Good conditions with climbs to 3500m and decent Cu. A convergence running north with a SE curving around the mountains. We went from Lastra, the first time this year, though by 2.30 pm the wind came onto PN. After some quite violent climb outs we set out towards the resovoir, some 30km N of take off, some returning to Piedrahita and others such as Earl going to Barco. About 2.5 hours of flying. Excellent evening conditons for the late flight also.
Post cold frontal with clear and clean air again and nice Cu, though low and with the possibility of the NE picking up. We took of early with the intention of a quick XC to Barco. David and I made it there by 1pm, the others landing en route, though they got back and eventually all but Johan made the XC down to Barco. Nice evening flying, though a little off to the north preventing the big ridge run
Today, with a fantastic forecast for a flight beyond 200km we were quite excited, though knowing the take off at PN could be prolematic. Quite strong winds, espeically at altitude, but a convergence line which would put us at 200km+. The wind started to come on at PN and we expected it to improve. However, it turned tailwind and we had not chance to connect with what looked like a fantastic day. We checked out the new southerly, but it was too strong and crossed by the time we got there. This is perhaps the first Epic day we have missed this year.
Quite stable today so a very short XC towards the Pass, with some of the group electing to land at the long bar for lunch. Excellent evening flying with good restitution allowing us to fly most of the mountian range.
An evening flight on arrival yesterday and the first XC today for the new group. A high base forecast with light wind, but looking a bit N at Avila. Myself, Dave and Earl were soon over the Pass in climbs going to 7m/s, but the quickly developing clouds kept us from haning around and we were landing at Avila after a quick run with some towereing Cu behind us. However, Iain, Gil and Dave S had to have a reflight after bombing near Piedrahita, and being much later had some problems with the cloud at the Pass. Gil actually finally reached Avila after encoutering some light hail. Iain was less lucky, finding hail and landing in high winds and rain just the other side of the Pass. Johan, also made it along way along the Avila Pass, and would have done better but got a little lost in the hazy air. The week ahead looks pretty good, but we are hoping the air quality and visibility will improve
After all the big stuff we have been doing lately, yesterday we made a shorter goal flight towards Barco (20km) as the winds were expected (and did) rise. With the heat wave, although we had remarkable climbs to over 4000m on friday, we also now have very poor visibility. Today with once again expected high winds we made an early flight, just staying local with more interest in a trip to the river and and evening flight
A rather amazing day with huge climbs to 4400m to the Cu in the convergence allowing us to fly back to the peaks of the Gredos mountains. This is only the second time we have flown back to the peaks and returned with a group. Amazing scenery, though the photo below is from the last trip many years back with the Malvern Club as nobody today had a camera handy. No snow on that photo, but we still have snow on the peaks. Not all decided to fly back, some made a flight to Barco and beyond.
Over the Gredos mountains
Today we set the goal at 125km, however, things were real slow. By laterafternoon before Avila we were getting as high as 3800m, but the with mainly blue conditons it was trick to spot the hoped for convergence shown in RASP. After Bert, we had Helen , Ian, David and myself around the 75km mark and Tim a little further on.
Sofia landing at 80km
An excellent day with perhaps the strongest and smoothest climbs I have experienced this year. a 7.5m/s on the averager in the Avila Valley on one climb. A good cloud street to Avila, after which many of us headed north towards Penaranda. Iain, Neil, Sofia (a PB), Richard and myself landed in the same field at around 80km with the dogleg towards Avila.
Sunday was rather stable, so I considered that with the similar forecast, although lighter wind, we might struggle. We set the Goal at Avila, expecting some convergence across the Avila valley at Munogalindo and a probably N wind at Avila. The convergence was there, and the conditions much better than anticipated with climbs to over 3000m. At goal we had Helen, Neil, Johan, David, Laurence and myself. Also over the Pass towards Avila was Iain and Sofia.
Nice evening flying, the restitution nowhere near as good as on the Sunday