September
12/9/2024 Holme Knott
A stunning day ... blue skies and lovely cumulus. Whilst it over-developed impressively to the east it remained lovely all day to the west of the Park.
Being a northerly (more or less) there were fewer options than usual, but still enough to pick from. My choice was Holme Knott, not everyone's favourite, but Chris indulged me and was happy to come along. Later Cefn would join us.
An easy walk up under glorious skies. It was still quite early (10.30am) so we expected a wait. At first the wind was a bit on the light side, but with odd spells where it was only just soarable - then as the cu's developed it got better. My day was really good - but it wasn't for everyone.
On my third flight I got it bang on and was soon climbing. I expected it to be short lived but this thermal kept going and in fact got better - then I was at base. It wasn't that high, 3600' at this stage. Later it would rise to about 4 grand. Although I had a flight to goal plugged in and triggered it seemed too early, I had no flight buddy and the drift was very slow - about 12kph at height. I thought I'd wait as company would help and base should improve.
The next hour was spent going from cloud to cloud, finding they worked well and generally exploring the Dent valley and heading over to Garsdale. Really, I should have pushed it further as the clouds were there and the further east the better they seemed. It was almost the ideal triangle day. I guess it came down to being high as it seemed fairly easy to stay at height - get low and it was a struggle as Chris found with a couple of hikes. I think maybe at this stage, if I hadn't the car to think about and work the next day I might have gone for it. Others would have helped but at least my track would have been over good thermal sources and then eventually over home.
Finally, I headed back to take off and landed near Cefn. For some reason, the ridge seemed to sit under a blue hole - soarable just not really doing much. Chris reappeared and we climbed again - he continued I went forward. Neither worked, I went down to land by the car - he hiked back to take off after a landing out and flew down.
I think Chris found it frustrating, Cefn found it disconcertingly bouncy - I actually found the flying superb - great views, lovely thermals and a bit of an explore. A great starting point for a Dales xc in this wind direction. I'll be going back - not sure about the others.
18/9/2024 Great Dummacks/Cautley
It turned out to be a good day ... an interesting one, but it didn't seem that way for a while.
I walked up with Ray and Rob, it was warm in the full sun under wall to wall blue skies - we sweated! I hadn't expected to have to walk so high, but the wind remained light and persistently well off to the north. After a few odd excursions on my part we all eventually met on a suitable take off shelf on the shoulder overlooking Cautley. By the time I arrived we had been joined by Tom, Andy, Baz and John H ... later (from the Yarlside face) Cefn turned up too. In other words we had a decent sized crew.
Juat as I arrived the wind finally came on the face and the strength improved. We all launched and climbed easily ... light wave and fairly pleasant. Some exploring to north and south and better height gains that we had hoped for - best about 4,100 asl. I initially headed towards Sedbergh, passing Tom scooting at speed on his return north. The lift diminished so back north and into the best area of lift, before pushing north again towards Carlgriff. At this point, after about 50 minutes of pleasant flying, it turned unpleasant (for whatever reason) and I caught a few near collapses, but missed one that soon came out. Back to Cautley to see the others not low, but scratching and even slope landing. Things had changed - maybe the wave had moved or gone out of phase with the hill. Deciding enough was enough I went down and landed fairly content with the day
It proved another 'freaky easterlies' day where you never quite knew what you were going to get thrown at you. For the most part it was surprisingly good.
Finished with beers outside the Dalesman soaking up the Autumn sun.
19/9/2024 Gragareth
Emerging from my car at the entrance to Kingsdale I found a fresh breeze coming down the valley. I was in two minds, but reckoned this was a valley wind augemented by the wind coming off the back of Whernside. With that theory in mind I headed up onto the first plateau above the limestone edges. If it got worse I would head back down - but, if my theory was correct it would ease.
Fortunately it did, but remained well off to the north. Time for theory number 2. It's often the case that the wind will come more onto the southern edge of Gragareth which also turns more easterly. Again ... it did. As I reached the lowest slopes the wind had eased to 6-8mph and was now more square on. Meanwhile, Rob was wending his way up the back of the hill from the Three Men parking. I've never used this approach, but any wind and until you broach the top you have little idea what's happening. It may be shorter, but the back approach is information blind - and you can't launch low.
So, I launched low ... about 50 ' up a grassy slope. The wind was light, but with odd stronger bursts. I landed 100m further on with no gain and decided to walk up another 50'. Although still only about 10mph, it was an easy soar up to the the top of the main ridge where Rob had just taken off. He had waited for a lull, whilst lower down I was waiting for a stronger gust!
We had about an hour and and half of very pleasant soaring, being an easterly we could only really use the southern half of the ridge. I did manage Green Hill, but (theory number 3) both halves often work quite independently if any north in the wind - possibly the breeze coming up out of Dentdale. Whatever - at the meeting of breezes it got rougher! It was possible to try for Great Coum but I wasn't convinced and it was too hot for a walk. The northern end was also noticeably stronger. So we settled for boating around, taking the odd bit of thermal and generally just enjoying the view.
I was just about ready to set off back to the car when Rob got himself low - wind slightly across the slope and lighter - he landed, packed and walked over the hill to his car. Another reason to use the front approach.
22/9/2024 Carrock Fell
Paragliding takes a weird sort of blind faith at times. In Ingleton it was very windy, very overcast and clouds obscured all the hills - in a word it was GRIM! Still, I decided to set off on the 50 mile drive up to Carrock - basically because Carrock is weird too when it comes to wind. Thank the Helm Bar and wave skip for that.
Passing over Shap the wind had eased a lot but the grimness was as bad if not worse - the eastern fells shrouded in clag and the visibility poor. Why continue? Shap summit was my cut off point, but to the north looked brighter - but that is relative. So on I went.
I took my usual high road approach into Carrock allowing a good view of the whole range of hills; judge the conditions and any action. Clouds still lapped the tops, but the wind had all but disappeared - the usual Carrock thing. Lots of gliders were laid out high (tells you something), one took off - up or down? He/she went up, others soon joined and dabbled in the cloud. It looked busy to say the least - but it's a huge site and having just reopened it was the 'go to' place.
Carrock is a bit of a carry up, but on the plus side it works from really low down - so I decided the bracken line was high enough. Today about 200' over the landing area would have been more than enough - but the bracken decides it. Despite the poor base the flying was really easy and ultra smooth - in fact ideal coaching conditions for all the Red Tails on the hill (CSC Coaching Day).
I played around for about an hour, landed high, brief chats and took off for a second flight. Very light wind, but so bouyant (think wave influence). Lots of videoing although the light was poor. I hunted down and then stalked Nina to get plenty of video evidence that she was flying very competently, although she did shout the word 'terrified' which she then ignored by continuing to fly. I noted that she quite likes clouds as she was often the highest and hence disappearing into the murk.
Having had my fill I landed chatted with a few old timers (Pete B and John B) ... before heading off for the Mill Inn and a pint. I don't recommend the chips!
Photo stills from video LINK
28/9/2024 Three Men
A nice early morning, a decent forecast, but by 12pm we had rained bearing down on us from the west. A few short hops and a hurried flight to the landing area to beat the rain - we we just did.
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