Sunday at Tarmachan

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David Thomson

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Oct 7, 2007, 7:15:55 PM10/7/07
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The Finale of the Scottish Nationals Series was an introduction to the scottish version of the X Alps - plans for which are developing for next year.  
 
The front which threatened to knacker the day went much further S than forecast and gave us an amazing post (kata ) frontal day .  We headed N from Ochils and decided on Tarmachan, although the Tay valley had been blanketed in thick cloud till 11.   It certainly slowed the whole day, cos there was lovely cu over the Balquidder Hills, but we had blue with weak thermals  (It is October after all !)
 
I'm not sure who suggested it, but we decided on a Fly / Walk task - Open XC in as many flights as you like.   I think we've discovered a new sport - It was amazing how differently the hills seemed knowing that a glide didn;t always have to take all the way down !    We had pilots aff on all directions,   and some amazing walk ups and relaunches.   - One of the most enjoyable tasks I;ve ever done in the Scottish Series ! 
 
I'm sure there will be loads of stories - once everyone has recovered !  I'm off for a long bath ! 
 
David
DSC02174.JPG

Rik M

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Oct 7, 2007, 7:34:37 PM10/7/07
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Ochils round of the Scottish National paragliding
competition.
The final round of 2007 with X-alps style multi launch
multi walk rule
change

OK

So...

That was a paragliding weekend...

Sue me

I know you want to...

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/R1KS.SNAPS/OCHILSROUND2007?authkey=xAfU7q7Beso

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G.T.MacGregor

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Oct 8, 2007, 5:29:48 AM10/8/07
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It certainly was interesting and after just a couple of walks you have to respect the guys who did it the length of the Alps. Walking with full kit didn't help but on a day with no sig. met. wind and poor thermic activity I would struggle to think of a better alternative. ( the pub I hear you saying!!).
 
Will it catch on?
 
Gordon Mac 

David Thomson <pilott...@btinternet.com> wrote:

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Mark Robson

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Oct 8, 2007, 6:07:03 AM10/8/07
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After an email glitch, I'm only just getting to hear about this - sounds like a superb task.
 
The Northern Highlands were plagued sheet of cloud for most of the weekend.  Our choice of Ben Rinnes on Sunday gave many hours of ground handling/ glider control entertainment, interspaced with odd beats across the hill and brief periods of soaring, but not the blue skies we'd anticipated.  The whole day had a distinct 'club' feel to it - despite the fact that there were only the two of us on the hill. If nothing else, my glider control has to be better as a result...
 
X-Highlands 08 - I'm training already!
 
Mark
 
 
 

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richard...@yahoo.co.uk

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Oct 8, 2007, 10:19:56 AM10/8/07
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Well it was good to meet with you all at the weekend and I feel I
learnt lots even though I failed to get any successful attempts off
the ground! hopefully I will get the opportunity to bump into you all
again sometime . and a big thanks to Rik for keeping me company down
the hill :-)

take care

Richard

Steve Durkin

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Oct 8, 2007, 1:17:41 PM10/8/07
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"X-ochil" - Sounds like a fantastic way to use the day! Fair play to all. Hope it was as good as it sounds & gets done again soon. I was over on the west coast with family this weekend. We all walked up the Cobbler with blue skies over head. I had my glider & was looking slightly wistfully over to the east where I could see small cumulus forming over the hills. Odd to hear then that Tarmachan was blue. I launched from grass just below the S Summit on the cobbler after taking in the summits along with what felt like most of Glasgows walking fraternity! It was late afternoon & I was expecting a smooth fly down in only very light lift so packed my instruments in the back. In the event the S side was working nicely with some surpryirgy punchy lift to play in. Enough to maintain & sometimes climb almost back to crag height anyway. If I wasn'f so out of practice in thermals then well.. hey-ho! Still, it was great while it lasted. I didn't stay long but headed down to land at the grass strip at the head of the loch in a slight tail wind. It is a tight spot, particularly if the tide is in but the fields behind the village that are not criss-crossed by cables (which most are) had horses in them. So foreshore it is. The rough grass is OK to drop the wing on and there's cut grass behind to pack up on. I would recommend checking it all out first if flying there.
Hey-ho. Feels like Summer has arrived just before the clocks go back!
S

Rik M

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Oct 8, 2007, 4:30:24 PM10/8/07
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Hi folks.

Mike Day the pro photographer who attended at the
Ochils has taken some excellent pictures and made them
available on his site...

http://www.pbmd.net/para

There are more pictures to come...


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David Thomson

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Oct 8, 2007, 7:37:33 PM10/8/07
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HI Folks,
 
Now that the stiffness is fading, I;m even more enthusiastic about Fly /Walking as an excellent way of exploring the hills.  I've attached my track log - I'd certainly be interested to see the others from Sunday.  Its just becoming clear just how different a game this is from the "one flight" flying we usually do - in a number of  aspects.   Looking at folks tracklogs should reveal different approaches. 
 
See ya
 
David
 
PS - My GPS is set one hour behind BST.  The blanks are when it was switched off during walk ups.
2007-10-07-xgd-001-01.igc
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