November 

16/11/2025    Wolf Crag

October had proved very disappointing; November seemed to be heading the same way.

Sunday dawned sunny and clear with a very light northerly ... in fact, a lovely morning. I headed up to Keswick, through Ambleside - not a good idea as the congestion was the usual nightmare. There really is no pleasure in driving the Lakes anymore. After a  photo assignment and knowing Wolf was attracting attention I headed along the A66 hoping to spot either groundbound or airborne wings. As it happened there were gliders, flying  ... and lots of them, some on the back of Clough, then more over the crags. After telephotoing a few wings  I carried on to a very full parking and grabbed a prime spot as someone left.

Pleasant walk in to the very east end and a few hundred feet up the spur.  I rarely find I need to go higher or further and a few gliders showed it was working well even here despite the light wind.  Wing up and away, not a lot of wind, but enough and nicely bouyant in the smooth winter air.  Quickly across to the crags and the melee of at least 16 gliders. Some had a few hours - but being late taking off (1.45pm)  I just had a bit less than a hour. I tried getting onto the higher Dodd but he lfit was not having it. 

After about 55 minutes the lift started dying and almost everyone spotted it was time to head back to the cars. A very enjoyable afternoon, followed by a another nightmare through the central Lakes (the M6 was said  to be closed - infact it had reopened).

Photo LINK (not the usual quality - not sure why, could be condensation  or I mucked up a setting)