So with the same forecast as the last 2 days only a little more unstable, we get called a monster triangle of 190k or so. There is a front on the way and winds start out more westerly and that means better launch conditions. I am bound and determined to get a very early launch today. I swear I am almost the first one ready but another guy beats me to the ramp. I look at my watch and it is still early, but he is running off the ramp. I ask the
Getting up is easier then the previous 2 days and there were thin clouds over the back. The start was back to an Open Start meaning no intervals to shoot for. The reality of the flight distance really didn’t sink into my thick skull even though common sense told me I needed to get the hell out of dodge. The timing of my thermals near the gate had me going back 2 more times before heading out on course. I just couldn’t let go even though I knew the chances of finishing such a long task were slim.
On course the clouds and lift were solid. I have switched to M/s so I can’t really quantify other that to say it was capital B…..capital I…..capital G! Markers on course, clouds, and obvious lines had me most of the way to the first turnpoint in no time. There, the clouds were big and covered more then 30% of the sky. My last thermal entering the valley was definitely a lee side bugger and it caught my attention. My track now ran straight up the middle of a valley that was also a bit of a box canyon for about 5k. Nailed the turnpoint at cloudbase and headed towards tp2. Back at the edge of the nice clouds 5k from the first turnpoint came crucial decision time. About 45k in the distance was the next point. It was located on a high mountain top directly down the left side of the ridge. This left ridge is very homo geneous that is and is notorious for fast racing on an almost daily basis. Today though, incredible clouds are scattered down the RIGHT side of the valley along the convoluted valleys and peaks. Its clear that all the pilots before me have followed the clouds down the long line to the right. I had been watching them stream that way for the last 20 or 30 minutes. I couldn’t take that obvious route though. Some clouds on the blue left half had cycled up and looked really good. I was hedging my bets that the Pinzgau (spelling error I am sure) had turned on and it was time to race down the ridge. One glide later I realized I had something wrong with the picture. The clouds on the left ridge were actually lined up more with the foothills rather then the ridge top. With the wind coming over the top I didn’t want to be downwind of high ground so I took a line down the highest line. By the time I got to a couple hundred meters over some big peaks and saddles I still had no love. The air led me to the upwind side of the ridge and that was making me pretty nervous. That side led to some remote valleys and landings I couldn’t even see. The right side of the ridge had the wide open nice valley. I hunted around but found nothing very strong. I opted to squeak my way around a bowl, onto the other side, and try to move further down the ridge to a cloud in the distance. Once over ridge top everything became crystal clear as the lee side rotor plummeted me from the skies. The clouds were lined up over the bases not because they were drifting back from the tops, but because they were all growing from lee side thermals. My sorry butt was on the express escalator down and I had to make a beeline to that cloud! I don’t think the sink alarm let up for an eternity. Around one finger and *BAM* a hard pop but no follow up….keep gliding baby. Next finger *DOUBLE BAM* but it still didn’t have the meat to it. Finally, after the third finger of smack down the tight valley clearly was sheltering something sustainable. Strong, rough, and broken. What else would I expect? I was thankfully to get back to cloudbase. Only one more thermal and I was at the turnpoint, trying to get high for the trek back into the wind.
I arrived after a small gaggle and they glided on while I struggled to reach base. Courseline back to goal was into a stiff breeze and the cloud situation was not looking good at all. A few over the highest peaks but massive amounts of blue in between. I glided off the direction everyone had gone, over the Zellem See (big ass lake) and across the valley to the opposing ridge. Some thin cummies were showing their face and it was the only game in town. On this ridge the wind was much stronger then anywhere else on course. At least 15-20 kph. A number of pilots joined me, one higher and several rigids lower. They glided in from whatever lines they had taken, and then retreated from. Time was wasting and I was getting impatient. The thermal cycled up, and then back down before I could get high. I bolted up the ridge at about 80 degrees to course line. I knew crossing the valley that stood between me and goal would be a death march so my only hope for more distance was across course line up the ridge. I hit the next bowl facing the wind. And hung out. And hung out some more, and a bit more, then things got better! A thermal cycled up and I gained an extra 700m or so. Just enough to make it around the next corner! Sweet. As soon as the lift died, I bolted. Once on this corner the same thing again,…some light ridge soaring, high wind thermalling, and a slow gain in altitude. Some rigids joined me here from below and basically just followed the lift I found. Their big wings got great anti-sink rates but every now and then I found something better or faster to stay well on top. The next glide looked pretty bleak so I wasn’t surprised to not find anyone following me up my usual cross coursline path. With my heading I was every so slowly eating up distance towards goal but with the wind, I knew it was the best thing going. Each jump west the mountains got taller and the day got later. A few of the bowls had a nice north face to ridge soar, with a large west face to catch the late day sun. That was a good combination good for a few hundred extra meters over the no sun bowls. Near the town of
I was out of ridge and running out of time. In the distance across the massive valley I had some ideas, but none looked to promising I had scratched my way for a couple of hours, about 30-40k, and I was maybe 15k closer to goal. Frustrating math. The late day valley air was buoyant so I actually managed a very respectable glide into a now diminished to 10kph head wind. Shortly after flying over St Johan I spotted my 2 Atos VR pimps on the ground below. At least I was getting the validation that my crazy route was worth at least something extra! I tried the left side of the converging valley but just got rotored from the high peak above. Not the first time I picked the wrong side of a 50/50 gamble this day. I steadily glided to the dirt in a diminishing valley wind to cap off a long fought 7 hours in the air.
Approaching storms meant the next day was called off. Day 3 was tough for me, but apparently not as tough as it was for 2 guys that had been ahead of me in the overall scoring. Mickey got lee drilled at the first turnpoint and Georg didn’t make it around the second turnpoint. I moved up to 3rd for the final scoring. I am happy with that, my best to date. Still have so much to learn though.
Kev
1 comment:
Keep the stories coming Kev!
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