Lumsden Law by Paraglider

brian day · Post by **brian day** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 8:35 pm

Chose to go try Lumsden Law today with a RASP forecast of SW winds 12mph yellow thermal updraft, 4 star rating with a CB of 3800ft.

40 miles and 1 hour from the Moor Farm pick up and a15min walk up an excellent short grass take off with huge safe flat area behind.

Unfortunately the wind felt top end, probably about the forecast 12mph but going up to 18mph in the thermals. After a walk up, a walk down to get my phone and a walk up I decided to give it a go.

Take off showed it to be top end with a short trip backwards before settling in the harness and making slow forward progress at 2mph, onto the ridge proper and good height let me put on half bar and up to 8mph.

Thermals were large, frequent and well formed with smooth powerful lift, little or no turbulence, with short sink cycles between. I was soon at cloud base without even trying!

The ridge opens up allowing flying to Carter Bar in the north and the length of Catcleugh Reservoir at least to the south.

Behind is a forest, but to the north a clear run along a road, which in Mad Dogs words, 'you can't go down, the hills just line up'

So, why didn't I go? It was one of those days, the head wasn't there, forgot my phone, forgot my water, no one else in the air,,,,,those that do will know what I mean!

Today, this proved to be one hell of a site, with loads of potential for the ridge runs and xc. There are electric cables out front, but a huge landing area in front of the shallow bowl to the north and plenty over the road.

If there was a problem, it was getting down. Even at the other side of the valley there was plenty of lift, I had to 'do a Miller' and find the sink and core it to get to the ground. Even the landing was smooth with no turbulence.

Would I go back,,, an un resounding,,,yes!!!! Wind SW, though the site and area has potential for everything, forecast winds of calm to 10mph and good thermal forecast. With a bit more site experience and more pilots in the air today would have been a record breaking day! Damn you all for not having the belief and coming with us. Well done to the dog for 2 walk ups, just a shame it was to strong for him. Think he got few few pics n video, the views are stunning!!!

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:01 pm

Pleased to hear you had a good day on this site we used to fly it on hanggliders but there were more thrashings than good days.. maybe due to
high hills in front (lee wave) I certainly would not fly it with winds of more than 12mph going of past experience.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:09 pm

Pleased to hear you had a good day on this site we used to fly it on hanggliders but there were more thrashings than good days.. maybe due to
high hills in front (lee wave) I certainly would not fly it with winds of more than 12mph going of past experience.

Sounds like you had a good day Brian but I agree with Ron the time we flew it wasn't windy maybe 10 to 12 mph. One pilot got the control frame ripped from his grasp I got thrashed to the landing area one pilot got thrashed and dropped onto the A68 suffering major injuries and totaled his hang glider . It was a very strange place we just couldn't work out what was causing these severe conditions. Maybe it's worth another visit just be bloody cautious.

brian day · Post by **brian day** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:25 am

Yes, I'd heard the stories, but had presumed it was in much higher winds with it being hang gliders.
I was nervous on take off, especially with the high wind,(for a Paraglider). To be honest I found Lords Seat far worse last Monday. Lords Seat has a pretty similar topography, with an even steeper and narrower valley, so as you say a strange phenomenon.

How much flying was done on the site prior to the incidents, has anyone flown it since? John Miller was telling me about the crash onto the road, but his description was of a different site, was he just hiding the truth?

Has anyone else had any experience on this hill?

Should it be left alone?

The whole area seems to have a great deal of potential, we did try another hill on the road to Hownam from Carter Bar, but it was to windy there too.

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:03 am

the way i look at a hill is would you drop back to it in a XC and that would be yes? however would you choose to fly it if it was not a xc day and that might be no? as when it is thermic it may behave very differently and be safer than with just laminar wind, still sounds like a good option for a xc site.

antobaird · Post by **antobaird** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:10 am

I think I can lay claim to be the first paraglider who flew Lumsden Law several decades ago.

I was there with the Hang Gliders (were you there Wallis?), and although it wasn't that windy I remember taking off, being hoovered up a couple of hundred feet very abruptly with next to zero penetration, then down very abruptly followed by a hasty top landing. The air didn't feel very friendly and I never went back.

This was only a short time before the A68 crash and the catalogue of thrashings, hard landings, bent aluminium and wounded pride which John mentioned.

Take care !

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:37 pm

The air didn't feel very friendly and I never went back

That about sums it up Anto. After the carnage of that one day who in their right mind would want to hurry back when there's other options. Anto's description of the air on the day we flew was perfect, trouble is what was causing it? in a light wind too?

Strange.

There is another SW hill called Peg Law on the way to Hownam travelling from the west. Wasn't brilliant but might be a good starting point. I'd fly that again it's not as good as Hownam but much easier access.

berow · Post by **berow** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:56 pm

I have flown in plenty of unfriendly air over the years and on some well known sites. Is it fair to judge on one incident?

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:06 pm

i think it will have to be flown a lot more to find out but given the terain in front i would guess the strong thermal activity slows down the meteor wind hence why it can be very light then strong.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:20 pm

Anyone can fly it I would be cautious tho.

brian day · Post by **brian day** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 2:43 pm

It was Pegs Law that we looked at afterwards, a small site but with a much better outlook up wind.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:21 pm

I agree Brian

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:51 pm

I first flew this site back in the late 1980's wind was s.west 12-15mph with wave bars all over the place it was rough ! not scary rough.. but not nice.

Then a good day a few weeks later, thermic but still strange when landing the air felt compressed pushing you down all the time ? lee wave induced maybe ? the site reminded me of 'The Hole of Horcum' in the North Yorkshire dales, the flying was very similar + with a record of not too nice.

I do think we have better sites on west side of the Cheviots but if you like it fly it.

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 5:36 pm

it would be good to see your track log to see how the hill performs as there is no track logs to my knowledge of this hill

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:27 pm

Track logs will be different every day Gary + we all have our own way of doing things so not much help there.

I would fly there again with the paraglider but Brian can take off first...

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