Utah -Day 4 -Monroe: windier

Today already many more people showed up for a ride to Monroe Peak. Also the port-a-pottis had to be driven to launch. Therefore some creative loading was required.



But it was a little too much for the "UPV" (ultimate paragliding vehicule), which overheated on the way up...



On Monroe the winds were a little stronger, gustier and more cross, so our group of 5 decided not to fly.



We then tried our luck on Cove, but it was even gustier there - which seems to be normal in the afternoon according to what Stacy told us later.

Utah -Day 3 -Monroe

With Jochen, Arnie, and Jeff we drove to Monroe Peak. The road is in excellent condition! (2WD)
At a lower launch )Monroe-9) I saw some Sego lilies (Utah's state flower).


Sego Lily

Excellent visibility and not too much wind to launch from the top.
After a low safe I found a good thermal up tp 4600m.
Above Cove then I had trouble finding something going UP, going DOWN there was plenty...






I landed a '12-minutes', where Stacy picked me up.


'12-Minutes'


Jochen met about the same. But Arnie got high quickly and flew North. He finally landed at xxx, from where I picked him up - this was a 120km.
COOL man!


Arnie launching


Manti Temple
on the way back

Utah -Day 2 -Inspo and Francis

strange, strange...
the wind flow at PotM was out of the North (very unusual for mornings) - so no early morning soaring :-(

Today I refilled the car for the first time: regular unleaded: 3.32USD/ USG, that's approx 0.85CHF/l or: more than a USD less than in Switzerland.

We met later at Ken's place (Ken is the head meet organizer for the RRN (Red Rock Nationals in Richfield).
Here I was allowed to sit-in in a planning meeting with Ken, Janet, Stacy, Jochen, Neill, Ann (?).
It was very interesting to see how dedicated these guys and gals went about this business and how many things they need to plan and consider: very impressive!
I could also fill my oxygen bottle for the first time.


planning meeting at Ken's

In the early afternoon we went to Inspo, where I could set up everything for the first time.
Jochen got off well and after scrating around in front he found a nice thermal which took him up high.
I found not much and after a scratin around low had to land...


Jochen



We then drove North for an evening flight off Francis, but unfortunately the road was closed :-((



On the way down to Richfield Jochen and I stopped for a Sushi-dinner - Stacy 'declined' our invitation...

Just before getting to Richfield, we got stopped by 'your local, friendly police officer'. Jochen was driving at that time and we were a little over the limit of 46mph. But after seeing we were foreigners and a hefty reprimand, he let us go; we arrived in Richfield shortly befor midnight,

Utah -Day 1 PotM and West Mtn

At 0700 I was picked up by Stacy and we drove to the South side of the Point of the Mountain (PotM), where we also met Jochen. Jochen was flying a very small glider, so he was able to take-off and land on top in the rather strong winds.
Stacy and I (with 'normal' gliders) drove to the LZ and hiked about halfway up the hill from where we could safely launch.


Jochen


Stacy


looking South: Utah lake; on right side: Lake Mtn

Nice flying and it's certainly the best way to beat jetlag...

Later we took care of the flat tire and then we drove to West Mountain, on the South shores of Utah lake.


Taggi


Jochen




looking North: Utah lake

The Easterly wind permitted a relatively easy TO in the otherwise rather demanding terrain.
But it proved treacherous, as out in front of the mountain in the mean time the wind situation had changed: now coming from the South, > 30kmh and increasing. So Jochen and I landed after a short flight safely, while Stacy drove the car back down.
For dinner I was invited by Karl and his family in SLC: many thanks to you!


heading to my hotel in Lehi after dinner at Karl's place

finally - underway...

Finally! Waking up at 0400, getting to the airport (ZRH) shortly before 0600 for checking-in my 3 bags; departure with BA to LHR; arrival on-time. Almost 4 hours to ‚kill‘ before departure with BA to ORD, arrival on-time. The food and service on the flight has been excellent, as was to be expected in FCl.

LHR-ORD

Very speedy clearing of immigration and customs (less than 30 mins). Transfer from Terminal 5 to Terminal 2 (United). While going through security there and being screened/ x-rayed, I saw Fabio (a good friend of mine and a LH captain) pass outside. I called on him and we had just enough time for a short chat before he was due to depart for DUS. While awaiting my flight to SLC in the lounge, a departure delay of almost 2 (!) hours was announced, but fortunately in the end we arrived in SLC only about 10mins late

CB somewhere over the Mid-west

SLC

– for which I was rather grateful, as by now I had been on the road for more than 24 hrs. All 3 bags arrived within 20mins. Now there was only the car pick-up and drive to Lehi for a (short) nights rest at the Days Inn left… At least that’s what I had hoped for, but 7 mins out of the airport I had a flat tire ...

:-((

So total travel time in the end (bed to bed): 27hrs. In the morning, Stacy will pick me up for flying at the Point of the Mountain‘ (PotM) and having the tire fixed.

Arosa - Zernez

For once, the thermal forecast was much more pessimistic than the actual conditions turned out to be.
As happens very often in 'Arosa' (at least to me) I had quite some problems launching from the the to of the 'Weisshorn', but finally I got airboren from a lower TO.
I arrived at the 'Schafrügg' rather low, but after I found the first thermal, it became rather easy going.


above 'Schafrügg', looking N towards 'Arosa; 'Weisshorn' slightly left of center

The flight then took me South above the 'Albula'-valley towards 'Bergün' and the 'Albula'-pass.


Albulatal -Bergün -Bernina (background)

Here cloudbase was above 4000m and a couple of times I had to make 'big ears' in order to remain below 3950m (the legal ceiling here in Graubünden).

Originally I wanted to cross via 'St.Moritz' towards 'Corvatsch'and 'Bernina', but the ceiling was almost overcast.


Bernina

So I turned East to follow the 'Engadin'-valley and finally landed in 'Zernez'.
2h40m for almost 54km - exactly the it took me to get back to Arosa by train' ;-)


Zernez, looking East towards St.Moritz

Fiesch -Day 3 -Disentis

Once more I drove to Fiesch, but this time a different plan of action: I parked my car in Disentis and took the first train to Fiesch (at 0714). Arriving Fiesch at 0956, taking the 1020-gondola. Ennio was also there. On launch I also met Dominik (we have been together in Barzil last year). I could launch at 1135 and -for once- got away and up quite easily. It was rather easy-going towards the Grimsel pass.


Haslital - Grimselpass - Rhone glacier -Furka pass

But on the actual crosing towards the Furka pass I caught heavy and sustained sink and I arrived over Ulrichen rather low and was thinking about landing...
... luckily (with lots of patience) I could climb up high enough for a second attempt to cross the Furka pass.


above Oberwald (ca 3300m) looking West over the Goms valley


Rhone glacier - Dammastock - Furka pass


Rhone glacier - Belvedere - road to Furka pass

The the flight continued East towards Andermatt, where the second pass (Oberalp) was waiting to be crossed...


Schöllenen -Andermatt - Oberalp pass
My route took me on the right side of the picture to the nice cumulus you can see there.


abeam Oberalp pass (South side) looking East towards Disentis
(left side of picture; in the center: Medel glacier)


over Val Medel: Piz Medel (and Medel glacier) - Lukmanier pass


Monastery in Disentis (also a (catholic) high school)


LZ in Disentis; looking West towards Oberalp pass


about 85kms in less than 5hrs...
...not very fast, but hadn't I needed more than an hour for the second attempt at crossing the Furka - who knows, maybe I could have added a few kms...

Fiesch Day -2

Regtherm Goms 110628

The (thermal) forecast for today looked excellent, and it proofed to be excellent.


lots of 'Männertreu' (a kind of Orchid) at launch

My (first) TO was at 1115, but due to some problems with my harness I had to land at Fiesch and go back to up in order to relaunch. 2nd TO at 1245.


Panorama with 'Aletsch glacier', 'Jungfrau', 'Eiger'


'Lötschental', 'Petersgrat'


on the way back...


...a first CB looming near/ above 'Grimsel'

Due to these CB's I decided not to push the flight too much and after just over 4 hours I landed in Fiesch (again), having flown a (flat) triangle of 93+kms (average speed of > 23km/h - that's rather fast for me).


and that's the result...

Unfortunately the forecast for tomorrow calls for thunderstorms/ showers starting midday/ early afternoon.

Fiesch -Day 1

Looking East (towards Grimsel and Furka pass)
Oberaar lake

Finally a very good day, even if I didn't make the most of it ;-)


Haslital


Grimsel pass/ Totsee

Just as I had crossed the Grimsel pass, I felt cold air in my face and I knew immedialtely: 'that's it'.


Belvedere (left)/ Furka pass (right)

Utah 18.7 - 5.8.2011

Red Rock (PG) Nationals in Richfield (UT) 23.-30.6.2011

A while back I have decided to participate in the US PG Nationals in Richfield (UT).
More info can be found here.
Last year, at the XCamp in Southern Italy, I acquired the taste for it; not because I want to compete, but because of the infrastructure provided by the event: every day you'll get a wx-briefing, transport to the best possible launch for the day, a proposal for a route (= the task) and (hopefully) some kind of retrieval service. I think these are all the ingredients needed for a successful PG day.
Furthermore I'll be meeting some old friends: first of all Stacy (he'll be my guide before/ after the comp); Kari (my 'coach' for the comp), Arnie and last, but not least, Nicole from Italy.

Fanas (15.6.11) mit Beda

Beda
It has been quite a whiile that I was able to arrange for a flight together with Beda (how long? 2, 3 years -the last I remember for certain was Abdalajis...)
The conditions were quite nice until I coming back from the 'Fergenhütte', but in Davos (Landwassertal), just too many clouds (almost overcast)...