Galgenen 29.5.2026

Launch: Galgenen Gschwend

Very nice flying: good thermals - mostly around 2m/s climbs. So far this year, this is my longest flight until now (more than 2 hours...) :-))

Scuol -Motta Naluns 26.5.2026

looking N

PeterNa

Travelling by car to Schiers, then by RhB (train) to Scuol (0900-1015).

On launch PeterNo waided for me (> see pix). Not very easy to launch, but once airborne (very) strong thermals in front of launch and almost immediately up to about 3250msl (for a moment almost 6m/s climbing). Today I didn't like very much the conditions (same said PeterNo later), so I landed just short of 40'. Landing has been tricky as well: first it looked like landing heading West, but when I got closer to the LZ (at 50m hight), the wind sock showed now wind direction East, so I had to change my landing...

Back to train to Schiers (1341-1459) and then home by car (1645). 

looking N: Motta Nalus

looking E: Scuol

Looking W: Ardez

Galgenen 24.5.2026

 

launch (just left of the middle) (looking South)

Another nice (and warm) day. I had a good reverse launch ;-) For once I launched early, just after Andy. Waiting would have improved the conditions, but I'm happy enough with my flight...

Andy

looking W-NW: Lake of Zurich

Galgenen - LZ  (looking South)

Galgenen 21.5.26

 

Finally a nice (short) flight; thermal activity has been much less than predicted, but I had a nice launch and landing - which has been more important for me after 1.5 month without flying...

looking South

                                    looking West towards LZ (left side of main road)

Galgenen 23.4.26

      ...very nice flight with Hmax > 1800m; landing after 1hr :-))

                  looking N: Zürichsee, Seedamm

                   looking S: 'Glärnisch' (?) on left side; 'Sihlsee' on the right side

Arosa 7./ 8.4.: first flight after CO and with my new LeelooX (XL)

...first flight since 2.2. in CO (Chicamocha)... Meanwhile my glider also had been repaired - the damage happened when Michael has been testflying this wing in Bassano and had been hit by a hangglider as he was about to land...

                                      
                                                                                     pix by Oli

                                                                                  Medergen

                                                      looking South: Bernina group

So what shall I tell you? I'm very happy to be 'back to normal': finding my words (more or less) again, I'm able (and allowed) to drive and of course able to fly again.

Oli spent these 2 days with me and helped me setting up, checking that I didn't make any mistakes for launching. I could make 3 flights: 3 good launches, nice thermal flights (a bit bumpy at times) to about 3050m and nice launches. Actually, 1 excellent launch and another very good landing :-))

It has been also a pleasury meeting some of my paragliding friends on the second day.

Rmk: I'm most happy of my LeelooX; of all the wings I have flown during the last 38 years, this wing I like most and he gives me the most feeling of safety. (120 flights now flown with several LeelooX-wings.) Many thanks to Michael for designing this wing and especially in XL for me.

CO'26 2.2. Chicamocha Canyon

 

Brieving by Edinson for our flight at Chicamocha. There are several launch options in this valley (all allow toplanding), but he selected the launch from where the landing at the bottom of the valley could be seen. But landing there is only possible till 1200, then the valley-wind becomes too strong.

CO'26 1.2. (Las Aguilas) > Chicamocha Canyon > San Gil

Sun. Very similar wx to yesterday. We met Edinson on TO at 1000, as he has slept at home. Lots of humidity in the air, so only Michael flew; Kari and me groundhandled a bit.

Kari kiting Peter's LeelooX

Afterwards we started the drive through Chicamocha Canyon to San Gil (the place for this night), stopping several times along the way to have a look at the LZ, some possible TO's and just to enjoy the views.

LZ at the bottom of the canyon - can be used till around 1230, then the valley wind becomes too strong!

Chicamocha Canyon

Cepita

San Gil by night (after a very disappointing dinner)

Tomorrow, the wx is supposed to be better (we shall see!), so we'll leave early in order to be ready on launch by about 1000...

CO'26 31.1. BGA - las Aguilas

Sat. Having spent a short night at Puerto Berrio, we left at 0800 for the 200k- drive to BGA. But with heavy traffic, a stop for breakfast and another to buy some fruit, the 3.75hrs drive took almost 6 hours.

Puerto Berrio

'Las Aguilas' is Edinson's home site and after a short site intro the flying started.

nice LZ below

Edinson flying my LeelooX

Unfortunatley, shortly after I had launched it started to rain so I had to land at the LZ - I didn't want to try to topland in these conditions. Esteban promptly picked me up and after the rain had stopped, flying resumed. But it didn't stay dry for too long and Kari and Peter had a very wet glider after toplanding...