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You are here: Home / Information / Soaring The Pyrenees

Soaring The Pyrenees

May 9, 2014 By Mike Sedgwick 9 Comments

A clear blue sky with not a cloud is sight suggested a difficult day of soaring. Thermals are usually under clouds and if there are no clouds, are there any thermals and where are they?

Thermals are large bubbles of warmer air which rise from the ground. If you have ever watched a lava lamp you have an idea of how they work. Unlike a lava lamp you cannot see the bubble.

On tow towards the mountains. Mike In Spain, May 2014.
On tow towards the mountains.

We knew that as the day warmed up thermals would rise from peaks and ridges of the hills and mountains so we arranged a tow after lunch. The air felt lively and we bounced around a bit on the end of the tow rope then after 2000 feet detached ourselves from the tow rope.

Immediately there was the awful feeling of still air with no thermal but we flew over the top of a hill and felt rising air lifting our wings.

We circled around and at 5500 feet set off in search of another thermal over a higher hill. Soon we were flying towards a mountain called Las Blancas where the trees gave way to bare rock and snow at 7000 feet.

From Las Blancas a ridge runs up towards the highest Pyrenean peaks and we flew a few hundred feet above the ridge which gave gentle lift all the way to the end where a vigorous kick of rising air took us up to 8500 feet. Then the really exciting bit of getting close to the highest peaks where, flying just a wingspan away from the rocks, there is rising air.

Medieval village on hilltop. Mike In Spain, May 2014.
Medieval village on hilltop.

We flew east until the peaks gave way to the great gash of the Canfranc Valley, a place where road and rail go through tunnels into France. Crossing the valley cost us height but quickly picked it up again and flew on towards Ordesa Gorge.

Ordesa Gorge is Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon. Up to 4000 feet deep with almost vertical sides it is a wonderful nature reserve of rivers and forest, cliffs, lakes and snow.

The rock formations are folded into dramatic curves and precipices with changing colours.

We were now 65 km from the airfield and decided to turn back. Again we had another long run without needing to turn in thermals and travelled west.

At one point we saw a group of climbers traversing a snow field toward a rocky peak. We waved our wings at them. We would be back for supper but they would have a cold night in one of the refuge huts. At one point I saw a large animal running across a scree.

There are said to be no bears left in the Pyrenees, maybe it was a mountain goat, an Ibex or an Izard, a type of antelope.

We flew with several Griffon Vultures but today saw no golden eagles or the rare Lammergeier, a bearded vulture. A collision with a vulture proved fatal for a pilot 2 years ago.

Gliding close to the rocks.
Gliding close to the rocks.

Eventually the power of the sun weakened and we began to lose height. For a final half hour we flew over the Aragon Valley with its river flowing into Lake Yesa and circled a medieval hilltop village called Berdun.

Eventually we called the airfield for landing and my friend put us down gently just 4 hours after we started.

People say it must be so peaceful up there. There are times, like today, when the air is buoyant and you have time to relax and enjoy. Other times you have to be concentrating hard.

“Have I enough height to clear that ridge safely? Do I fly over that rocky outcrop or should I go around it? Where is the next patch of rising air? If I fly any further, will I be able to get back?”

You have to be thinking at least 3 steps ahead of where you are.

Post Series: Gliding Holiday in Spain, by Mike Sedgwick:

  • Holiday – No Holiday?
  • Sharing The Sky With The Vultures
  • Soaring The Pyrenees
  • Not Only Gliders
  • Gliding Holiday Costs
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Mike gliding in Spain.Sharing The Sky With The Vultures Glider feature imageGliding Holiday Costs Our glider at Santa CiliaHoliday – No Holiday? Europe’s largest moth, known as the Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia).Not Only Gliders Wild Food Conference
Tags: adventure, gliding, hobby, how-to, nature, science, social, storytelling, travel, wildlife

About Mike Sedgwick

Retired, almost. Lived in Chandler's Ford for 20 years. Like sitting in the garden with a beer on sunny days. Also reading, writing and flying a glider. Interested in promoting science.

I work hard as a Grandfather and have a part time job in Kandy, Sri Lanka for the winter months. Married to a beautiful woman and between us we have two beautiful daughters and 3 handsome sons.

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Comments

  1. Janet says

    May 9, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    I’ve enjoyed reading this series of soaring and gliding. With vivid descriptions, you’ve taken me on an impossible trip which I had never realised its existence before. You’ve revealed your train of thought so well, so gripping, in the last paragraph.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sharing The Sky With The Vultures - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    May 9, 2014 at 8:02 am

    […] and we are waiting for the thermals to develop. There is one weak thermal over the airfield and 28 vultures are lazily circling in it. Even they are not gaining much height so there is no hope for us humans yet. The vultures […]

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  2. Holiday - No Holiday? - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    May 9, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    […] all informed about whether we get to fly or not. Many people think it must be impossibly expensive to fly in the Pyrenees. It is cheaper than many holidays that people have. I’ll provide a breakdown of costs later. Of […]

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  3. Selling Glider - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    May 9, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    […] is easy enough when you know how. It is getting out of trouble when things go wrong that really tests your skill. Print […]

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  4. Not Only Gliders - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    May 14, 2014 at 7:49 am

    […] do not fly as high as Griffon Vultures. They are recognised by their wedge shaped tail. Someone made a glideer with “Fingers” at the […]

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  5. Gliding Holiday Costs - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    May 16, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    […] you see, a gliding holiday is not as expensive as you might think. I shall probably get a small refund as we towed the glider […]

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  6. Triathlon; Gliding; Picture Framing - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    June 28, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    […] read with interest the articles by Mike Sedgwick who flies gliders from Lasham. Lasham is one of our regular tea stops for our club rides out to the Meon Valley. […]

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    December 9, 2014 at 10:59 pm

    […] you for taking us sailing and gliding with you as you embrace […]

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    […] Soaring the Pyrenees: Mike’s hobby is rather strange. Join Mike Sedgwick on his gliding […]

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