02/11/12

December 12 Valle de Bravo, Mexico -- There are few places in the world where a pilot can develop his thermalling skills as here – beginning to advanced. One of the most difficult skills is safely flying in a gaggle of 30 pilots or more. While it is easier to thermal (others will act as guides to the lift), the primary concern is watching out for other pilots. Often gaggles contain inexperienced or careless pilots who are a grave danger to everyone. Aggressive and rude pilots are also annoying. But this is almost always true only at launch. Once you get cross country, the numbers drop 75% and you usually fly only with those who are experienced. And here is the treat: Thermalling with 2-4 other pilots is outstanding because the small gaggle can really zero on the core of the thermal. So, when conditions weaken (as they always do), the gaggle has a greater chance of staying aloft than the single pilot.  I once flew in a gaggle with two German pilots out in the flats -- we would have all sunk out if we had not focused on each other every moment.  As it was, we carefully climbed to altitude in a very weak thermal-- and went far, far away.  It was hard work as it takes 100% of every bit of mental skill one has.

The land where our LZ is has had corn fields (visible below) for a hundred generations -- and is farmed by the same people today.  The soil is amazingly fertile and deep so that the farmer does not need to add fertilizer other than maybe cow manure now and then.

The terrain here is so varied and requires great skill to stay up once you leave the general launch area -– as I am finding out. One big thing I learned is that when you start out XC and find a bit too much sink where you are headed, turn back and get back in the lift where you were. Be patient! One of the top pilots here, Damian Mitchell (SLC), made three starts out of lift to go cross country -- and succeeded.  He also gave us tips for flying inside clouds safely.  Be sure to mount your compass on your shirt away from your instruments (GPS, in particular) as they mess up your compass.  Like all pilots, when you go in the clouds, you tend to fly in circles which can be unnerving.  Keep your eyeballs on your compass AND GPS -- don't waste your time looking ahead.  You will not see anything, anyway.

Our expert hang glider pilots would have a challenge here – thermals were narrow and strong and thus hard to stay in. I think that Robin, Bill, or Riker could have really gone on a long trip. As it was, not one of the HG guys made it out of the general launch area.

I hope you can join me next time at Valle de Bravo -- one of the world's great thermalling sites!

(Below, in the early evening glass off in front of El Peñon -- this is what we love doing -- soaring like the vultures who are our often gentle companions in the air.  I was the last pilot to land that day -- and had to buy drinks for the other pilots who were waiting for me.)


December 5-7 Valle de Bravo, Mexico -- There are about 50 pilots from all over the world here at this world class paragliding and hang gliding site.  The reason it is so popular is that for about 6 months, we can fly everyday.  The area is so popular because it has a wide range of skill levels.  Inexperienced pilots can do their first thermalling right off the main launch and safely land at a huge LZ a mile away.  Advanced pilots can leave the launch area and do cross-country winding their way through a complex mountain range with numerous dead zones, hot spots, and fascinating geography.  There is no ridge soaring here -- it is strictly a thermalling site.  The challenge is to get high enough over launch to leave and go over the back (east) or cross a huge bowl that is all sinky air to reach El Peñon to the north -- that huge point of rock.

Below, Guy-Didier Godat and Had Robinson in the LZ just after landing.  It is about 75 degrees and sunny -- how good is that?  Guy lives in Washington D.C. and is originally from Paris.  He decided to join us for a two week stay at Valle - he wants to learn how to thermal and is doing great!

The famous El Peñon of Valle de Bravo -- starting point for great cross country.  Behind is "The Wall" - "La Pared".

Another LZ in Valle de Bravo.  John Cummings (Oregon) is walking this way.

The Piano LZ below launch (just visible in the mountain peak to the rear).  Pilots will land her, have a beer, and a snooze....  If you look carefully above launch, you can see a dozen paragliders and a few hang gliders.

The launch area late in the day.  El Peñon and The Wall (to the right) are visible.

Landing at the Piano LZ.  Young boys are too ready to help you fold up your glider for a few pesos.

One of three hang gliders at the Piano LZ that were flying that day.

A view early in the morning looking down the street from our hotel to the main square.

If you are good enough, you can fly to this great restaurant every day for lunch.  The food is the freshest and best prepared of any.  Every person in there is a pilot.  Travelers like Jovan's because the menu is not on paper -- you go back to the kitchen and point to what you want.

The village wash station.  It is fed by a spring from the mountains.  One wonders how many thousands of shirts have been beaten on the rock here?

The Piano LZ from the air.  It is a large mesa of very fertile soil that is covered with corn fields.  The actual LZ is a small field in the lower left outlined in green.

My hotel room.  The entire place is covered with art of all kinds, including plants, trees, and flowers.

Cerro Gordo (the little mountain in the center) -- one of our waypoints for cross country trips.

Punching through cloud base above 10,000' MSL.  It is a treat flying at clouds, not below them.  The top of the inversion is just visible as a line of haze.  There was a very powerful thermal above a mountain called Sacamecate which I got in after nearly sinking out.  This area is known for the strongest thermals in the region.  I have never gotten up faster for a longer period of time than this one today. 

For the curious, I have attached a Google Earth image of my (Had's) flight December 7th.  Starting at the red tack, you can see how we thermal up and cross from one place to another.  Getting over La Pared (The Wall) is quite difficult at times.  I went back and fourth at the base and waited patiently for the periodic volcano of air that eventually breaks off from the ground there.  The rest of the tracks all over the countryside are visible.  On the far right you can see the track that went through the inversion to 10,600'.  After that, it was enough victories for the day so I flew down and went to lunch at Jovan's....

December 10 Valle de Bravo, Mexico --  Yours truly (Had Robinson) set some personal records today… went to 10,600+’, the highest this pilot has has ever been in Valle de Bravo nor has this one ever flown above cloud base until today. This altitude was 500’ or so over cloud base. I was able to cruise in and out of the cloud while just staying in the lift. The object is to go into the cloud enough so that you can still see the sun (or a bright spot) but not so far as to experience a “white-out”. I tried to do something like this a few days ago but was going up too close to the center of the cloud and started into “white-out”. Well – that’s the time to take descent maneuvers – which I did.

Cross country here is a challenge as there are not a lot of “cloud streets” and lift is completely dependent on thermals alone – there is no ridge lift as the prevailing winds are little more than breezes. The point of rock in the lower left is El Peñon. It was cold at altitude – I am wearing heavy gloves.  I am just about to "white out" here.

Hope you enjoyed the show!