JUNE
2/6/2025 Brigsteer
Below: take off is centre right by the road junction.
An early start (9.20am) as it was due to get windy later as a front arrived.
I met up with Cefn on take off and was soon laid out and away. It didn't seem that windy, more odd gusts. It was also coming slightly from the west, over the trees which is never good. So it proved. It was the usual batle down the field and there was some side rotor causing a few tips to roll under - Cefn vidoed and I later spotted three tips go; but oddly never saw or felt them.
Once on the front ridge it was OK ... fairly smooth and at first mostly just ridge lift, Cefn took off second time of asking, joined me and some thermals then kicked in ... quite good ones too for so early in the day. I had the NCS task in play and managed to get the two end TP's, probably could have got the one in the middle of the valley, but the wind was picking up so I went and top landed.
Quite a reasonable snatched 1hr 20 before it started to blow out.
5/6/2025 Brigsteer
The forecast suggested a flyable afternoon, once the active front had cleared through. At 11am I was a mile or so away and stripping out an old kitchen, noting the torential rain and remarking on the over-flowing gutters. It didn't look at all good ... but things can change.
By 1.30 I was settling into the Hare and Hounds at Levens and having some lunch ... the sky was brightening, the rain had cleared through and if the wind now played ball there was a chance. I arrived on take off to find it OK ... the sky out front was clearing, sunny patches appearing and no sign of showers. The wind was on too ... even light at times.
I posted out a 'Brig OK' message and laid out. Cefn arrived just as I was about to take off along with a bit of a gust. Take off was easier than the previous day, with the wind being less crossed - so the climb out from the trees was easier.
It was fine in the air, fairly smooth and surprisingly thermic given the valley is green and was still wet. I had the NCS task plugged in but wasn't sure if the day was up to it at this stage.
Gradually others arrived, until an hour after take off there were about eight gliders airborne and a few more on the ground concerned about the wind and the 'dodgy' take off. As the day improved I set off on the NCS task, flying probably too conservatively, and thinking I was the only one doing it, in bimble mode. After almost two hours I landed with the task completed. Andy landed just after, having knocked about 35 minutes off my time.
It turned out to be a good afternoon of flying. The following day, same site (I wasn't out) seems to have been excellent too with many flying. It appears that despite a wind and rain forecast each day, if you seek out the windows of opportunity and have a convenient site you can get some good flying in. Even three days (almost) on the bounce.
XCMAP task link inc the four goal flights.
11/6/2025 Grey Scars
Warm day, nice sky, enough wind, but well off the hill to the east.
Flew down.
19 - 21st June LCC event 18 - 21st Blease Fell (all days)
19/6/25 Not an LCC day, but having to be at the (Grasmere) registration for 7pm latest I opted to go to Blease. A shame, as rasp indicated the Dales was the place to be (so it proved).
A warm walk up with Joe (Cefn a little after) to find lots of pilots, but not a lot of action bar the odd glider above the ridge top. It was very light, the sky blue and not that inspiring. However, whilst some tried and went down, a gaggle formed out front and started slowly going up ... and up. Unfortunately I wasn't ready.
Time passed and a little later I tried the same trick. Initially it worked, but it was hard work and I never really gained a lot of height. Eventually, I decided enough was enough and went down and had a cooling pint with KenKen. Some did have a good day ... once high they found much better conditions and climbs up to 4500' .... Elliot Brown even managed the NCS task to goal.
20/6/25 I bypassed briefing and went directly to Blease figuring it was the only place to go. Walked up at 9.30am to find not a soul- but it was eminently flyable and the wind fairly light. I had a 40 minute soar until I saw two others arrive - Andy and Sue Berzinn. Landed, a brief chat and we were all off again. A decent soaring flight until Andy and I landed, Sue had gone off someplace.. At first it was again on the light side, but as soon as Andy took off it seemed to get quite windy and he stayed well out. I clipped in ... waited, but decided not to. A new task briefing came through calling a 4pm start. So ... choices. I could pack, leave the bag and walk down for a coffee and lunchtime snack ... or just walk the whole lot down. I did the latter.
Coffee and snack with Joe, Cefn and Jocky, then an hour later back up the hill as everyone arrived. It was still breezy, but OK and forecast to drop. I launched low in a fair breeze and had a 25 min soar before an easy top landing near the assembled comp.
A short 24k task was called to a goal at Southwaite services. Given there was next to no clouds and no thermals, rather optimistic. With lots of others I hung around the hill as the wind went increasing off to the SW. Deciding on a rather different strategy I opted to try and get round to Jenkin/Skiddaw as these were into wind and could provide better height. I managed it OK and found the conditions delightful .... abundant, smooth lift as the wind was falling lighter. It was a tempting place to stay, but the task called.
Heading back over Jenkin a small climb got me to 3,300' and as that seemed good for the day I set off back to Blease with a slight following wind. I lost more height than I expected, but as Blease looked a poor place to even hang around I carried on. Below gliders were now scratching the west face some way up the side valley. From this point it was a case of pressing on, working the west facing edges of the spines - first a session on Gategill, then with some height over Halls Fell and Doddick to Scales Fell. Behind a few other gliders were now following suit. Perhaps I should have hung around on Scales and waited, as the flat lands beckoned and probably little lift. However, a small climb came along and there were precious few so I just went with it.
As I thought ... from that point there was nothing of any note - just a long glide, tagging a cylinder, to a low rocky edge before Berrier. The wind was now fairly light, so any ridge lift was unlikely. I should have gone north (thinking distance to goal) ... instead I went south and landed with a modest walk out. A little later a few others gliders did the same and gained a few hundred metres distance, but went more N. In the end ... 5th place and a bit disappointing.
Stills from the video LINK
25/6/2025 Grey Scars
An improving day, low cloud and showers during the morning. but a brighter afternoon with sunny spells.
I walked up in surprisingly light wind (given the forecast) ... it was slightly off to the SW but meant to back a little. On take off it was still barely soarable and off to the W. In total I had about five short flights with slope landings near take off. The final flight was the best as the wind came more on and had a little more power. I managed 15 minutes and gained about 400' at best ... then it was down.
29/6/2025 Three Men
I walked up quite hopeful, first on the hill, and it seemed OK. At the top take off the wind was on and just soarable. However, it was deceptive. There seemed enough wind, but I ended up with four scratchy, short flights and two easy walk ups from slope landings.
Just as I was about to fly down and call it a day Tom arrived, shortly followed by Rob. So another mid height landing and another 100' carry up. The first flights were similar to mine ... short! But ... then it all came good, the wind increased a little and a few decent thermals too. I think I just touched 3000' over the Gragareth main ridge. After an hour or so we all flew down.
Some cobbled together bits of video LINK
30/6/2025 Windbank
I'd had high hopes for the day the night before, but the morning forecast showed more wind than forecast. However, base and rasp were all much better to the east. Rob and I drove over to Windbank having heard someone was flying. Going over the tops behind Malham it was windy! Still, we pressed on.
Emerging from the cat at the parking it seemed OK ... so a stroll up seemed worthwhile. By the time I made take off the sky had filled with about eight gliders, but very few on the ground. It was quite windy on take off so worth waiting for the odd lull ... then it was easily into the air. I'd planned a modest triangle to the head of the valley (Horse Head) at the 13k mark then over the back towards Buckden. I was wary of the wind at height so had kept the TP cylinder just forward of the summit. It was about 28k ... not that big, but I'd be happy with given the day.
There was no great height, but plenty of ridge lift and a few rough-edged thermals. We both tagged the start and set off .... passing Arncliffe and on to Foxup. We rarely circled except in a few strong climbs that came along and were short lived. We were never high (just over the 2000' mark - sometimes 2300'), kept well forward and made quite rapid progress with a slight following wind. Rob was always (with one brief exception) quite a bit lower and a good marker. I kept expecting him to turn back, yet he bravely pushed on. By the time I tagged the turnpoint I was just ahead, bit a lot higher; then at the right time I got a climb to 2800' which seemed safe enough to cross Yokenthwaite with given the wind. It was the lowest I've crossed with, but the fastest and easier, I arrived level with the ridge top on the far side.
Now it got a bit interesting. Usually the wind tends to flow up the valleys from the south ... today it did the reverse and had more of a westerly component. The problem was it was strong! I was on my own at this stage (unknown to me Rob was actually starting the crossing - radio call would have been useful). At one stage I noted 3kph ... backwards! So I high tailed out of there on bar. In retrospect I wished I'd waited, assessed the situation better and would have been able to get onto the slopes leading south toward Starbottom/Kettlewell. Instead ... I barred forward and landed high above the tree line. The crossing was possible ... but I misjudged the wind speed. On landing it was even lightish.
Rob came over ... I think lower than me and thinking he'd landed behind a slight rise as he disappeared from sight, I walked over to check he was OK, but was still actually flying - down into a narrow valley. I radioed that if he could make the steep slopes on the far side the wind should be on. I honestly though he was down. Then he seemed to gain a little, bot not going forward; some more until he was climbing rapidly (he said later than a metre lower and he wouldn't have made it). As I slowly packed he became a dot in the distance as he soared the lower edge of Buckden and Great Whernside to the south.
I had a pleasant, bracken infested walk down in hot sun and a light breeze. enjoyed a wash ina cool stream and I kicked myself that I hadn't waited for Rob (two makes it easier) and then just gone for it as he'd done and discovered how well the lower ridges were working.
Eventually, he landed above Kettlewell after meeting some very rough air low down (several collapses). I was fortunate to get a lift back with Chris F and then it was cider and Guiness in the Tennants (run out of beer!)
Below: Rob ...heading towards TP1 on the far horizon.
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