Arosa - Leeloo / LeelooX

Weisshorn Sunrise - Webcam (15.2.)

Sun (16.2.) I have arrived in Arosa in the evening, as the fcst for the coming week was looking rather promising ;-)

Mon (17.2.) Excellent conditions (but cold!). As my wing has been still very dusty from the flights in Marocco, I have taken along that wing, in order to' clean' it a bit by launching/ landing in the snow ;-)

1st flight: I launched shortly before noon, not expecting too much. But as it turned out there have been good thermals almost everywhere: thermal tops at 2620m :-)) I landed after a little more than 30' near the gondola station. @Marlies: many thanks for your assistance on launch!

2nd flight: initially I had planned to land in Arosa, but as I had been able to climb back up to >2700m, I decided to head to Chur: loooong glide (on half bar) until Maladers; here the Skytraxx indicated a windspeed of 21-29kmh in Chur: uneventful landing just North of Masans. The bus station lies just 200m from where I landed and a bus arrived already within 10' of my getting there, taking my to the train station for my return to Arosa.

@PeterW: thanks for helping me getting ready!

Pano looking North towards Landquart

All in all a very nice day with conditions much better than predicted by Burnair...

Tue (18.1.) ...another promising looking day

Sunrise at 0730

But today the wind has been a real 'problem': not too strong (greatly variing in speed though), but coming from all the directions which are unlaunchable here on the Weisshorn. I had taken along my LeelooX, which might have contributed to my not beeing able to launch, as I have much less experience with this wing. I've made several unsuccessful attempts, but gave up in the end. Bruno has been able to launch, but reported very bumpy conditions... @Hampi/ PeterW: many thanks for your patience and assistance!

...packing up...

Wed (19.2.) High cirrus clouds dampend the thermals and I had to wait rather long until I have been able to launch on the FIS-slope with 0 tailwind; but the LeelooX launched perfectly in this 0-wind condition.

...taking pictures...

Whereas 2 days ago getting high has been a 'piece of cake', today 'some work' was required ;-) But the wing turnes nicely in these weak conditions. I've also tried some wingovers, but some more training is necessary in order to feel at ease...

Landing after 1h22min on the golf course (nordic track), just a few minutes walk from the bus stop.

Thu (20.2.)  Same as yesterday: a long wait until 0 tailwind on the FIS-slope; unfortunately by then the sky was almost completely overcast. Still I have been able to fly for 30' and climbing up to 2600m over 'Arlenwald/ Hauptichopf'.

Teneriffe (TFS) -4 Taucho

For the last 3 days I have been groundet due to a 'conjungivitis' (Bindehautentzündung) of my left eye. It had started in the early hours of Thursday (30.1.). Luckily there is an ophtalmologist (Augenarzt) in Los Christianos, where I had received an appointment the same morning. He prescribed some eye-drops to be taken 3 times/ day for a week and the consult with my eye doctor at home. Contrary to the same problem I had while visiting Japan in 2019, the drops had an immediate effect and every day the eye hurt less when exposed to (bright) light. Yesterday I had accompanied Hartmut for a flight from Taucho - as a 'test' in order to see how my eye would 'take' bright sunshine. 

Taucho: Hartmut launching his 'oldtimer' (Wings of Change) 

As everything felt (close to) normal this morning (Sun, 2.2.), I decided to make the last flight during this year's visit. It turned out to be a short flight, as the thermals have been rather weak... Actually I had wanted to land at 'Bahia Principe', the LZ closest to our appartement, but the stronger than expected headwind made me choose an intermediate LZ.