el Hierro (VDE) -2

Thur / Fri (23./24.1.) The wx continued to be wet and/ or windy, so still no flying...

Sat (25.1) Finally a change, so in the late afternoon we could make our only flight during our stay on this island :-)

Malpaso (1501msl), looking N

Dos Hermanas (1350msl)

This cloudlayer forms (and dissipates) very quickly: when we arrived, there have still been some 'holes', but they closed while we have been setting up.

The cloud layer has been about 200m thick; below - where the sun still could get through- some thermals could be found, so I could extend the flight to about 40'.

Sun (26.1.) Maybe flying from Malpaso would have been possible (good wind direction for launching) but the cloud layer appeared to be very thick, so we just went sightseeing before sailing back to TFS/ Los Christianos in the afternoon.

el Sabinar

the ferry travels with 60kmh (or more if needed)

el Hierro (VDE) - 1

Mon (20.1.) After 2 weeks of travelling through la Gomera, el Hierro (VDE) and Tenerife (TFS) together with Ruth, she returned home  (> some pix here). A few hours later my friends Gaby and Hartmut arrived and together we travelled to el Hierro by ferry, arriving there at 2030. We'll be staying until coming Sunday (26.1.), when we'll be going back to Tenerife for another 8 days.

Tue (21.1.) In the morning it has been raining :-(   While travelling with Ruth, we had 'blue skies' for the 2 weeks  - but I can see that this rain is more than welcome on the island as it has been way too dry so far this winter.

Dos Hermanas (1320m)

The launch has just been in clouds, but with a little less wind flying should have been possible, as there have been moments, when we could see the LZ...

Wed (22.1.)

no comment ;-)

Colombia - airspaces

A very helpful article about airspaces in Valle de Cauca/ Piedechinche (CO)

Arosa

5 days in Arosa together with Ruth; the first 2 days I didn't fly, as conditions have not been 'good enough' for me (ie requiring lots of running). But on all days excellent weather, as well as skiing conditions.

PeterNo

Sat, (28.12.) Finally conditions have improved enough for me, so I could make a flight :-)

(Reverse) launching towards the NW; just a sledder with landing in Chur-Masans.

Sunset in Chur

Sun (30.12.) After having waited quite a while, a launch on the FIS-slope became possible, as the tail-wind finally stopped - even a whiff of wind from the front... landing after 15' in 'Isla'.

Isla

This has been the last flight in 2024: 93 flights in total - the 'mishap' in Crucita prevented me from making more flights ;-)

Season's Greetings!!

 

(Aglou North / Legzira) - Return flight

Fri (6.12.) Very weak conditions; wind very cross here at Nid d'Aigle (from the North). Several pilots elected not to fly anymore, the rest went first to Aglou Mtn for 2 (extended) sledders. Khalla meanwhile prepared for the a lentil dish... Later they moved to Legzira (Arc), but the wind had become too weak.

Still my knee/ leg is not ok, so I also remained at Nid d'Aigle... In the afternoon I had a chance to taste from Khalla's lentil dish: simple, but excellent :-)  For dinner we have been served Couscous with chicken (this seems to be the 'traditional' Friday dinner here at the Nid). 

Legzira (pix by Sämi?)

Sat (7.2.)  I rose a bit earlier than usual in order to pack for the return trip; after breakfast, we also 'cleaned' our wings of sand and other debris; loaded our landcruisers, had a group foto taken and headed for Agadir airport. Peter (our guide) will remain here in Maroc for the next weeks, while Arev will be flying form Agadir to Teneriffe on Sunday, where he'll be spending the next 2 weeks.

Robert, Taggi, Röbi, Sämi, Hausi, Peter, Arev, Khalla, Moustapha (ohne Chris)

We reached the airport in Agadir with time to spare. Even though the flght departed a little late (due to a slot) we arrived in ZRH a few minutes ahead of schedule due to favorable winds.

between Agadir and Marrakech

Solar power station 

Sunset near Lyon (FR)

>> more pictures can be found HERE.

(Aglou North)

Thur (5.12.) My rt leg/ knee felt a bit better in the morning, but not good enough for paragliding/ groundhandling, But first we made another visit to Tiznit, where we have ordered some Argan oil and other local 'stuff' (honey, cinnamon etc);sKhalla is going to pick up everything next morning. As there has been some spare time before the agreed pick-up time, I made a short visit to the local 'souk' (= market) for taking some pictures and we also stopped for drinks and patisserie at a local café. 

Mosque (Tiznit)

ordering argan oil

...but I have to say that - for the first time on all my visits here in Maroc- the 'mille feuille' has been really disappointing: at least 2 days old...

Conrary to yesterday, when the wind had come out of the North, today it came from the South, so the group went to  Aglou North. Apparently I hadn't missed much as windspeed in the beginneng had been just enough for a little soaring; later it weakend and only ground handling remained possoble...

(Legzira)

Wed (4.12.) The landing of my second flight yesterday seemed to have been a bit harder than it had felt at the moment :-( During the night I felt some pain in my right leg/ knee and walking has become a bit difficult. I guess, that launching still would be possible, but in order to spare the leg another hard impact I decided not to fly today - even though the conditions looked fairly good. My group has driven south to Legzira, wanting to fly there: first off the mountain, later at the arc...

Nid d'Aigle (for once a little less crowded than the last days)

As it turned out, they could fly in Sidi Ifni, as well as in Legziera (Mountain and Arc)

Nid d'Aigle - finally...

 

Jetstream 3.12.24

It's no wonder, that we have such 'unusal' wind conditions when the jetstream is positioned so far to the south...

Tue (3.12.) Again we had to wait quit a while (> 1400) before the wind finally turned on. But then it turned out to be a halway decent day: so far the best day (but still not what I'm used to/ had been hoping for). 2 nice flights: 1.5hrs / 30mins.

Once more we have been treated to an excellent dinner: blackend chicken.

Aglou Mtn - parawaiting...

Mon (2.12.)  Peter has been full of hope that the day would deliver, latest by 1500. We parawaited for hours on launch; finally at 1600 the wind started to pick up... Once more the conditions remained rather weak, as well as there has been only a single spot with a 'decent' thermal. With so many pilots wanting to climb there, I soon had enough and flew out to the beach for landing.

last night's dinner. fish :-))

Aglou Mountain

large beach for landing...

Aglou

Nid d'Aigle

Sat (30.11.) no flying due to wind; dinner: pizza....

Sun (1.12.) Finally halfway 'decent' conditions starting around 1400. My first flight had been cut short due to decreasing wind speed; my second flight lasted a bit longer, before I had to land again as the wind 'stopped working for the day'.

sunrise

the view from my room