Arosa im März (cont)

Yesterday's launch (by Oli)

Saturday: 2 flights; but I think that the rapid temperature increase over the last couple of days could be felt: the thermals are less 'abundant' ;-) 1st flight; easy launch towards the East; 2nd flight; the wind had changed to SSE, so launching became rather tricky...

Erich

over 'Innerarosa'

Sunday: most probably my last flying day in Arosa for this winter season.
The day proved to be one of the best days I can remember here: nice thermals bringing me close to 3000m; even the thermal at Seta 'behaved nicely'. From there I wanted to fly towards Chur, but the westerly wind, which was already a 'problem' on launch, could be cleary felt. So I decided to turn back to Seta. But I arrived rather low; to low in fact to comfortably  'join' the leesied thermal at Seta. After scratching for a while I decided to land near the train station at Langwies: tricky conditions with the wind and lift. I had already had touched down when my left wingtip caught a branch of a nearby tree:-(( 
Luckily I found someone who had a saw, could climbed the tree and cut the branch off :-)) Many thanks!!

Tijerflue, Furkahörner, Schiesshorn

Arosa (Pano taken at 2900m over Langwies)

the tree in question...

;-)

The next two weeks will be mostly dedicated to preparing my trip to Japan: departure 8.April :-))

Arosa im März (mit Oli)

Due to the excellent wx fcst I returned to Arosa; I might stay up to 6 days  :-)
Wednesday: blue skies, COLD, nice thermals; I am visited by my friend Oli (he'll stay for the night). We had dinner together at 'Lamm & Leu'.

over 'Litzirüti

Oli

...no, not all for me - we shared  ;-)

Thursday: 1 flight only: for a while a pair of eagles flew with us; the thermals have been very hard to center... Dinner with Oli at 'Güterschuppen'.

Oli launching...

Eagle

Friday: 2 more flights with Oli (who had to leave afterwards). Nicer thermals than yesterday, but it was rather 'hard' work, especially on the first flight. 20' into my second flight it looked as I had to land but finally I managed to 'dig' myself out. Later at 'Seta' very nice/ mellow thermals - not the usual situation...

'LAW Mitte' - LZ for my first flight

Medergen - our hut (with the trees)

Pano over 'Seta' - Medergen on the left

Japan

JHF membership

Meanwhile planning is continously progressing. Just today I received a copy of my JHF-membership card -the original has been mailed to Yuko's address in Kumamoto.

Some things are done in a rather 'funny' way (to put it nicely) in Japan. JHF sent me -by snailmail- the application form to Switzerland. But everything was 'Japanese only, without any explanations... 

I don't know how they expect a foreigner to fill out this form. Luckily Rick did all the paperwork for me (and also paid my dues).

A small problem crept up: the last part of my trip coincides with the so-called 'Golden Week' in Japan. This is a period, where almost everybody takes some days off and travels. This year it is even more special, as during this 'week' the Japanese Emperor will resign. Therefore it has been necessary to make all accomodation reservation well in advance. I hope that travelling by train will not be too much of a hassle... On the other hand it means also, that certainly all flight schools will be operating. (Because many normally are open only weekends, as everybody is busy working ...)

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 ;-)