrupt end over the weekend: up to 1m of snow at higher altitudes. But I think/ hope it will not remain, as the ground is still too warm. So it will melt away and we hopefully have a nice autumn :-)

 

 

 

 

Kanin

The paragliding side 'Kanin' can be reached from Bovec by gondola (440m-2210m). I had passed this site a couple of times while driving to/ flying from Mangart. But for many years the gondola has not been operating in summer.

In order to reach launch, one has to descend about 100m, but this is rather trricky as it is all very loose gravel and the risk of slipping with the backpack is rather high. There is an other launch at 1700m, which can be reached more easily.

looking back to launch

Mangart (2677m) (the mountain below the clouds)

looking west: Bovec, Kanin

 

Like yesterday perfect conditions on launch, but today it has been more stable and later some high clouds moved in: after 45 minutes I had to land.

The LZ (unfortunately) is quite distant from the gondola station, as there is a small aerodrome with a grass strip at Bovec, used by sailplanes and skydivers.

Diesel costs 1EUR per litre in Slovenja :-)

Vogel

I have been to the Bohinj region only once before (with Marco in autumn of 2012, after my accident. At that time I had left the paraglider at home...) But I liked the region very much and I always had wanted to come back and fly some of the local sites: Vogel, Vogar, Studor. They all share the same LZ by the lake. Vogel can be reached by cable car and chair lift. So in the morning Marco and I left early in order to reach the car train from Most na Soci to Bohinjska Bistrica.

It travels along the same valley as the (narrow and winding) road, but then crosses the mountain range by a 6.6km long tunnel. If you'd be driving across the mountain, then you'd pass the xc-site of Sorica...

The conditions for flying had been perfect. a little head wind for launching, nice thermals (up to about 1800m) and great views. I flew for 1.75hrs, but the flight could have been prolonged quite a bit ;-)

After the flight Marco and I had freshly roasted suckling pig; on the way back we then drove by Lago di Bled -famous for the chaple on the small island.

Lago di Bled

For dinner, some more meat at 'li da Gigiote' (- a vegetarian's / vegan's 'nightmare') in the company of Nicole, Marco, Lorenzo (another Swiss pilot).

Antipasto misto

2kg...

Gemona

 Yesterday: too windy, too many clouds, so we didn't drive the 45' to launch...

Sunset in Romans d'Isonzo

Today (Friday) looked better, but still quite stable and low cloudbase. At noon 8 pilots gathered for the shuttle launch to Mt.Cuarnan.

Conditions had been perfect for launching (headwind about 5kmh); nice thermals, but not a great flight (as they did today in Fiesch) - bur really pleasant. Nicole was flying the 777 Rook3-light. The light version of the R3 launches much better than the 'normal' R3 - but most probably there will never be a R3-light Size L,

Just local flying for about 1.5hrs...

Canazei -2

Interesting day: more humidity and it turned on much earlier - but it ended also much earlier (due to overdevellopment). But once more strong thermals/ lift and great views; fortunately not that many pilots on launch as yesterday.

looking East: Sella, Pordoi, Campitello (middle of valley)

after landing (looking East: Pordoi)

same time: looking west (Catinaccio/ Rosengarten)  :-((

After the flight I drove to Romans d'Isonzo, where I'm allowed to stay at Nicole's place for the next few nights. As I was driving up Passo di Fedaia the first drops of rain started falling...

Canazei-1

Arriving at Canazei at 1800: still many gliders flying and a promising sunset...

Sass Pordoi (2950msl)

 ...but 12 hours later (=Tuesday morning) ...

...the autumn sun should still be strong enough to burn these clouds away...

Less than 3 hours later -there was hope again ;-)

as usual at his time of the year: you're not really alone

The day turned out really nice with strong thermals (and sink) Twice I didn't like the aerologie and moved away -probably due to the general wind from N / NE   ;-)

Pano looking East: Sella, Piz Boe, Pordoi, Marmolada, Col Rodella

Marmolada (3343msl)

 

The flight on ayvri.com

Molveno -2 days

 

Sunday: a nice looking day, but low base (just 100m above launch -inversion?) and rather weak thermals... Lots of pilots and many tandems.

Monday: a bit better... but I 'screwed up' ;-)

...in order to reach the higher mountains behind launch, one needs to be about 200m above launch, then one can attempt the 'transition'. I had enough altitude and could also make the transition, but unfortunately I didn't find lift there :-((

After the flight I drove to Campitello (Val di Fassa), where I'll be staying another 2 nights.

Parusciana (Misox)

On my way to Italy I stopped at Grono (Misox), where I met Davide who was going to show me this site: Parusciana.

We parked my car at the LZ in Grono (a shooting range), then drove a few kilometers to Lumino, from where a small gondola is departing for Parusciana - it has just enough space for 4 persons, the sack(s) with the gliders are hung outside of the gondola.

From the station it's about a 15 minutes hike to launch: but mostly flat or even a bit downhill - so no problem for me ;-)

Launch is facing S-SW and offers a nice view of Bellinzona

Looking up to launch (under the wingtip)

Castaneda/ Santa Maria (there is also a launch)

LZ in Grono (but there is also a LZ at Lumino)

As the conditions had been pretty stable and I had to drive another 4 hours in order to reach Molveno, where I'll be staying for the next 2 nights, I just flew for about 30 minutes. On my way to the highway I dropped Davide at Lumino, so he could retrieve his car.

I'll be back! - Parugiana is a good alternative site to Mornera for me, as there I have to carry my pack much longer and uphill...