The day started very cloudy and started to clear after midday, we went up to launch and the boys soared around under a low base in pretty cold temperatures. The forecast is looking cloudy for tomorrow too. However it should stay dry hopefully for more soaring in the Dolomites.
Today was a pretty classic forecast for the Alps, although there was some stability in the forecast. We launched in reasonable order on the Col Rodella. I had set a short 40km task around the main area and it was easy to climb out from launch and head for the Sasso Lungo. Within a few minutes the climbs took us to around 3300m at 2-4m/s. The boys were already close to the Rosen Garten formations around 10km to the south.
I pushed hard to catch the guys up as myself and Kevin got stuck on launch with the amount of traffic and fickle wind conditions. The conditions were a little stable and I struggled to climb thru the lower inversion and got alone at around 2550m.
Adam and Colin did a great job of breaking thru and got up to 3400 again. We then cruised back to Col Rodella, however the valley wind was a little too strong and the thermals broken down low. Adam got back up over the Sasso Lungo and made an attack on the Marmolada. Well done to him in the tricky conditions lower down.
Many pilots made it over the Marmolada, although I suspect they went pretty much straight there from launch but we wantred to try to fly something different.
The guys flew for an hour or so in the late afternoon, soaring the valley breeze and reported smooth climbs up to 2600m.
All in all a great day out and around 2-3hrs airtime on average for the boys.
Today was a pretty good day in the Dolomites, however the persistent north wind turbulated the thermals a little, especially on the edge of the Sasso Lungo and first walls of the Sella. After that it was pretty good in the protected area of the Sella, 3m/s climbs took us to 3100m. The guys who blazed out front got flushed in the lee side of the Marmolada. Other pilots got out however & I suspect they dived more into the protected area of the back of the Marmolada.
The weather is looking very special for this weeks Dolomites trip, I should imagine that I’ll be posting some reports and photos from there. I’ll be picking everyone up from Innsbruck tomorrow morning. There may be a chance for an evening flight…
I’ve just got back from the first of the Dolomite weeks. On the way there the weather was cold and snow was forecast to around 1800m. Cold!!! The first day was strong north wind, not ideal for the Dolomites and it’s sheer south faces. Monday dawned windy again so I decided to tale the boys ( from Greece and UK) to Bassano. Two days of nice easy flying in the flats with the guys. We even managed the flight to Asolo and back, around 25km out and return in the falts with a very low base of just over 1000m.
Thursday was back in the Dolomites with less north wind and most pilots got over the Sasso Lungo and we then made a pass of the Sella but with the north wind still persisit there we dived straight on to the west face of the Sass Pordoi. This worked well for me but the others struggled somewhat and landed in Campitello. After 1,5hrs in the air with freezing temperatures I decided to land too.
Friday was interesting but with more north forecast it was just a 4m/.s average spin up in the lee and cross to the windward face next to the Marmolada, it was easily soarable but I felt a ew waves and decided to land.
Not a classic week in the Dolomites but still we had a great time in Bassano and getting over the Sasso Lungo is always special.
Next week is the next Dolomite trip and the weather is looking perfect with a high pressure centered over the Alps.
KF
A stable day on the Penken so in the afternoon myself and a few of the local pilots went to the Hintertux Glacier. It was a little stable even in the high level and there were just weak 1-2m/s climbs and their were quite close in.As we were flying low we startled a few herds of Gams (mountin goat). We never got over the ridges, but easily gaining enough height in the relaxed thermals to move on thru the next col and over the next ridge.All of us made it back in a little under an hour however it’s never good to be in hurry in the big mountains. Just relax and enjoy the view. Nice to make this flight again with friends.