cross fell 6.30pm 23 june 2008

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:22 pm

att last my balls grew big enough to get up and just go.
took off from the radar masts after 3 attemps due to mishapps then made a glide down to millers leap, where neil had allready moved on to low scar. i stayed near the nw bowl on millers hoping for lift as it was not feeling to good, then a raggy thermal came through that was imediately good enough to turn in, and boy up she went. then as i neered cloud i thought it was time to move to the edge when i heard the voice of experience mr wallace. he said turn right and get under the cloud and that i did and again this time i climbed up to the wispys, i stayed as long as i could and headed out toanother forming smaller cloud using bar at times only to get false hope so i headed off again to a good riigedge with clouds and boonys, got there quite low and started serching and i eventualy foud one to take me back up over the back again with nothing but boonys and water i headed for some small clouds to my left witch proved to be active and able to gradualy keep me going up and staying there for a long drift then they died after the water. affter this there were no more clouds but with more than 1200mamsl i headed on a final glide landing just short of stanhope.

great flight followed by a lift back to the cumberland in alston to join the lads for a pint and homage

cheers john i learned a lot on a thermal flight of my dreams and as smooth as silk video and photos to follow.

cheers gary

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:39 pm

Not before bloody time! Now you've lost your cherry there will be no holding you back. Well done Gary an excellent flight. Just for the record I got there just in time to see Gary leave and for the conditions to die and go north west. I got a good beasting all the way to the deck

Bradleisure · Post by **Bradleisure** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:38 am

Awesome flight gary well done.

I totally agree with John as I'm sure this is just the start of things to come.

You go the right site and we spent the evening scratching in rough stuff on XFell.

Hope to see you on the right site with the right conditions soon, who knows what you'll manage then!

"There he goes..."

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:31 am

Hmmm.. leaving the comfort of your ridge lift should defiantly not 'take balls' or 'losing your cherry' ? this is sending the wrong message to our novice pilots in the club.

XC flying should be a natural progression and you will know when you are ready for this type of flying when you start to feel at home with turbulance, strong lift & sink, and good decision making when your feet is off the ground !

To gain all this experience take time & patience this is why the Pilot rated ticket does not come easy...

Good flight Gary, think how much futher you might have got in your hg..

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:42 pm

Hmmm.. leaving the comfort of your ridge lift should defiantly not 'take balls' or 'losing your cherry' ?

Hmmm

I think no matter what stage you're at with your flying the "next step" always involves a bit of worry and apprehension because you've never done it. So I do think it takes a little "Balls" to take that next step.
Whether it's hang gliding paragliding microlights or aeroplanes the next step in your flying is always apprehensive even when you are ready to make the move.

As for loosing his cherry that's called a bit of fun and I'm sure most people out there with a sense of humour will see it for what it is.

I don't think any novice pilots would see this as a wrong message they have far more intelligence than that.

Fingers · Post by **Fingers** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:31 pm

This is no place for fun and games John, please keep it to the confines of your own home where there's less risk of someone getting hurt.

John Watson · Post by **John Watson** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:37 pm

Good flight Gary, pleased you've lost your cherry, it must have taken some balls to pull yourself away from the ridge!! I think you were sensible taking off in your paraglider at the radar, as the bottom landing is very very tricky if you go down in a hang glider. You will do well to take advise from John Wallis as he talks good sense and has a lot of experience, while some others are just full of wind and like blowing thier own trumpet.
WELL DONE GARY.

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:07 pm

cheers chaps i must sayit has taken me over a year to be back where i was, and now i feel alot safer and better prepared.

the one thing that stood out yesterday was radio contact, even though my ptt was not working it was nice knowing otheres could see me and encouraged me. so a ral help to have your radio working in all directions.

lets hope that now the xc gaggle flying team will commonce.

cheers gary

AlastairW · Post by **AlastairW** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:52 pm

Excellent flight Gary!

And it does take balls to go over the back there..... if it didnt work it is a hell of a walk out!

Respect.

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:54 pm

Iv been xc and cant see what all the fuss is about. I prefer the comfot of the ridge. Take off land, chat with chums. Thatsa nice day out for me.
If you look on google earth you can see a red stripe from millers leep to high cap. It was me sliting my wrists when gary went over the back.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:03 pm

If you look on google earth you can see a red stripe from millers leep to high cap. It was me sliting my wrists when gary went over the back.

The second red line was from Alston back to Eastgate. That was from the guy who picked Gary up slitting his wrists after hearing about every turn in every thermal. By the time we got to the Cumberland arms to save this guy Gary had him up to advanced pilot rating

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:07 pm

Just trying to give some positive imput, we do have quite a few novice pilots...

Going XC over the back of Melmerby bowl if you have 4000 ft asl or more... you should make it to a road down wind ! it pays to do your sums before flying into the middle of nowhere but thats the beauty of paragliding it nice a light and easy to transport.

Happy flips.

Fingers · Post by **Fingers** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:25 am

John Wallis wrote:
If you look on google earth you can see a red stripe from millers leep to high cap. It was me sliting my wrists when gary went over the back.

The second red line was from Alston back to Eastgate. That was from the guy who picked Gary up slitting his wrists after hearing about every turn in every thermal. By the time we got to the Cumberland arms to save this guy Gary had him up to advanced pilot rating

This is where experience and wisdom must come into it John. Mr Miller would have just installed Ipod V1.01 into each ear, turned the volume to a satisfying level to drowned out the Ginger one. Miller would have been watching the road listening to Metallica and Gaz would have had a none responditory blank canvas to talk at. Every ones happy, and most important no one gets hurt.

foot note

responditory To politely fain interest.

PS

Made up word, but hey remember poetic licence

Sad Northerner · Post by **Sad Northerner** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:08 pm

Hey Gary!

that's not a bad flight for a Ginger tw$t!

Ali

Misk · Post by **Misk** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:46 pm

Nice one Gary - a proper XC, now just how much did you enjoy that second climb!!!!!!! Respect to the ginger plums! Ignore the naysayers, you know better than most where to draw the line.

5 more for the NXCL to come this year? Top up your nectar card and head to the borders, disable your PTT and we'll go flying. Pick that pikey Guthrie up on the way past...........

See you at the borders round if not before!

NHPC Private and Public Forum

cross fell 6.30pm 23 june 2008

cross fell 6.30pm 23 june 2008

Hmmm..

Positive input..

Yerrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssss!