Concerns of Mountain Flying

[colin keightley]

Whats at the front of your mind when mountain flying or what concerns you about mountain flying.

[gary stenhouse]

A little of the rough air as well though a lot depends on the day, what I have noticed is that my confidence flying a 1-2 is no difference than 2-3 when I am near gullies and rocky ground. I think this will always be the way things are, as I have felt the harsh end of what can happen.

This I think is not a bad thing to have as if you can fly out front with stronger winds you have more choices if the wind picks up. As if you are close to the tops then if the wind does pick up you will have very few options especially on a low end slower glider.

If in doubt then stay out, as these places take no prisoners.

Cheers Gary

[Chris L]

Colin I think this is a loaded question focusing on negatives, including maximising distance which I now think is a really bad way to gauge the quality of a flight. Is it not better to focus where to get lift and find thermals and just explore and enjoy the views and the places we fly its a privelaged position, that only a tiny minority ever get to see
Yes its always good to have in the back of your mind wind speed and which gulleys are safe etc but not to focus on these things.
XC is part of the exploration but so is hiking to take offs and landing in the middle of no where and finding your way back its all part of paragliding to me

[colin keightley]

This poll really was aimed at the lower airtime. But the aim was to get a discusion going from the results so as to ecourage people to get out mountain flying. The poll would show what people are concerned about and I have left options there for those who arnt concerned so as the aim was to find out what people are worried about i think it does its job.

It all came about from my observations at Jenkin such a great day to go explore even just a km or so and many didnt move from takeoff.

[gary stenhouse]

i think the question is a good one to get people to think about what they are doing? the thing i have found with flying is you are alwaus learnig and sometimes when you are a novice you fly places out of nievity rather then skill and knowledge. a plan b is a good thing to be aware of on a pg as going low behing the ridge in front may be causing rotor. you have to be constantly thinking and evaluating where the wind is coming from in the mountains, as if there is a shift in wind direction you need to be prepared for it. i would say feer is a strong word for me, it is more apprehension on the choice i am making is the right one.

if you are not happy, ask yourself why? and talk to people who may have more experience to learn about your fears.


cheers gary

[Fingers]

so is hiking to take offs and landing in the middle of no where and finding your way back its all part of paragliding to me

your so perverted Chris.

[Neil]

i think all of the above and more.
usualy its who is going to spoil my posative sence of karma

[RonDon]

Chris. I go along with that, Ron

PS. Know one will be spoiling your sence of Karma in, Laragne, Neil. Roll on.

[John Wallis]

A quick story to give you my thoughts. I was up at glenshee at my first Scottish open we were on the north east face it was post cold front blowing about 26 mph. The entire British league were also there. I'd never flown in the mountains it was a very new experience. I couldn't work out why no one was taking off we kept checking the wind which was around 26 to 28 I'd flown in this wind speed many time so decided to take off and have a fly. Well ***k me was this a major mistake. This was the most turbulent flight I had in all my Hang gliding years. Never again did I fly in big winds in the mountains and I've never flown a para glider in big winds in the mountains or hills. Big winds and our wings don't mix and they are dangerous.