October
3/10/2024 Gragareth
Four days out I knew I was going to Gragareth. I had a sneaky (I prefer cunning) plan. I'd put in the two cordinates to mark the demarcation line between the CSC and DHPC xcleague entry. Usually I take off low at the south end, whch is outside the CSC area by about 200m. If I ran the ridge a few times to the far side of Great Coum and flopped I could get the points to move me from 4th to 2nd. I said it was cunning. I left the plan flexible so I could exploit the conditions - and it worked.
I set off up early, too early as it turned out. Initially, although a bit gusty, it was flyable. However, I decide to wait for others to arrive and the wind to moderate a bit. In fact - it got a lot windier and being higher than normal (for the CSC area) it felt overly strong. So ... I hunkered down, had a sleep for an hour and then first John H arrived, followed by Geoff C. From further along Tom H and Andy A had taken off - I think lower down the slope. As they seemed to be doing OK I suggested walking down a good ways.
Not far up from the bottom it felt OK, so we laid out and shortly afterwards I was airborne. The lift was plentiful - actually I went straight into a good climb that with little tuning took me to 3500'. The height was helpful and allowed me to push well south for a start point.
Shortly afterwards I was heading north with reasonable height. The first awkwardness then made itself apparent - the wind had now shifted more SE. This essentially meant that crossing the Great Coum bowl (a NE) makes for a tricky return into a fresh breeze. The first attempt I bauked. The next, with decent height I went for. Having gone some way into Dentdale my bridges werre burned. Getting back was slow, tricky, but uneventful with lots of bar. I now had a face I could work, but even harder proved to be getting across to Green Hill on a cross wind slope. With a 'what the hell' I managed it on my second attempt and just sneaked round at ridge top height. From that point heading south was slow, but easy.
A word on the conditions. It had felt windy on the hill, but in the air it felt fine with sufficient penetration. The thermals I found (under big clouds usually) were very smooth and the best were at the south end. Over on Whernside I counted about 10 gliders and they seemed to be doing OK too - usually it's windier there, with Grag being rather sheltered. But - today Whernside seemed fine. Later the wind went more SE and seemed to moderate a bit.
Back at the south end and pushing out provided a similar climb to the one that began the flight. Suspecting that it could prove even harder attempting the Great Coum crossing I decided to take the climb over the back Given the breeze I was soon committed, but no problem. Above a large black cloud had to have some potential .... for a while I lost the climb, but over JB it reappeared a lot stronger. I should have worked this a little more but vario issues arose (froze!) and some videoing meant I managed over 3600' when 4 was possible with a bit of attention. It's times like this you miss a thermal buddy. A bit of screen flicking returned my vario and readings (later my flightlog showed I had flown 473 km and cleared Everest!)
I crossed a sunny Lune valley with just hints of lift, but nothing to get excited about. The air was smooth and the max speed never exceed 60kph. The landing was also smooth and the wind quite light. A nice flight - not long, but a few hours before it looked a long shot.
A nice lady in the first car that came stopped and gave me a lift back to KL ... and a pint in the RB with Geoff C.
Stills LINK
10/10/2024 Park/Ingleborough
Over the years October has managed to throw up some rather special days. This year being no exception. It's still only the 10th and already two really great days.
A group of us met at Bernies (for its warm stove and excellent coffee). With a forecast NNW going more NW later we had several options, but with Ingleborough only a few minutes drive away it seemed both the easiest and the obvious. So we set off for Park at the top of Chapel le Dale.
There was very little wind in Ingleton, but at Ribblehead it was a tad blowy. However, with light winds forecast we should have realised sooner that the Dales wave was at work. We laid out just above the wall .... not very high and I was soon away. The lift was plentiful but it was gusty, so after gaining a reasonable height I set off for Ingleborough. it appeared both lighter and smoother near Simon Fell and I was soon climbing. Ahead and well above Chris K was entering cloud. My initial thought was just to check his location (on the S5 flarm page) in relation to my own, given I was heading into cloud too. Base seemed around 3700'asl .... however CK was now showing at 4300' ... then 4,800' and soon 5,500'. Interesting.
I kept pushing out - over the valley and towards Whernside. Soon I was heading up the side of cloud - at 4300' it was starting to get chilly on the fingers. A look up and CK was still very high and in the blue - 500' below him was Baz. I only made 4700' on crossing towards Kingsdale. Super flying - smooth and with spectaclar cloudscapes that photos don't do justice. And all the time the gentle beep, beep ... beep.
At this point I made an error. In pushing south for a TP for a triangle I went too far and stepped out of the wave - dumb move! That lovely lift turned quickly to 4/5ms down. I scooted back to Ingleborough - not far away, but given the sustained sink I arrived very low. So low several other gliders were landing below the bowl. The lift was poor and amounted to working odd gusts ... 15 minutes later I had managed to get level with the top again.
Only at that point did I see a glider where no glider should ever be -- in amongst the summit rocks - maybe only 30' below the top. This looked bad. I flew past not far out and spotted Rob - he was stood and he waved. At this point I thought - well he's OK, so that must be Cefn's wing - same model and colours. The radio received no replies ... nor did some serious shouting. At this point I feared the worst for Cefn. I took the gliders below (landed) and the lack of traffic as a sign for an approaching helivac. Usng full bar I powered north towards Park to clear the area.
Nearing Park I spotted Cefn flying ... my worries relaxed a little. Turning back to Ingleborough I met up with a blue Ozone wing (Dean). He shouted (roughly) ...'Rob, hit the rocks - walking wounded'. Given he was now walking along the top it seemed maybe a lucky escape and some bruising.
With that incident behind me and seemingly resolved I set off north to Park. Park now had a fair gathering of pilots - some laying out, some walking up. It seemed a lot lighter given they were going to the very top and even occasionally slope landing. Yet, I was still finding decent lift and headed out towards Ribblehead. Then back to Park before flying off to Simon's where a good street was evident. Ahead of me a tandem had climbed to base followed by Dean - I was a bit late to the party, but the excellent lift was still there. Reaching base near Little Ingleborough I came back forward - that litle foray pushed the triangle well over the 15k mark to 17.2k. A spell messing in front of Ingleborough and out front and once high the final pleasure was a lovely glide down the middle of the valley to land near the car. I'd been in the air almost five hours.
The chill was starting to set in as I collected my messages. Rob hadn't been quite so lucky and a CRO team was called out to extricate him. Tim O had done a great job helping him stay warm and by 8pm he was down to the road and Lancaster bound. We went to the Wheatsheaf for a pint stood by a roaring fire. An interesting and eventful day.
19/10/2024 Far Whitestones
Another super October day. Smooth, relaxed flying along the Howgills and out front.
The day began with low cloud and some drizzle which was forecast to clear by midday leaving a clear airmass. I took in a 12.30 kick off and arrived at the hill by 3pm. By this stage all the early fliers had left, a few were landing and only Jacob and Andy remained in the air. By now it was all blue skies and odd lines of clouds stretching out from the hill at both ends.
A summer-like walk up in warm sunshine with a very gentle wind - only the bracken colour spoke of late Autumn. I laid out just above the bracken line, though still light it works from very low ( in fact an hour or so later, although little if any wind, it was possible to climb back up from a few hundred feet over the cars and getting down meant going well out front).
Climbing out was so easy so I decided to head south towards Arant Haw. The lift remained excellent and the air super smooth - wind showing only about 12mph. One other thing that made it magical was the light striking the hills - bright on the sunny faces, deep shade in the huge gullies. After a spell exploring towards Sedbergh I had the same easy flight back.
A cloud street over towards Blease seemed worth exploring, so a steady, climbing cruise over the motorway towards Whinfell brought the final entertainment, before heading back towards the ridge ... a short play and landing by the cars. A brief chat with Andy and Jacob before they left, whilst a lone pilot enjoyed the remains of the day.
A really enjoyable day's flying.
23/10/2024 Grey Scars
An hour or so on a rather grey (but not umpleasant) Autumn afternoon.
Bit on the light side, but soarable - the main problem being it was rather off to the east so not working that well. Never got much above take off.
26/10/2024 Brownthwaite Pike
It was such stunning morning it seemed a pity to waste it. I knew the wind was forecast to veer to SW and increase, but it also seemed to offers a window until at least 12. If nothing else I would enjoy the walk. With few takers it was another lone trip.
I settled on one of my non sites, they have all been scouted several times on walking off days and then tucked away for close-season opportunities. This was such a place, very handy to home, a pleasant stroll and great views.
It was light on the walk up, quite warm in the sun and off to the south - but I was optimistic it would be OK on the hill - and it has several faces including a good easterly. It's not that big, but it's fairly high, although the beat is short. Take off's are big and grassy - in short it's a lovely place with a huge cairn topping it off at the south end.
By the time I'd laid out it was bang on the hill and nicely soarable (about 10 - 12 mph). It was easily soarable, very smooth and without any great height. After a while the wind increased to maybe 15mph and the lift improved so out front seemed better. When I judged the wind was starting to make itself more felt I headed forward and landed by the track.
Whilst packing I met a nice gentleman walker who kindly sent me the odd photo he'd taken from the summit cairn. Then .... quickly back to the car and a football match.
Stills LINK
Johnny Barnes 29/10/2024
Almost a carbon-copy of the day we had the year before. A misty morning that cleared by 1pm ... or rather it did in the Lakes and the western edge of the Dales. The Dales remained grey and under low cloud whilst we enjoyed sunshine, great views and some Autumn warmth.
I walked up with Baz; Geoff joining us later. The wind was good, square on and the lift plentiful. I enjoyed just over an hour, exploring the full length of the ridge and a bit more. By 4pm the wind had died away and we landed after a very pleasant boat about.
Stills LINK.
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