Fiesch

I had arrived in Niederwald already yesterday evening, as I wanted to avoid the Saturday Southbound traffic on the Gotthard route, but even so, the traffic jammed just before Wassen, where I wanted to leave the highway. But even so I reached the car-train through the Furka tunnel with about 10 minutes to spare.

I stayed again at Niederwald, as for me this is the most convenient solution: free parking, less than 5 minutes to the train/ bus station/ landing just a few hundred meters from the hotel/ car. Anyway, I try to avoid landing at Fiesch, as in some wx conditions the winds can be really tricky there; whereas here at Niederwald, the wind can just come from the west (mostly) or the East (rarely).

For once, the actual conditions turned out to be much better than predicted by XCTherm :-)

On launch I've met Rob. He runs a very informative website about flying here in Fiesch. And -as the world is a very small place- I also met a guy from Colorado, who is organizing a fly-in in September, which I hope to attend together with Andy and Stacy...

looking South-West: Matterhorn (4478m), Weisshorn (4505m)

Eggishorn (left); Jungfrau (4158m), Aletschglacier, Jungfraujoch (3571m), Mönch (4110m)

Climbing to > 3000m above launch was been pretty easy, as conditions turned out to be rather better than predicted by XCTherm. So I headed up the Goms to my turning point near 'Sidelhorn'.

near Sidelhorn: looking East: Dammastock (2630m), Grimelpass, Totsee, Furkapass, Oberwald

 Also on the way back; great views (top at 3250m).

near Münster: Minstigertal, looking towards Finsteraarhorn (3641m)

 Gr.Wannenhorn (3906m), Fiescherglacier, Finsteraarhorn

again near Eggishorn: Aletschhorn (4194m), Aletschglacier, Jungfrau, Mönch, Märjelensee

Landing at Niederwald after a little less than 3 hours.

Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi

The reason for my trip to Chamonix these days has been that for today Vincent expected very little wind at higher altitude and he suggested that we might try from the Aiguille du Midi (22 years after my last flight here). In July and August it's forbidden to launch and fly on the south side of the Chamonix valley! This time I had my (old) crampons with me; Vincent has taken care of the rest (rope etc).

looking down to launch

the ridge everybody has to go down (or up)

South launch (rather flat...)

Vincent

Mont Blanc du Tacul; Mont Blanc (background); Aiguille du Midi

It has taken me a while to make this descend, but with Vincent's help it has been not too difficult. Furthermore (as I had hoped), my left knee didn't 'make any troubles'...

Unfortuately it has been rather warm (even at this altitude), so the snow had already become rather soft.

My first launch failed, as I sank into the soft snow and couldn't run properly. Vincent helped me prepare for a second launch and this time, by treading as softly as possible, I got away rather nicely - thanks also to my wing's excellent TO-performance (> remember TO is at 3660m!).

The rest of the flight (which lasted 2 hours, then my light harness became a bit uncomfortable; but whith my 'standard' harness, launch wouldn't have been possible at all) has been sheer pleasure: nice thermals, high tops > 3500m), great views and lots of pictures:-))

Aiguille Verte (left) and Mer de Glace (or what's left of it)

Over Aigulle de Belvedere Looking S/SW: Chamonix Valley/ Massiv du Mt.Blanc

Mont Blanc (4808m)

Main LZ in Chamonix:  'Bois du Buchet'

I landed shortly after Vincent, who had taken off about 10' after me...

I had promised Vincent, that I would invite him and his girl friend for dinner if we could make this flight happen, so later this evening there is a nice 'Cote de Boeuf' waiting for us ;-)

See this flight on Ayvri.

(More pictures - also some taken by Vincent - in my Flickr Album 'PG 2022 - Frankreich')

Chamonix -Aiguille du Midi (2.Juni 2000)

22 yeras ago - almost to the day- I could make a flight from the Aigulle du Midi. Of course not from the top of the mountain, but after having descended a steep and narrow ridge. TO then has been towards the North. Below some pix form this flight (scanned from printed photos)

looking down to launch from top of Aig. du Midi, for the ridge in the foreground crampons have been a must...

N-launch

looking back: Mt.Blanc (background, left side), Aig. du Midi (right side)

Mont Blanc du Tacul, 4248m (left), Mont Blanc, 4808m (background)

Aiguille du Midi (3842m)

I still remember the day rather well. Not the actual flight, but how I got to launch.

I did go up to the Aiguille du Midi neither well prepared nor well informed. Then I saw the steep and narrow ridge leading down to launch and I realized, that without crampons the descend wouldn't be possible (which of course I didn't have, nor an ice axe). So what now? In the end I asked a mountain guide, who had just came up the ridge with his guest, if he'd be so kind and lend me his crampons. I promised him I'd send them back up asap with the next guide who passed me once I had descended this ridge. For reasons whatsoever he agreed and so I got to make my flight :-))

The flight (with a ProDesign Target44) had lasted about 1.25hours and I had landed in 'le Tour', a few kilometres up the valley towards Switzerland (but that's another story).

Chamonix -Planpraz

Unfortunately, Vincent had to work today, so he 'sent' me to Planpraz, the site most often used here in Chamonix for solo, as well as for tandem pilots: easy access (gondola and just a few minutes walking), large TO (facing SW and SE) and a great view.

An interesting 'detail' about this TO here at Planpraz: in front of launch passes the cable car Planpraz-Brevent (gondola and cables can be seen near the bottom/ middle of pix). So, one has to pass under the cables after launching...

mountain spring: Gentiana alpina (commonly Alpine gentian)

SW-launch

..interesting cloud covering the top of Mt.Blanc...

Even though many pilots had been present on launch, it has been a pretty relaxed atmosphere due to a (more or less) steady headwind and ample space available. Thermals had been rather strong and punchy at times, so the wing needed to be flown actively, but no problems at all. Also, the wind at the higher altitudes (as indicated in the picture above) didn't influence the flying.

LZ 'Savoy'

After having enjoyed the scenery for a bit more than an hour, I landed at 'Savoy'. This LZ is just a 10-15 minutes walk form the gondola station to Planpraz/ Brevent, where I had parked my car - luckily in a covered car park, so the car has not been nearly as hot as it has been yesterday, when I had to leave it in the blazing sun :-) 

Chamonix - Passy (Plaine Joux)

 

Waking up to a beautiful morning :-)  My first day here in Chamonix this year and also the first flight since the problems with my left knee had stopped me flying more than a month ago.

Vincent had suggested we'd go to Passy (Plaine Joux), as the NW-wind's influence might make flying in Chamonix difficult. I had feared that such a low TO like Plaine Joux wouldn't work with these high temperatures, but luckily there has been enough instability to produce nice thermals.

Plaine Joux

The TO here is in excellent condition: a wide space covered with artificial lawn - and it's also toplandable. I had some problems getting high: it has taken me nearly an hour until I finally have found the 'elevator' to cloud base; but the views made up for all the scratching :-)

Chaine des Aravis

Vincent

Mont Blanc (Vincent)

Landing after a bit more than 2 hours - and no problems at all with my knee :-)) I really hope it will remain like this!

Vincent had invited me for dinner (Indien), the sunset was an additional bonus ;-)

Webcam on Aiguille du Midi 17.6.22 at 2110

Webcam on Aiguille du Midi 17.6.22 at 2240

Basejumping...

 

;-)

aus gegebenem Anlass....

 

;-)

Danke an Andy für den Link!

(Hier noch das Original von Udo Jürgens)

Daneben hat Andy noch ein speziell für mich personalisierte Version erstellt, die mir sehr viel Freude bereitet - aber eben, sie ist für mich personalisiert ;-)

Fanas (Wednesday)

Just a short flight in Fanas. The (S/ SW-) wind has not been too strong, but could be clearly felt and hindered progress.

Restaurant 'Sassauna': excellent rhubarb tarte

overhead Saas - looking West (towards Küblis)

Today I have not been in the mood to search for thermals close to the terrain / the ridges, so my flight ended (too quickly) in Saas :-(

I had to choose a flight line, which always kept me within reach of a landing close to a road/ public transport, as my left leg/ knee wouldn't permit a longer (downhill) walk; unfortunately this excluded a line closer to more 'potential' thermal sources ;-)

But looking at the flights for that day on XContest, nobody really has made it very far (due to wind, as some have remarked)...

For the same reason I gave up my 'slot' on the gondola in Fanas for Sunday, as I have been told to 'go easy' for a while; doing so, my left leg would probably get better sooner.

And then I'll be in Italy again for 3 weeks - together with Ruth (and without my paraglider).

'the race'

By chance I have received a copy of an 'old' film made by Uli Wiesmeier: 'the Race'.

Very nicely done.

...a 'real film' - not a 'video' ;-)

if you're interested you can contact me and I'll send you a dropbox link.

iCamp (Fri/ Sat)

Friday/ Saturday. unfortunately the wx didn't play along :-(  So, lots of interesting theoretical stuff by Gudrun and Michael - with clarifying comments thrown in by Peter ;-)

One of Michael's favourites: 'the pleasure of flying in turbulence' - a lesson more than worth hearing. Luckily I'll get a pdf-document with the highlights, as I have not been able to write everything down.

Instead of flying - or better: for compensating the 'non-flying' - a daily visit to the local gelateria (at least)...

Gelateria 'Dolci Promessi'

After a last lecture this morning, the iCamp ended and people started heading home; some as far north as Flensburg (D), near the Danish border. Fortunately not me - I just had to drive about 2 hours East to Romans d'Isonzo (Friaul/ Friuli), where I met my longtime friends Nicole and Alby. I'll be staying at a B&B for the next 4 nights before heading home as well.

Tomorrow the wx fcst is not looking very bright, but beginning next week conditions should be improving.

'Tapetti'

Conclusion:

- personally: one of my targets for the week has been to improve my launches and landings (adapted to the reduced possibilities of my body). And I think I have made some progress - with still some room for improvements ;-) I also flew some spirals with ROD > -10m/s; the wing-overs this year have not been very satisfactory: one or two have been ok, but never a nice sequence of 4 or more in a row.

- generally: it has been a very rewarding week with 3 absolutely outstanding instructors: Gudrun, Michael and Peter complement each other perfectly  - kind of a 'dream team' (at least for me). And it has (again!) been a great pleasure to be with and around them. There is nothing about paragliding they wouldn't know and be able to explain.

Luckily the didn't cancel this week, even though the forecast at the time they had to give the 'go ahead' for the camp, has not been very optimistic (to say the least). What they did instead has been moving the camp from Levico Therme to Bassano. Here it has been flyable until Thursday, whereas in Levico we could have made only a few flights or would have had to drive to Bassano daily (about an hour each way)...

Remark: The whole week I have been fly my Leeloo Mk2; the Mk1 I have given to Michael to have it checked after about 125flights/ 120 hours. For reasons whatsoever, the brakes have been a little too short, which -at least partly- explains why my launches with the Mk2 this week have been so much 'better'/ moree consistent (almost no blown launches) than with the Mk1. I should get the Mk1 back by end of May, as I want to take this glider along to DK in August and the US in September.

iCamp (Wed/ Thur)

Wednesday: one more day that -in the end- turned out much better than expected :-)

Morning flight from Casette (with a little West wind) and then, 2 hours later, a flight from Panettone. I had big problems with my left knee: it was almost impossible for me to tie my left shoe. On the second flight I didn't much like the aerology (due to the westerly flow); this combination (knee/ wind) led to a lack of motivation, so I decided not to go for a third flight. The rest of the group went up to Panettone again, but in the end didn't fly - so actually I hadn't missed anything...

...the sky at 1700...

Thursday: again 2 flights from Panettone: we would call them manoeuvre flights, where all pilots could fly the manoeuvres they wanted to fly: so for me more spiralling and wing-overs...

Panettone at 1000

Throughout the morning there has been a pronounced Easterly wind. After a short break, we headed for Antenne-Costalunga, best suited for the actual wind direction. Some pilots have been flying, but didn't really advance much against the wind. So, only 3 from our group launched, the rest headed for the gelateria ;-)

iCamp (Mon/ Tue) -Bassano -Feltre -Bassano

Monday: today we have been told to be ready for departure by 0800; driving to Panettone for a morning flight. Light SE-wind permitted an easy launch; just a sledder to the landing at our hotel. Spiraling (with outer Ear closed) from 1050m to 500m in about a minute (max -12.2m/s; 3.4g) :-))

View from Panettone (looking SE)

Second flight then was from Antenne Costalunga and lasted about 1.25hrs in nice thermal conditions.

Briefing at Antenne Cosatalunga

Third flight from Tapetti: unfortunately it started to rain soon after my launch :-( Another spiral (-8.4m/s) brought me back to 'terra firma' after only 13min - but still my wing got a little wet.

We went for a fourth flight (from Tapetti), but most of us did elect not to fly (due to wx cond: strongish E-Wind right after launch).

...checking the wx (on Delta ramp)

Tuesday: today we had be ready by 0900 and the 'target' has been: Feltre/ Mte.Avena. The only time I have been here before has been in 2008.

Mte.Avena, pano looking SW

Launch

Pano looking NE

Very nice and strong conditions! Some of our group also toplanded...

LZ 'Boscherai' -now main LZ for Feltre

Shortly after 1200 we have been told to head for the LZ, as there was a chance of overdevelopment.

After a visit to the local gelateria, it was decided not to wait here for conditions to improve, but to drive to Panettone, where we could see that the 'worst' had already passed. Once we got there, we started immediately to launch and all could make a nice flight into the evening. In the end I spiralled down almost 700 meters in around 2 minutes (max ROD > 13m/s), followed by a series of wing-overs.

iCamp (Sat/ Sun)

Today (Saturday) my iCamp'22 started in Bassano at 1400.

But in the morning I was able to make a very nice flight (almost 2.5hr; Tops at 2250m) :-)   >> unfortunately no pix as I inadvertently switched the memory card of my camera to 'read-only' the evening before :-(

After initial briefing/ introduction of trainers and trainees, checking/ adjusting the harnesses in the simulator we drove up to Casette launch (west) for a first (short) flight.

our trainers: Peter, Gudrun, Michael

Sunday: while having breakfast we have been told to be ready with our flight gear by 0900. We drove first up all the way to Panarotta, only to find the wind there coming 'from all directions'...

Briefing at Panettone

It was decided to descend to a lower launch: Tapette/ da Beppe: here conditions looked much steadier with the wind coming straight-in. But the dark clouds above indicated that we could expect strong thermals...

Michael (with Aline) 'playing' wind dummy (on a Leeloo Tandem)

looking NE

Lift could therefore be found almost everywhere, be it over the mountain, at its base or out in the flats; even though the thermals have been pretty strong (> 5 m/s) they have been (mostly) surprisingly mellow. Michael told us on the radio to stay near the LZ (Garden Relais), so we could land quickly if need be. Contrary to last August I got to the ground early enough, so I could pack my glider without everything getting wet :-)

In the afternoon there was an attempt at ground handling/ reverse launching - but it didn't really take off due to a strong and gusty wind; so an extended theory session about reverse launches and thermal flying took place...