one might be biased thinking the first flight of the new year is a telltale of what will come, but it certainly motivates me in a special way! I was not lucky enough to get airborn on New Years Day, but the weather forecast showed some sign of mercy, resp. sun on the 2nd and 3rd.

Snow was falling in the morning of the second, but towards noon the sun started peeking through and we set out to the Chaumont, a lower extensions of the Chasseral, and one of the best NW-ridges I know of.

cloudbase on the ridge (left)

Why is it supposed to be so good? Well, I have no extensive knowledge of the place, but I have seen some crummy days, cloud covered with a sun peeking through every now and then - and where you could see the sunny spot, you suddenly found yourself unscrewing out of earthly bounds, unreal as it seemed given the measly conditions.

On the realistic side: It is a steep ridge of about 5 km with a small take-off that does not leave you much room for faulty handling. Since it is quite a bit lower than the Chasseral you are sheltered from heavy winds and boes that might beat its big brother. Soaring is excellent as well as the potential for xc - just keep in mind that going with the wind will mean crossing the flats towards the Alps: Plenty of airspace-restrictions on your way to get there - but don't worry, you can make it!

Anyway, on this saturday we hit the take-off around eleven, seeing some blue and some sun amongst the white cloud or fog (difficult to tell at that time), and after the long weeks of rain and gray there was no holding back: I just jumped out!

At first it felt like measly soaring with maybe not enough lift to keep us going. Since the wind came a bit too northerly, I tried advancing towards the Chasseral and the sides of the ridge better exposed to some sunrays. Soon enough it felt more like thermal lift than dynamic. The sun kept pushing and shoving at the clouds, these seemed to understand and lightened up, and lift got better. I hit cloudbase for the first time, feeling like the king of the hill, given the season. Through the clouds around me I could see over the Chaumont towards the plateau of Diesse, and further down to the lake of Biel and its green plaines behind - in the other direction the lake of Neuchatel was peeking through the clouds, as well as the folds of the Jura, one after the other as the view got better and better.

I forgot about time. It was like the winter fairy tale you remember of your childhood: Snow covered trees, powdered houses, fences, meadows. And as the sun got stronger the light white blanket of snow on the ridge started melting, suddenly revealing colour in this reduced landscape of lights and darks.

I am pretty sensitiv to cold on extremities, but this day thermalling kept a good amount of Adrenalin flowing, it seemed, and I noticed my sweat of excitement. After nearly three hours though I could hardly feel my feet - before landing I kept beating them against each other to get back some feeling. And as I stood on ground again I do had a rush to go up again and continue!

What a start into a New Year!

see also:

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/294594