We hooked up with Andy W. and Phil S. in Keswick last night and then had to work out where to fly this morning. I was pretty chilled out. We’re on holiday, so if we fly that will be a bonus, if not, then we’re in a stunning part of the country, which is good enough for me. Originally, we were going to Cat Bells, but a chat with the guys at the Sick and the Wrong persuaded us to go to Wrynose Pass. I was happy just soaking up the stunning scenery and wasn’t convinced that the flying would be anything special. There was high cloud coming in and there was little wind to speak of, as well as the Lakes being positioned smack bang in the middle of the high pressure.

We walked up and Phil launched first. He didn’t get anything and landed back at the cars. Another pilot launched from the lower launch and started to soar the ridge to the left. This was our cue to launch. Andy and I got above ridge height, but Geoff struggled below us. I was shouting at Andy how amazing the views were. It then got scratchy and we headed to where the other guy had been getting up. Geoff unfortunately went down and Andy and I thought we were hot on his heels. We got a saving thermal and this took us up to cloudbase. Andy decided we should head to Langdale Pikes – big stuff just behind. I couldn’t see a road in the next valley so was a little reluctant to go and headed back down the valley. Andy coaxed me back and I decided that I needed to pull myself together, so I flew back to him and towards the high mountains. We planned to fly to Derwent Water, so got high again on the Pikes and then flew along Langstrath Valley. I chose a good line and managed to fly along the top of the ridge all the way. Andy was lower and managed to creep round the corner into the next valley but was down. I had a couple of hundred feet above him and managed to drop onto the ridge and found a weak thermal, which I worked for dear life. It was close to the ridge, there were tourist shouting at me trying to get me to wave and Andy was letting me know about retrieve options when I got a little too close to the ridge. I whipped the glider round, but was on the edge of the thermal and I spun the glider. Hands up and weight shift pulled the glider out and I damped the dive and then dashed straight back into the thermal. I have rarely been so determined to get up!

After what seemed ages, I got above the ridge where the thermal developed properly and I was up and off. Heading north to Derwent Water. I really wanted to get to Keswick, but the east route was unlandable and the west route also didn’t look too clever, so I decided to traverse the valley and to drop onto the Cat Bells, where a glider was layed out. He launched and went down, so I flew along the ridge and headed off NW to the next ridge in the Newlands Valley. I didn’t get onto it and landed near Braithwait, only about 3 miles short of Keswick.

Only 23km, but the most spectacular flight I have had in the UK. Just amazing.

See photos of today.

3 Comments »