What with these strong winds and the cold rain pelting down, I suppose everyone like me will be dreaming of those last autumn flights and longing for spring to come. So, I thought I'd give an account of my recent PG holiday in the sun!
I booked on one of the High Atlas safaris in Morocco from the 26 Oct to 2 Nov which are run by Toby Colombé's Passion Paragliding. Our group of 11 pilots from a few to a few hundred hrs were flying on various sites on the N edge of the Atlas range but mostly based at Aggregour, one hr S of Marrakesh.
A couple of GPS track logs are attached:
Oops my picture captions and name went missing!
ReplyDeleteIn order:
A lovely evening soaring at the brilliant Aggregour - a reliable thermic site, often ridge soarable too.
The Aggregour facilities - a 5 star hotel restaurant. I don't really like the shower in a toilet thing, but the food was really good and the option to sleep on the roof was nice!
Looking back at Aggregour launch after joining the gaggle.
A lightening show progresses W to E along the moutains - we're safe down here!
Another thermic day as usual at Aggregour, Dave and I are at the top of the inversion over 1000 ft above Aggregour takeoff.
Time to land while we can still see.
It takes a bit of work, but I am now well over 1000 ft above M'zouda takeoff (see blue van and couple of wings layed out in middle). I can just make out a couple of wings in the air yellow (probably Sam at very top above boot) and blue (this side of river bed).
Th high mountains S of M'zouda.
Ample height to make the M'zouda landing area (dry river bed, center) I think! I can just make out Big John's red wing bundled up - he's probably fending off the kids right now. You have to watch out for cheeky kids in these parts or they'll put rocks and tagine lids in the wings when the Dhirhams aren't forthcoming - yes, really!
After an hour thermalling round and round and round I'm feeling a little queazy!
Landed 5 km out from takeoff by a little farmhouse (A mini XC!). I get a heroes welcome. Unlike at the normal landing, all these kids want is their picture taken by the flying man!
Half way down from Aggregour. Some gliders are still managing to ridge soar.
The morning briefing. Clockwise; Numerik, Toby, Nick, Alex, Phil, Dave, Sam. John x 2 Sasha, Big John and Chrisie had just left.
Untangling Pete's lines on Toufliat takeoff at 7000 ft. Landing area is the high plateau straight in front.
Were all set - just need the thermals to get going now! My timing was perfect as I managed to ridge soar above takeoff. However, I left the ridge far too soon thinking Phil had found a thermal and 10 minutes later I'd landed.
Alasdair Jones