There were excellent conditions forecast in the Pinzgau so I took the day off work, hoping to do my first 100km flight. Despite the good conditions forecast in the Pinzgau, I wasn‘t 100% sure what the day would bring, as further north there were very strong winds forecast. I made use of my Deutschlandticket and Austrian Bahncard and travelled to Zell am See by train, which was a very relaxing way of arriving, other than the spring for the bus to the cable car from the Zell am See train station!
Conditions after take off were wonderful and I was soon up at altitude and enjoying a brilliant view, there was a northerly wind, but it wasn’t too strong, even when I descended into the lee of it. I made good time to Pass Thurn, however this is where the conditions started to unravel, there was a very strong wind rushing down the valley which gave me a terrible glide to an almost guaranteed thermal source on the other side of the valley crossing. I actually gave up trying to get there as the headwind was so bad, as I continued along the Pinzgau I dropped into a very thick valley wind. I did manage to climb back up to the Wildkogel, but it was a very rough ride being both in the strong valley wind and the lee of the Wildkogel and as I gained height above the ridge I decided that the wind was too strong and decided to bail to the other side of the valley and see what conditions were like there.
It probably was flyable on the otherside of the valley, but I wasn‘t finding it particularly enjoyable, so I decided to head to the landing, frustratingly pretty much at the end of the valley which would have been ok but the train wasn‘t running in the valley which lead to a long hot train ride in the valley to get back to Zell!
I am still glad I took the day off, as it was an enjoyable flight, but I was a long way off my goal of 100km!
Flight Details: https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:alastairb/13.6.2023/09:43
