After hearing how good it was at Bellmunt yesterday, we seriously considered going there today. Looking at the forecast though, we decided that today was different and that convergence was less likely and with less wind, the chances of it being really good would be less too. Some high cloud was also forecast, so we decided to go to Santa Brigida instead.

On driving past Puigsacalm (the highest peak near Olot), we could see three gliders climbing and assumed that they had flown from Bellmunt. We were kicking ourselves that we hadn’t set off earlier and given ourselves the chance of a lift share up Bellmunt, until I phoned Oriol to get a conditions report. Rather than flying to Puigsacalm, they had walked up it. It’s roughly 500m in height difference, so a long slog. We’ve known people to do it once with a normal paraglider, then they either purchase lightweight gear or go fly somewhere else. It seems Jesus, Aldric, Matthias, etc. are in training for the mini X-Alps trek they have planned for May, which goes from Batere (in the foothills of Canigo) to the sea.

We carried on to Santa Brigida, where the wind seemed light, but on. Nobody was flying, and we saw why once we got to the top. The wind sock on launch kept swinging in all directions. Geoff wanted to be first off, but waited until the conditions got a bit better. After a half hour wait, Xiliu went off first and got straight up. Everyone followed. Enric was the first to get mega high and he set off to St Helena, which he made easily. He didn’t leave himself enough margin to get back though, so bottom landed.

Marc meanwhile set off over the back, came back, flew to St Helena, across to Amer and back for an even bigger triangle than he did yesterday. He top landed back at his car full of beans. Geoff and I had several flights, getting high, then low, then high and generally playing around. For some reason I wasn’t super motivated today. Hoping to go somewhere different tomorrow, just for a different view.

See photos of today.

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