May
2/5/2025 Mallerstang
Several options, but I went for Mallestang as it seemed a bit different to the usual Wether/Dodd site.
There was only a light wind on the walk up, but it seemed settled on W. Went to the top and shortly after Cefn arrived, then within 15 minutes Jacob, Andy and Tom. The wind had increased in the thermal gusts to soarable so Cefn took off and before long was climbing out in front of the hill. I followed within minutes then top landed to switch on my tracking. Back in the air it seemed good and soon I was climbing too.
With everyone in the air we briefly formed a full gaggle. The climbs were OK ... but getting a bit rougher and never going that high (about 3600' at best) and they didn't solid enough to follow over the back. The others had a triangle planned, but I left options open as the wind at height was far from light. The next hour was a bit of a rock and roll struggle with broken thermal and the wind going off to the NW as the SB semed to be washing through the valley.
I moved to the south end where the cliffs face more into wind and may be less exposed to SB influence. Again, rough climbs that soon petered out. A while later I thought enough was enough and others having gone down, then back to the cars. This proved tricky with a wind well crossed and feeling fresh. I got about a third of the way before landing on top as the ridge wasn't working.
The landing was fine, but strong gusts were coming through - I must have picked a good time to land. I waited, thought about discretion being the better part .....decided to pack and expected a long walk back and down to the cars. I walked about 100m and was clear of the worse part of the crags, sat down and reassessed conditions. It seemed better and I had a nice grassy launch area. Anything to save an hour's walk.
I relaunched easily and followed the ridge back north ... slowly and without any problem to land by the car in a moderate wind. All were now down .... Jacob managed the second TP and was in the Moorcock cafe, Andy by Pendragon Castle.
Not the greatest day's flying. LINK
5/5/2025 Wild Boar (N)
Lakes or Dales? It seemed a lot windier in the Dales, but forecast to drop. It wasn't a great direction for the Lakes either being ENE/NE. Cefn, James and settled for an in between approach. We drove to Shap, checked out the direction and strength and opted for the north end of Mallerstang. It's an easier approach and tends to have lighter wind as the valley opens out.
We arrived at the take off 'bump' to find it pretty ideal, the wind on and even on the light side. James launched first and was soon heading south onto the main ridge. I followed and had to scratch a bit to stay up at first; Cefn followed, but unfortunately went down and had a carry up.
James continued down to Swarth Fell, I followed, arriving almost too low after the long crossing, but managed to get up. It wasn't long before the sun breaking through relaesed a good thermal to base. James led off after reaching base first and I followed about five minutes later and a k behind. We were alraedy split up.
Staying high I passed over Baugh Fell, then Ayegill Pike where another climb kept me at base. James got stuck here for a spell and I carried on. The day had settle into strong, often rough climbs, followed by long periods of bad sink - so height could quickly be winding off. I seemed high as I reached the moors in front of Barkin - then it got a bit fraught, alot of height vanished and I turned 90 degrees and headed for the NE bowl of Barkin. I expected a soaring session, but instead ran into the best thermal of the day - smooth, strongh and all the way to base 4,700'.
The climbs were good if a bit rough after that, down the Lune and passing Kirkby Lonsdale. I had a goal at Garstang and so heading east (a bit crosswind) would have been the sensible route. However, I was getting (irrationally?) spooked by the turbulence and just ploughed on.
Over Hornby I was a bit low, but spotting several gulls thermalling I joined them - and another very rough thermal gained me 1000' before I called enough. The rest was a long glide to land just beyond Caton.
Mid flight I noticed my GoPro lanyard wasn't attached and with freezing cold hands I couldn't reattach. Having walked a fair way to the edge of my landing field I noticed it was missing. A field search soon found it to my relief.
6/5/2025 Whernside (W)
Rob and I walked up under a good looking sky and with the wind rather off to the north. Rob Lund was preparing on take off and all seemed fair. However a combinatioon of being off the hill slightly and only thermal gusts meant it proved hard to stay up. We all had several attempt but each time had to resort to a top or slope landing.
Eventually I got a good climb out to 4300' ... but that was it! The sky which had looked OK was washing out. I could barely make Chapel le Dale and it was obvious the sea breeze had come sweeping in. The only way was down and into a marked headwind. I landed in a breezy southwesterly sweeping up the dale. For my pains I had a two mile walk to the White Scar caves cafe.
My shortest ever xc from 4,300' above Whernside. LINK
7/5/2025 Great Dummocks / Cautley
It looked OK as we (James and I) arrived - if rather breezy. However one glider was flying (Richard Meek). Ahead was Andy, Cefn, Glenn and Chris. I walked up last onto the take off knoll to see Cefn about to take off ... the others had gone higher although it was windy enough here.
Cefn launched with style and was soon on the upper slopes. The others took off, climbed and I followed last. The flying was OK, plenty of lift and the thermals were fine too ... except they didn't seem to go that high. Trying to skirt off the north end I went towards Kensgriff and almost got decked. Managed to get up then hit a very rough thermal that at 3300' I decide I'd had a enough of. I knew I had insufficient height but went anyway only to find myself flying low over deep valleys with a long walk out in prospect.
At one point, and pretty low I found what felt like a strong core, then after maybe several turns. lost it, found it and then lost it again ... it was very broken. I made about 400' and then carried on in desperate hope but to no avail.
Another long road walk .... until on reaching Tebay a ccar window opened and Glenn shouted ... we've got a lift - to Kendal. Thanks to Glenn a walk to his car and a ride back to Cautley collecting Richard en route. A pint in the Dalesbridge.
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