XCs All Around

Click photo for more images!Korchon Circuit for Rick, Paul, and Charlie

Green Wall Circuit for Ioan and Narendra

Adam suggested that some of us try to fly the 'counter-clockwise' route from the GreenWall back to Sarangkot. He pointed out the 4 main climbs needed to make it and told us that 2700-2800m would get us safely to the next thermal.

The winds were light at Dickie Danda and I elected to be wind-technician. It wasn't long before everyone got airborne and I lead the run back to the GreenWall with Paul, Rick, and Charlie not far behind. Once we hit the wall, the expected lift wasn't very widespread so some hunting around was required.

The thermals were capping out around 2600m and, after fruitlessly trying to get higher, I went for it.

On glide...

I arrived low at the next ridge and scratched around in zeroes for a bit before deciding to head out and land. Great. It would be hours before I'd make it back via taxi or bus to Pokhara. I radioed to the crew not to try and follow as the day didn't seem to be working.

And then my vario beeped. I hugged the terrain and milked it, squeaking around to where the 'Hand-of-God' thermal was said to reside and, in short order, I was happily pulled up to 2700m! Flight back on.

I then searched for the next peak and made the crossing. The rest of the flight was pretty text book: Glide, get high, glide again.

I radioed back my progress and I could see the boys finally leaving the Green Wall and arrive at a good height to work the Hand-of-God.

Rick and Paul would work together for the rest of their flight - at times being close enough to call out to one another. They had the opportunity to really see how efficient flying together can be.

Charlie, like myself, pushed on alone and, at one point near the final climb of the route, found himself in the wrong place, getting low. Paul and Rick saw him from high from above and thought his flight was about over. But he persevered and got back in the game, made some good decisions, and ultimately met his goal.

Last glide:

The final glide consisted of clearing two ridges - the last one being Sarangkot and everyone made it back (some of us with more breathing room than others ). This flight was pretty epic as the views back to the mountains were super clear and we all really felt like we were in the middle of nowhere.

Overall, the Korchon Circuit is 35km but as amazing as that flight was, Ioan's was even better. With Adam as his guide, he had his very first XC flight, making it from Dickie Danda to the Green Wall and then around and back to Maya Devi. Congratulations Ioan! (he is still grinning).

Click image for more pics!Narendra had a very good flight as well, landing on the north side of the Sarangkot ridge.

We are off for a few days camping and flying so no news until we get back.

Namaste.