January
3/1/2025 Three Men
First flight of the new year.
With the afternoon looking the best part of the day, l arrived about 12.45pm to find barely a breath of wind at the parking. Still ... it seemed like the walk up may prove worthwhle given the forecast wind gradient. It could also just be a fly down. At the half way point, two cars arrived below with Tom, Andy and Jacob .... so at least some good company. The wind also started to show ... only about 5mph, but a nice westerly direction.
Once at take off things seemed hopeful - only 10 mph, but it could work well if as bouyant as the previous day's reports. By the time I was laid out the others had arrived. As they set up l gave it a go to see how it felt. A short 10 minute flight showed it very smooth, just enough lift despite the light wind and wth a nice bouyancy to the air. I top landed to video the others launching and set my tracker running.
Over the next hour we enjoyed some excellent flying in lovely, smooth, lifty air. As the afternoon progressed we were able to explore well out front and along the full length of the ridge. Jacob, as ever, was usually out front and putting his Enzo through its paces. The wind never read much above 10mph and the bottom landing was in almost nil wind, but the denser winter air made for easy landings.
An excellent afternoon and despite the low temperatures it felt quite pleasant.
29/1/2025 Park Fell
Encouraged by a dog walking, Chris K calling it good on Park, I set off for a look - with Alan O about 20 minutes behind. For most of the walk in it didn't look that promising, it was a nice enough day, but the wind was coming up the valley and casting big doubts. Still ... I continued in hope. Doing my usual thing I skirted south across the mid-height slopes to try and bring the wind more on - then it died to nothing. Alan and I met up and decided to carry on to the top and see what height and time would bring.
Via different approaches we came together on top and it actually looked pretty good. The wind was back, felt OK and was now more square on. The forecast had it veering to NW and maybe NNW so it looked like the extra 20 minutes had been worth it. Anyway ... we now had some wind.
I was soon away and it felt nicely bouyant, fairly smooth with odd gusts, but generally quite pleasant .... the indicated wind at height never getting much above 12mph .... often less. I had a good boat around, but on the hill it appeared to have become stronger and Alan was struggling to get off. After a while Chris turned up with some advice and Alan managed from lower down the slope.
I headed south ... I'd done so a few times already and it worked fine. This time I sensed the wind was shifting off the slope to the N and headed back - it was that or take a punt on Ingleborough and maybe not make it back. Too old (or lazy) for that. Alan had followed but a lot lower and was eventually forced to head out and land. A short spell of height gaining on Park and I set off for a light wind landing at Ribblehead.
In retrospect maybe I should have stayed. James M arrived 30 minutes after my landing - I didn't know if he'd missed the best slot, but suggested it should be OK. He set off up. It appears it was not only still working, but maybe better. An hour or so later there were several gliders high over the summit area.
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