Eigertour 2021 Edition 4 is over, what an experience again! This time it was particularly challenging due to the weather conditions. We had everything: sun, rain, hail, snow, thunderstorm, wind. The first 2 days were a challenge due to the rain and the many clouds. The last 2 days we were able to fly thermals and cover greater distances. A few statistics from my race: 8500hm up, 75km run and 8.5 hours in the air. Got 11 turnpoints.
Day 1:
The race started in the rain and we arrived at the first TP First in the fog. Unfortunately my phone was locked for 30 minutes because it got wet on the way and tried to log in automatically with the wrong code. Since I need my phone to navigate when visibility is poor, I continued towards Bussalp and started at Furggenhorn.
Männlichen (TP2) was also in the clouds, but luckily it was completely free of clouds right after the start and I was able to land under the Lobhornhütte (TP3). There I was warmly welcomed by Irene and Talak with lemonade and cake.
As a rain front was approaching, I immediately ran to Bällehöchst and flew to Saxeten. It was now 7:00 p.m. Some decided to climb the Morgenberghorn, but I thought it would be too risky. If you can't fly away, you have to turn off the trackers at 8:30 p.m. and then go to sleep and go back up the next day. That's why I went to the Suldtal with Stefan Zaugg and stayed at the Hotel Pochenfall.
Day 2:
At night it rained all night. At 6 o'clock we immediately set out for the Renggpass together with Robin Houghton. After 5 minutes our dry shoes were completely wet again. Glided from Standflue to Frutigen. A special moment when you see your hometown again. Quickly packed and on the way to Elsigenalp, the next turnpoint.
On the Elsigenalp (TP4) everything was in the clouds again and unfortunately we couldn't start. I hiked to Adelboden. I got problems with my knee on the descent. The "runner's knee" injury came back. On Thursday the race was suspended from 3 p.m. to Friday 6 a.m. due to massive rainfall and the risk of landslides. That suited me well and I spent the night at home in Frutigen.
Day 3:
I was very lucky that day. After an hour I was at the top of the Tschentenalp (TP5) and was able to start straight away with a clear view and a slight tail wind. Half an hour later everything was cloudy and the north wind had picked up.
After a glide to the Bergläger middle station, I walked to the Hahnenmoospass (TP6) and was able to start there with a moderate tail wind (15km / h) and closing clouds. After landing above Lenk, I ran to Betelberg (TP7) and ate something there and waited for good thermals. That worked out fine. Many pilots could not fly to Engstligenalp and landed under the Ammertenpass. At the Metschstand I was able to fly high towards Adelboden and gain altitude again at the Chuenisbärgli. It was a bit of a detour, but it worked out fine and I was very happy to give my knees some rest.
I started again on Engstligenalp (TP8) and flew to Bunderchmi via the Lohner mountain. After a short hike to the Bunderspitz together with André Glauser and Christian Zumbach, I flew towards Oeschinensee (TP9).
It was now 4:30pm and the sun was beautiful on the rock face on Fründenschnuer above the Oeschinensee. All the pilots ran up to the Bluemlisalphütte, but I was ready to take the chance to fly. After a short hike to Winteregg (the beginning of the Fründenschnuer) I launched and I was able to climb 500 meters in the air. What a super cool flight that was above the Oeschinensee! The rest (400m up) walked up on foot. There was still fresh snow on top of the Bluemlisalphütte (TP10) and I had to be careful with every step not to slip.
Day 4:
The thermal forecast would be even better than on Friday, but the wind at high altitude would be strong (30-40km / h). Since I wanted to fly as much as possible, I waited until the thermals started. I started at 10 a.m. from the hut and flew over the Bire to Elsighorn. I got very low there, but luckily I was able to gain some altitude above Kandergrund. At 1800m I made the crossing to Mäggissere, where I got low again at 1300m. At Zismas I was able to reconnect and landed 300 meters below the Niesen (TP11) and went up with Samuel Trummer. The next turning point, Glecksteinhütte, was far away, the question is, do you fly left around the Reichenbach airspace over the Morgenberghorn or right over Frutigen and Kiental. I choosed the route over the Morgenberghorn, Schynige Platte, Männlichen because the cloud base was pretty low. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a connection in Burglauenen and landed and continued to Grindelwald until the race was stopped at 5 p.m. An exciting final run with Renato Späni in the last 10 minutes.
Happy with the race! Off to the next adventure.
Sponsors:
Air Time Paragliding Sport
Swing Paragliders
X-Alps Academy
Cloud-7
Music:
Epic Angel by e-soundtrax
Greatness - AShamaluevMusic
Summer Rest - AShamaluevMusic
Maximum - AShamaluevMusic
25 июл 2024
