Ebenalp

After a month with very little flying, finally a nice flight to finish off the month of August :-))

According to the fcst, I was expecting 'Bise', for which Ebenalp would be the perfect launch. But actually the wind was more out of the East and not very strong at all. On the other hand: lots of nice thermals, and even a 'professional dummy' ;-)

Lots of student pilots, some of them blissfully unaware of the rules of thermalling...

Äscher (in 1988 we had to launch here!)

over launch: looking towards Säntis and Kronberg

After 2.3hrs I was well satisfied for the moment and some nice wing overs brought me down to the LZ at Wasserauen.

Arosa

...not the optimum place to be today ;-)

Pilot ?? launching form the 'Rööslihang'

The fcst had predicted weak thermal activity, but it turned out not only weak, but also torn up.Launching for once was ok in a SW-wimd. I landed on te golf course after 15'.

I went up for a second attempt, but meanwhile the wind had turned further West, not the perfect direction for launching on the Weisshorn ;-)  So after w few failed launches  I packed up and rode the gondola down.

Tandem WR !

23.7.19: departing form Sorica Arduino (Persello - aka 'Bimbo') with his passenger Paolo (Brollo) most probably set a new world record for tandem: 235.85km in 8hrs 6min (resulting in an average speed of just above 30km/h). In 2013 Arduino won the serial class World XContest.

 >>  http://niviuk.com/blog/en/2-records-1-flight/

 

Find his flight here.

Some interesting details on the glider: speed system and trim...

Fiesch (4 days)

This week I spent 4 more days in Fiesch (Mon-Thur). Weatherwise excellent conditions, flyingwise: especially Mon and Tue a mediocre performance from my part: I failed twice to cross the Furkapass...
Wed I didn't try - so I couldn't fail ;-) and on Thur I rode the steamtrain from Realp to Oberwald (DFB); something which has been on my to-do-list for many years. But at least the views have been magnificent on all days...

Aletschglacier (over Eggishorn)

Goms: looking East towards Dammastock Furkapass

Grimselpass

Oberalpen (where I landed on Tue)

Grimselpasss

Eggishorn

More info about 'DFB' Dampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke can be found here in English or here in German (more detailed).

Realp

Steffenbachtobel bridge (dismantled every autumn!)

Station Furka

Fiesch (2 days)

The last 2 days I've spent again in Fiesch. On Tuesday I was accompanied by my friend Andy.

>> If anyone is interested in American Natives craft and artwork, than I suggest you visit him in Tann-Rüti. He is closing his shop by 3.August 2019 and many things can be found at discounted prices!  Or visit his webshop.

Tuesday: 

pix by Andy

Andy

looking SW towards Matterhorn

over Ulrichen (looking East towards Furkapass)

Nice conditions but unfortunately I 'ventured' too far towards Sidelenhorn and got cought by the 'Grimselwind'... Landing in Ulrichen in 30+kmh winds.

Wednesday:
As I almost didn't sleep last night, I was not very motivated today. Conditions in Fiesch have been really nice with strong lift up to 2850m. But in/ after Bellwald I didn't like the bumpy conditions at all; also I haven't been able to find any decent thermals after the crossing, so I landed in Ritzingen.

crossing to Bellwald

Back to Fiesch by train and then I drove to Grafenort in the Engelberg Valley to have André from Flugsau do some maintenance on my harness. Afterwards I passed Volirium in Horw so they can check my Flytec 6030 as there seems to be a problem with charging its batteries.

Addendum: (Arosa) X-Alps - Koaru Ogisawa (JPN)

Just today I have - finally ;-)  - received some pix taken the day Ogi-san has passed Arosa.

By Tetsuo (Editor at PARAWORLD) - many thanks!

Ogi-san an his crew

...looking at possible options for the next day...

Fiesch

today's Regtherm

The regtherm for today hasn't been 'super', but I still took the 0559 train from Fehraltorf to Fiesch, arriving at Fiescheralp (launch) shortly before 1000. I was very surprised to find cloudbase just a little above launch (around 2500m)...

'Männertreu'

launch looking East towards Bellwald

But base was slowly rising and by the time I launched (1130) it was around 2800m (which is well below the altitude predicted be the Regtherm). I think it was the first time for me to cross over to Bellwald starting at 'only' 2800m. From there to Oberwald it was easy going in good thermals, but never above 3300m.
On the otherhand: the WNW-wind actually turned out to be less strong the predicted by several (other) forecast models.

Grimselpass

As I was the only one there, I didn't dare to cross over the Grimsel- to Furkapass via Rhonegletscher from only 3300m, especially as there was a slight 'North-overpressure' - potentially increasing the 'Furkaschlange'.
So I turned around and could climb south of Oberwald, where the thermals have been 'pushed up' by the Grimsel wind.

Landing after a good 2hrs at the church in Ritzingen.

center: LZ 'church' at Ritzingen

Remark: an Aussie pilot I met while preparing to launch mentioned 'flyfiesch', a web page by Rob Smith (who flies often in the Goms). Here you can find virtually anything you need to know if you want to fly here!

Finally :-))) Arosa - Bernina

It has been almost 10 years, that I flew from Arosa to Piz Corvatsch. Ever since I wanted to repeat this flight but continue all the way to Piz Bernina. (4049m)
Today finally I was able to do so :-))
Details of the flight  >> here

Pano over 'Schwellisee'; TO (Weisshorn) on the left

Hörnlihütte

The start of the flight has been a bit 'tricky': first of all launching (but that's rather normal on the Weisshorn in summer). Then I didn't find lift in the 'usual' places and was already wondering where I should land... But after this slow start it was easy going until Albulapass.

'target' in sight  ;-)

approaching Albulapass; looking back: Bergün, Aroser Rothorn

near Albulapass: looking South towards Samedan (center of pix)

Here I had to make up my mind how to cross best the Engadin Valley, considering the restricted zone of Samedan AD (going up to 3000m). Even though I carried an airband radio, whenever possible I didn't want to use it, so I just listend to traffic and especially wind info.

Over Piz Nair (near St.Moritz) I could climb high enough to permit a 'safe' crossing towards Piz Corvatsch.

St.Moritz: looking towards Pontresina, Berninapass

...getting closer....

looking NE: St.Moritz, Samedan AD

Arriving near Piz Corvatsch I saw 2 other paragliders looking for lift; I watched them land in SIlvaplana with almost no forward speed (due to Maloja-wind); I wanted to avoid having to land there whenever possible. But I also had some problems getting high here, so in the end I crossed into the 'Val Roseg'. Even if I couldn't find lift there, landing shouldn't be a problem, as this valley is protected from the Maloja-wind.

Val Roseg (looking SW)

But luckily I found some nice thermals bringing me to > 4200m and thus enabling me to reach my 'target'. Well, actually I didn't overfly the top, but anyway...

Piz Bernina (Bianco Grat) (4049m)

last look back: Piz Palü, Bellavista, Zupo; Piz Bernina (Bianco Grat), Piz Roseg

S-canf (looking NE)

Landing after 3.5hrs between Zouz and S-canf, from where I could travel back to Arosa by train; arriving at 2200.