April
3/4/2026 The Magnet
A great looking day sandwiched between two awful ones - hence a lot were keen to be out.
We met at Seasons, two car loads, and with too many options went for the handiest -- the Magnet on the west side of Whernside. Chris and Alan walked up the backway whilst Mark came a little later. Plans were made and shared with a goal set at Durham, but for a while the hill didn't play ball. Mostly it was the backend of thermal gusts that tempted a launch only to leave you quickly slope landing lower. Chris had set up a k to the south at the thermal magnet end ... it seemed to be working better.
Gradually we all made our way to the south end, some by a bout of hike n fly. I just saved my legs via a low scoot across. Within 10 minutes it started to work, clouds formed out front, I made base, but at a meagre 3600' ... not high in the hills. Gradually a gaggle formed more or less together and the GO was given ...eight gliders left some, high, some less so.
It was not long before I broke the rule of the power of the gaggle and sticking together. I just had the impression others were heading off track (not true) and I can never see what I think is a better cloud and being tempted I headed for one ... towards Dodd and got ....drilled!
I was now on my own. at ridge height and with a crossed wind .... I trickled off the south end, hoped a building cloud would work and I'd found climbs here before. All rather desperate stuff. I found broken lift, persevered, pushed into wind and it got better .... and better ... and soon I was back over 4000' and crossing Hawes. Near Semer I saw the gaggle high, several gliders seemed low and behind me someone else was caught in the Dodd snare. I think they went down.
With fair height I rejoined the gaggle thermal (weak) then did the usual trick of heading off W to better, then realised it wasn't a good plan and turned back east to Nappa. Below James came in very low to Nappa ... meanwhile I was back climbing and watching James. His middle name is 'Tenacious' ... he was soon climbing and we met up approaching base. I videod a little then shot off towards Fremington very confident I'd find something. I should have waited. The gaggle slowly circled at height to the north but again I thought I knew better and time was passing to make Durham.
Then I discovered the delights of Fremington - close up. It's an impressive ridge, long, multi featured and today it only had broken thermals and few of them. James arrived low at the very NE end ... and climbed out straightaway. I headed that way but found nothing, so back to the very opposite end and sinking lower. The last chance was a really good looking cloud out front .... so at ridge height I set off forward. The first lift was OK and I almost committed with no great height ... then fell out what I felt was the back - forward again. Now it got good, then really good and with little drift I was soon at 5,200 and into cloud. I was also heading drectly into Feldom D area ... so left or right. I went right (east) to skirt it. The clouds still showed there but the top cover came in fast and the sun went. I was high, but on a glide where I felt luck was against me. Ahead lay the busy A66 ... beyond minor roads and I didn't think I could make West Auckland. So ... I settled on what I thought was a service stop but only an odd country retail park - but busy (maybe a lift?).
I landed in a nice field in a gentle breeze, packed and thought now it gets tough. Then .... a miracle! I crossed the road, took off my sack, turned and there was a car. The angel was Andy (Beevers?) .... returning from Far Whitestones. Andrew took me back to Leeds station (I think that may have been slightly out of his way) enroute to Huddersfield. I cannot thank him enough and I owe him more than a few pints (if you read this send me your number and get your reward - you helped me enormously) Thankyou.
Quick train journey from Leeds and a short bus ride from Settle completed an excellent day.
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