Jekyll2022-10-01T11:39:08+00:00http://bender250.github.io/feed.xmlKarel KubíčekStudies abroadParagliding during Corona lockdown2020-04-29T00:00:00+00:002020-04-29T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_during_corona<p>This is going to be rather a short post, as you can guess, I have not done many flights since the <a href="https://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_in_corona_time/">last post</a>.</p>
<h1 id="situation">Situation</h1>
<p>Shortly about the situation in Switzerland, as many ask me how CH handles Corona. You can skip to the next section if you want to read just about the flying.</p>
<p>Given the border with Italy, specifically Lombardy, and 20k commuting workers from IT to CH, we got hit quite fast and significantly. I was surprised to read about stricter restrictions in the CZ with 10 times lower numbers of infected, but seeing (first wave) aftermatch, it worked quite well.</p>
<p>What were the restrictions that hit me?</p>
<p>I work from home and I will at least till the end of August. To be honest, I expect to work from home until the vaccine is out.
Organized sports events were forbidden, so no flying with school, or technically speaking even with friends if we plan it.
Recommendation to avoid extreme sports, as potential injuries would block hospitals.
Local paragliding clubs anyway closed their takeoff and landing sites.
These restrictions/recommendations were valid March 16 - April 20. On April 20, recommendations are no longer to avoid paragliding, but rather to keep hygiene. Social distancing in paragliding means that if someone sneezes below you in a thermal, you have to leave the thermal :D.</p>
<p>I have not given up my hobby completely, I went flying once during the strictest restrictions, and once after them. I also went groundhandling several times, which is not forbidden, which surprisingly ended up once by being kicked from the place by police, though I did everything legally (and that was after April 20).</p>
<h1 id="hike-and-fly-in-isenthal">Hike and fly in Isenthal</h1>
<p>It was difficult to stay at home during the amazing March and April weather. On April 5, I found out that my flatmates also have nothing to do, so I planned a hike to an area that is kind of close to Zurich (within 1 hour by car), but still very remote to tourism. Isenthal is such a place for sure.</p>
<iframe style="border:none" src="https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/mokefevaco" width="100%" height="400" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<p>We drove there with Yannick’s car, and we met at most 10 people during the day, so the risk was minimal. I took my wing to decide at the top of our hike if I want to fly down.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/1.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The first view we got.</em></p>
<p>I was amazed by the area, and since that hike, I recommended it to several people. I do not know if it was just my lows of mountain addiction because the pictures do not look that amazing. Also, Yannick kept saying the area looks like everything in Nidwalden (he is from that area).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Our first hiking together picture!</em></p>
<p>We were amazed by one particular thing that won’t be possible to experience after the virus is over. Look up to the sky, and you won’t find any plane tracks! Take a moment to appreciate that fact as we did.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Älpler (1855 m) and Hoh Brisen (2413 m)</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Pass in 2200 m is still covered with snow.</em></p>
<p>After walking a bit around, Yannick and Klara were about to hike down. And I was deciding whether to fly down. The forecast was perfectly safe, favorable wind, a tiny chance for thermals just from the sun, the wind masses were stable. The only hazard was the fact that Niedwalden is the canton of thousand of cables.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/5.png" alt="" />
<em>Screenshot from an avionic map, showing obstacles. All red lines are some cables, mostly farmer’s transport lifts. These cables are invisible when you stand close to them The whole red area is where it would be nicest to take off, given the flight opportunities. The blue highlight is my actual flight, crossing just one cable, with a huge safety margin.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/6.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/7.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/8.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Bird perspective</em></p>
<h1 id="hike-and-hike-engelberg">Hike and hike Engelberg</h1>
<p>Engelberg is quite a touristy place in CH. Therefore it is surprising that I have not been there until April 27.</p>
<p>Tourists visit the area to take <a href="https://www.titlis.ch/en/activity/detail/titlis-rotair/4485/60698">the rotating gondola to Titlis</a>, I went to the opposite side of the valley, which is amazing for paragliding from 2 reasons. Thermals usually work there well, and the valley is protected from higher-level west winds (most common wind in CH).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Overexposed Titlis</em></p>
<p>As it was Monday, the area was very calm. I am enjoying the fact that touristy places are quiet now.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Tobi and sheeps</em></p>
<p>On the way up, we discussed the flying options. Thermals were supposed to be strong, and I wanted to do my first cross-country (XC) flight.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>If I wanted to do XC, Tobi recommended me to fly towards the sharp peak on the left (Hahnen).</em></p>
<p>After hiking for 2.5 hours, we reached the takeoff by Brunnihütte at 1800 masl, about 800 m higher than the train station. Around us were 3 other paragliders, either on the ground or already in the air. The seemed to be working well, so we prepared and took off around 11:00.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/13.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I am sweating as hell! It was about 15 °C, but for a long flight you want to be wearing down jacket and windproof jacket and pants.</em></p>
<p>I took off after Tobi and followed his path in searching thermals, with a bit of advantage of knowing where it does not work. I got quickly to the altitude of the takeoff, and in 20 minutes, I was in 2418 masl. That was the maximal altitude, as the high-level winds blocked thermals from rising even higher.</p>
<p>At that altitude, I decided to try to fly in the planned direction towards Hahnen. It was a stupid decision, I should have left Tobi to try it first, he is more experienced and flies a better wing, so he would find out it does not work, but he would get back to thermals to me. But that was not my case, I just lost the altitude, have not found any thermals and had to land in Engelberg after 33 minutes in the air.</p>
<p>What to do at 11:43 on a sunny day when I am taking a vacation? I decided to pack and hike the 800 m up again. I was faster alone, hiking up in about 1.5 hours. At 14:00, when the thermals are usually strongest, I was ready for my second attempt.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Ready</em></p>
<p>But as the valley winds changed, thermals were not working at all. My second flight was just 15 minutes long, and sinking that fast the tough hiked up meters was tormenting.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/15.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/16.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pd/17.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The only advantage of no thermals was that I felt stable to take out my camera and take some pictures.</em></p>
<p>An hour later I met with Tobi, he managed to stay in the air for 4 hours, while I hiked in total for 4 hours. He learned from my mistake and later reacted correctly to the change of wind and flew to another area.</p>
<p>But it was a nice endurance training for the season that comes now. And I learned a lot about Spring thermals.</p>This is going to be rather a short post, as you can guess, I have not done many flights since the last post.Paragliding before Corona lockdown2020-03-29T00:00:00+00:002020-03-29T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_in_corona_time<p>The official restrictions in Switzerland are maybe not as strict as they should. Theoretically, I can go hike&fly, or for a ski tour, but alone, as activities should not be organized in groups. But almost everyone who I know sacrificed their mountain sports to limit the probability of injuries and blocking the hospitals. Same did I, so I have time to catch up on my backlog, like writing this post. I would like to say there will be more reading, but I have in mind just this one ;).</p>
<h1 id="flying-freedom">Flying freedom</h1>
<p>The finished license means I can go flying on my own and where I want. No more waking up at 5 to get to Interlaken at 8 to take off at 9 with the school.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/1.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The last preparation before my first flight alone was to change a broken line on my wing. It is nothing serious, D-lines are not important anyway, and it is just the coating, the core is fine. So surprisingly, I flown just twice with this broken line - the two exam flights.</em></p>
<h2 id="rotenflue">Rotenflue</h2>
<p>Within 2 hours from my flat, I can stand at 1550 masl, 900 meters above, and 2.4 km far from a landing site. And the best thing, the gondola, is part of my universal annual ticket! I pay only a 3 CHF/day landing fee.</p>
<iframe style="border:none" src="https://en.frame.mapy.cz/s/hurezusujo" width="100%" height="466" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<p><em>Testing embedded mapy.cz.</em></p>
<p>With each flight taking about 10 minutes, 15 minutes gondola ride, limited packing, and no waiting for the group, one flight takes around 45 minutes. The gondola runs 9 to 17, allowing me to do up to 10 laps per day. So far, in three days there, I have done 27 flights :).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Grosser Mythen is basically the only mountain around here.</em></p>
<h3 id="maneuvers">Maneuvers</h3>
<p>Flying that quick laps is useful to practice maneuvers. Finishing the license creates a bit of vacuum in your goals. I have to no longer perfect the basic maneuvers (to be honest, most of them are boring), so what is next? Doing more complicated maneuvers is mostly too risky before I learn <a href="https://justacro.com/tricks/english/full-stall">full-stall</a> (i.e., back-flying). However, it is too risky to try it over hard ground, as there is a too high chance of getting my wing entangled and falling from the sky. Therefore, I have to wait with full-stall until safety training with a school over water, where if I crash, I have high chances of not getting injured. And with the pandemic, I do not expect any safety training for a while.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/3.gif" alt="" />
<em>Animation from pictures of Tobi performing full-stall.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Look at me for a photo! But I fly away from you. Never mind.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/5.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Some bird perspective photos.</em></p>
<p>So what can I do? My favorite activity is to practice <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yub1L2ClnGM">wingovers</a> (not me on the video). Not only because they are a lot of fun, but as they are complex enough to learn a lot from them.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.sportparagliding.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/wing-over-k2-1024x943.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Although wingovers seem like rolling from side to side, a timelapse photo (of not me) shows that we actually do quite a complex movement in the air. Every turn is about 270 degrees, and if we were not sinking that fast, we would make figure eight in the air.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Lovely sunset after 10 flights :).</em></p>
<h2 id="xc-from-röti">XC from Röti</h2>
<p>On March 7, I joined Christian, Wessel, and other guys from the Zurich paragliding group on a cross country (XC) attempt in Jura. I was hesitant to join (XC needs a lot of experience), but guys told me I will be fine. I did not want to stay at home, in the worst case, I will decide to give up and return home.</p>
<p>On the train, we met Fabienne, a Swiss (paragliding) League pilot. Swiss League was flying at the same place, as it was raining everywhere except our location. She told us about her 250 km flights, her crazy dangerous wing, and then she asked how long do we fly. Christian said about 2 years, which surprised Fabienne, she was worried he is too much of a beginner. I nervously answered I just finished my license, that did not make her happy at all. <em>It is too windy there for you guys!</em></p>
<p>We joined the Swiss League briefing, learning about the weather and their goals. Just one month after license and I am joining Swiss League briefings, what will be next? 2021 XAlps? :D</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/8.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Röti is a nice peak, the surrounding was covered with 20 cm of fresh snow, but on the top, it was almost all ice layer.</em></p>
<p>The cliff takeoff on ice looked scarier than the wind. But the scariest were takeoffs of Swiss League pilots. Their large span wings were doing many things, but not steady takeoffs. This scared the shit out of me. I went to a flat section, raised my wing in the strong wind, and played with it a bit. It fell absolutely perfect, I gained confidence and moved to the cliff. Fortunately, someone stopped me that I have not finished the preflight check! How stupid of me, I just planned to play a bit, launching later, and it is crucial to stick to the plan in paragliding.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I am wearing all my warm clothes, wool underwear, 2 down jackets, Primaloft pants, a windproof jacket, and pants. The air was chill, about -5° C at the takeoff, -13° C at the bottom of the inversion layer (the possibly highest point where you can soar “easily”).</em></p>
<p>After the most thorough preflight check in my life, I raised my wing, slowly with control walked against the wind, and took off without issues. Note that it is not my skill that made it easy, beginner wings are just simple to handle.</p>
<p>Did I manage to stay 1.5 hours in the air, as was the goal of professionals? No chance, my flight was mere 15 minutes short. I got almost no lift and simply sank down. Like 1/3 of the Swiss League, whose members greeted me at the landing place as the “Alpha guy.” Swiss paragliders manufacturer Advance names wings by the Greek alphabet. Alpha is for beginners - the wing that I fly. Omega is a competition wing, that many were flying there. No one else was flying Alpha there ;).</p>
<p>I do not regret spending the whole day for <15 minutes flight, I learned a lot.</p>
<h2 id="hikefly-zugerberg---gnipen---goldau">Hike&fly Zugerberg - Gnipen - Goldau</h2>
<p>My last flight was on March 14. I knew it is going to be the last for a while, all organized flying was forbidden, so I went alone for the easiest and closest hike&fly from Zurich.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em><a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/racogevaze">Starting at Zugerberg funicular upper station at 929 masl, going to 1568 masl should take 3:37 hours.</a> I took it as a fast hiking challenge (with 12 kg large backpack).</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The weather did not look very flyable. But just 20 minutes later I have seen some wings in the air. I am not that alone.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/13.jpg" alt="" />
<em>There was snow in March in 1500 masl, it took me by surprise. Grippen is not a mountain, but a hill (sorry Snežka).</em></p>
<p>I proudly made the hike in under 2 hours. Pushed by cold and unfavorable forecast, I have not cheered at the top and flew almost immediately down.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Grippen is geologically interesting for a <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergsturz_von_Goldau">huge rockfall in 1806</a>. It destroyed 2 villages and killed 457 people +206 absent, and changed the valley profile.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/15.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Tired smile.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/16.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Flying perspective.</em></p>
<p>The first hike&fly I did alone. I managed to fly for about 30 minutes, soaring in the wind hitting the Grippen ridge.</p>
<h2 id="groundhandling">Groundhandling</h2>
<p>Since March 14, the restrictions got stronger. Flying alone is not forbidden, but many flying sites are closed by local clubs. I understand the increased risk of my hobby, but I can at least practice on the ground (groundhandling). Groundhandling is almost like dragon kiting, just my “kite” has 28 m2 and can lift me to the air.</p>
<p>Last week’s winds are perfect for groundhandling, so finally, I can get more practice before getting a better wing.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pc/17.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Taking pictures while handling the wing is quite a challenge. So I am proud of this photo :).</em></p>
<p><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z3vHhUa2VMRZvs1s9">A funny perspective video.</a></p>
<p>I hope you enjoyed reading this post, thanks for getting down here. Do not get bored and stay safe!</p>The official restrictions in Switzerland are maybe not as strict as they should. Theoretically, I can go hike&fly, or for a ski tour, but alone, as activities should not be organized in groups. But almost everyone who I know sacrificed their mountain sports to limit the probability of injuries and blocking the hospitals. Same did I, so I have time to catch up on my backlog, like writing this post. I would like to say there will be more reading, but I have in mind just this one ;).Pizol ski tour2020-02-09T00:00:00+00:002020-02-09T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Pizol_ski_tour<p>My second winter in Switzerland. While I planned to do many snowshoeing and ski touring trips already the first one, I hit the wall of not having proper training. Over the year, I got more confidence and nice skis, so mountains, here I am!</p>
<p>But the mountains decided that there will be almost no winter. And I also thought I have plenty of free time to do paragliding. So I ended up with quite rare opportunities to use my nice skis.</p>
<h2 id="easy-tour-after-a-tiring-day">Easy tour after a tiring day</h2>
<p>On Saturday, February 8, I went flying with Tobi, Andrey, and Valentina for the whole day (post will come later). For Sunday, they forecasted a strong föhn, so we wanted to do an easy ski tour. Pizol, where I was with friends in July, is such an easy tour. A gondola takes you to 2200 masl, with Pizol at 2844 masl, it is only about 900 meters of elevation gain. The guide said 4 hours trip and the public transport takes less than 2 hours door-to-skis, perfect, we do not have to start early.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/1.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Summer and Winter. Pizol is the left-most peak above the glacier. <a href="https://www.thelocal.ch/20190821/swiss-group-plans-farewell-ceremony-for-dead-glacier">The Pizolgltescher was officially buried this summer</a> :(.</em></p>
<p>Pizol ski tour is quite demanding for safe avalanche conditions. Fortunately, there as little to no risk that weekend, handy :). The only limitation was föhn, which was getting very strong over the day, and we were concerned to not be blown off the mountain. So let’s start early anyway :(.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Ski tracks of skilled skiers look so nice. Can I do such nice curves?</em></p>
<p>Starting early did not help at all. Our train was broken and had almost an hour delay, then the power for the gondola had an outage. The outage caused a huge queue. Like something was telling us that this trip is not a good idea. We anyway started, putting our skis on at 10:30 instead of 9:00.</p>
<p>Strong wind and warm weather (föhn is warm wind) made the south slopes completely icy. However, the north slopes surprised us. They were full of powder, but not too soft for my tiny skis.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The wind is blowing snow over the surface and forms some icy maps.</em></p>
<h2 id="please-warn-me-next-time-when-i-would-like-to-try-a-more-challenging-ski-tour">Please warn me next time when I would like to try a more challenging ski tour!</h2>
<p>After passing Wildsee, the steepest part was ahead of us. >30° slope on top of Pizolgletscher. Another surprise, the ascent run like a moment. I simply did not look down, although I knew I have to ski down. From the col, we got views to the other side and finally realized, how strong is the föhn.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/5.jpg" alt="" />
<em>This is how steep the part over glacier felt like.</em></p>
<p>The final 50 meters up were for crampons and an ice axe. In summer, there is a steel rope for the exposed parts. The way up was fine, I just have not looked down.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Tobi getting to the top.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>With Andrey, Jeff, and Tobi.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/8.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Some more pictures from the top. The views were amazing!</em></p>
<p>Halfway done, now the worse part, which is loved by most ski tourers, but not me and Tobi. We would prefer flying down, but not in this crazy wind. So with the help of more experienced, we climbed down the part with crampons and put on skis, committed to enjoying the powder.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The wide-angle camera is making it less steep, so let’s use the pink glasses of the camera. I can ski this down!</em></p>
<p>After the initial 20 meters, I realized that the snow is really perfect, I got some confidence and started enjoying the way down :). At some moment, my tracks maybe even looked nice. Anyway, I had to fall at least once!</p>
<p>Once the slope got more gentle, I started to carve and found out that that is precisely how to ski powder. Instead of the classical technique, I should carve and tighten the turns by bouncing from the snow. The only issue is that compared to carving skis, touring skis are so light that they do not hold the direction so well.</p>
<p>I got some more feedback like this from Jeff (thanks mate!) before we got back to the ski resort. There was the right place to test the skis, how they carve, and how agile they are. And they are agile and carve tightly :). If I get used to how light they are, maybe I will consider them my best skis ever.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ps/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>White wherever you look, a rare occasion this winter.</em></p>
<p>This ski tour was classified as red on the scale blue - red - black. I asked Tobi to remind me that I shall not try black (at least for a while). This tour was a perfect mix of a challenge, but I still felt safe. Maybe already this tour with worse snow would be too much for me. I should take my time to progress, being a good resort skier (Czech good, so Swiss intermediate) means so little for ski touring. Hopefully, I will have more opportunities to train this winter, as the forecast predicts snowing the whole week.</p>My second winter in Switzerland. While I planned to do many snowshoeing and ski touring trips already the first one, I hit the wall of not having proper training. Over the year, I got more confidence and nice skis, so mountains, here I am!I got the paragliding license!2020-01-31T00:00:00+00:002020-01-31T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_license<p>On Friday, Jan 31, I finished my paragliding license. Winter is not that breathtaking period for photos, so for the best pictures, see <a href="https://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_Brevet/">this post</a>. Photos here will be just recent updates.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/1.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Full sky of wings, thermals are active even during winter. Open <a href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/2.jpg">the original image</a> for the full detail.</em></p>
<h2 id="how-long-was-the-practice">How long was the practice?</h2>
<p>My first high flight was on Apr 20, so it took me 3/4 of the year. I am happy that it took longer than I expected, as I could experience different flying conditions.</p>
<p>I now have 90 flights from 8 flying areas, with 5 instructors taking care of me except two unsupervised flights. I spend 1551 minutes (25.85 hours) in the air while descending 65794 meters (this does not include gaining altitude during flying). I experienced normal flights, thermalling and soaring in the wind, hike&fly, and most recently ski&fly.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Ski&fly in Lenk. I accidentally landed just by the hut on the photo on the previous flight. Only my ego was harmed, but I realized some more physics of thermals.</em></p>
<h2 id="was-it-a-big-deal">Was it a big deal?</h2>
<p>Quite yes. The license requirements in Switzerland are the toughest in the world. Both the theory and practical exam were more demanding than driving license exams in CZ (which is more an issue with the driving license requirements).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I can fly as well.</em></p>
<p>For the theory, we were given ~700 questions from 5 areas, and for the exam, we got a selection of 20x5 from these known questions. To pass, we had to answer 80% correct from each area.</p>
<p>The practical part was examining launching skills, airspace theory, maneuvers, and landing in a circle od 20 m diameter. We had 3 attempts to do 2 perfect flights. As a requirement, we had to do at least 50 flights with the school. Although I had in the time of the exam 88 flights, I was far from being confident about the landing. Landing always depends on the wind situation, and I am somehow imprecise at the landing site in Interlaken, where the exam took place.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The circle where we have to land.</em></p>
<p>Conditions on Friday were favorable, a wind that I like for precise landings. I made no mistake and needed just 2 flights. Hooray!</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>“We did it” selfie.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Temporal licence is my flight log.</em></p>
<h2 id="whats-next">What’s next?</h2>
<p>I can start flying on my own (legally). There is still a lot to learn, so I should not start doing crazy things. I am finally looking forward to doing more hike&fly, or during winter ski&fly. This should be a perfect opportunity to explore new areas. So far, I flew only around Interlaken (Bernese Oberland).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Hike&fly saves the boring way down and ads new perspectives.</em></p>
<p>For these events, I am planning to get a new wing. That will be some 2.5k CHF, so I will take some time to choose the best.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/13.jpg" alt="" />
<em>My current wing in different colors. The best option for training, but heavy for hike&fly.</em></p>
<p>I need to practice extreme situations to feel safer. I am on the waiting list for an SIV course (SIV stands for ‘Simulation d’Incident en Vol’ and roughly translated means simulating unstable situations in flight). This should give me more confidence for flying thermals and the slightly more challenging wing that I want to buy.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/pl/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>On the path to independent flying. (Actually, it is a picture from the exam).</em></p>On Friday, Jan 31, I finished my paragliding license. Winter is not that breathtaking period for photos, so for the best pictures, see this post. Photos here will be just recent updates.Marta’s visit - bivouacs in Italy, Breithorn, and Chinzig Chulm2019-11-18T00:00:00+00:002019-11-18T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Marta_visit<p>In October (8-14), Marta was visiting me, which meant having some hiking plans. It was raining/snowing quite a lot during the first week of October, but for the visit, we were very lucky (yet restricted to go only to Wallis).</p>
<h2 id="saas-almagell-to-zwinchenbergen">Saas-Almagell to Zwinchenbergen</h2>
<p>Hiking in autumn can be a bit tricky, as it is quite difficult to decide what you need. Because of the rains in the first week of October, we were taking snowshoes, and to limit the total weight of gear, we decided to go for a trip with bivouacs on the way, so we do not need to carry a tent. The cabins in Switzerland are expensive, and the experience is far from what we liked in Norway, where cabins were without electricity and service. However, the Italian mountaineering style is closer to what we wanted, so we decided to go hiking on the CH-IT border.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/1.png" alt="" />
<em><a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/nosutatega">Our route</a>. If you ignore the mark 2, then 3, 4, and 5 are places where we slept.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We started late. We had to pack based on the latest forecast, and it also takes quite long to get to Wallis.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Weather was nice, and only Dom was all the day slightly covered with clouds.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>After 3.5 hours, we got the views to Italy, and we found our first bivouac – Bivacco Antigine.</em></p>
<p>While Switzerland had a clear sky, Italy was covered with inversion, probably due to south foehn. Although we crossed the “snow line,” snow was of no depth and only in the shade. As is common in autumn, water was rather rare. So the snow melting season started again :).</p>
<p>We cooked our only fancy food – a Kari with pumpkin, tofu, and a lot of veggies. My backpack got significantly lighter :D.</p>
<p>We were both quite tired from the long day, the forecast for Wednesday was quite bad, so we were not in a rush for the next day as well.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/5.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>My view from the window! The alarm clock for sunrise was worthy, I took these pictures and slept further :D.</em></p>
<p>We were a bit incorrect with weather expectations, if we would left early in the morning, we would evade rain. We hiked only 4 km, mainly descending, and we got to Bivacco Cingino, where we decided to stay. We were not in a rush. There was a water source close to the cabin, and the forecast for Thursday was nice.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/7.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Bivacco Cingino was the biggest bivouac, with the capacity of at least 15 people.</em></p>
<p>We spent the time practicing rope skills for crevasse rescue, as the plan for Saturday was to go to Breithorn, and Marta was never on a glacier tour.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Waiting for better weather was worthy, everything was much more optimistic on Thursday.</em></p>
<p>When we departed, I noticed a sign on the cabin that immediately reminded me of a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG9TMn1FJzc">youtube video</a> I have seen recently before the trip. We are at the dam from this video showing Ibexes climbing the dam to lick the salt released from the stones. I was curious to see them, so we walked pretty fast.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/10.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Yes! Unexpected attractions on the trip are the best!</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We were there. Those are not pictures from the Internet.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/13.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Cute ibexes</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/15.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Scary</em></p>
<p>After this surprising attraction, the next one was a 2.2 km long hike through a tunnel. Although I am a fan of caves, carrying a heavy backpack and crawling was no fun. My back hurts when I recall my memories. But still better than hiking in the exposed mountains around.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/16.jpg" alt="" />
<em>A typical hiking sign leading to a tunnel</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/17.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Bivacco Camposecco is the same structure as Bivacco Cingino, we were just passing it, taking lunch inside. After the pause, we continued over the pass behind the bivi.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/18.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/19.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Civilization, we met one man.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/20.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Mapy.cz shows a short Via Ferrata on this pass. We were concerned, how would we manage to cross it with snow. But as the sunny slopes were snow-free, the chains were accessible, and we did not need even harnesses. An ibex on the path was not so lucky, in the middle of the path was a recently fallen to death adult, and we scared likely its child :(.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/21.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/22.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/23.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>We got to the shady side behind the pass, which was likely our riskiest part of the trip, with slippery icy rocks. That took us quite long to get to the next bivi.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/24.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/25.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Bivacco Città di Varese, this is how I imagine Italien bivouacs! Capacity 2 Czechs/Germans/Nordic people, or 6 or more Latino :D.</em></p>
<p>We were without water, and so we spend the whole evening with melting snow. When Marta went to take some snow, she was followed by her befriended ibex. He accompanied us for the entire night.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/26.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Marta’s new friend</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/27.jpg" alt="" />
<em>And his family</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/28.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/29.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/30.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Last views to Italy</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/31.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Border back to CH. We met there some Italians, who shared some of their food, and were surprised by my backpack (that sunny day, the snowshoes looked ridiculously).</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/32.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Grüezi mitenand</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/33.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Weissmeis</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/34.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>We hitchhiked to Brig, and slept under the sky in too warm sleeping bags for the low altitude and early autumn.</p>
<h2 id="breithorn">Breithorn</h2>
<p>On Saturday, we were again slow-paced, as wind forecast was more favorable for the afternoon ascent of Breithorn. I wanted to be as safe as possible because I am not that skilled in leading a mountaineering ascent. Still, Breithorn is the most accessible Swiss 4k, daily ascended by many mountaineers. The only mistake regarding time was that I have not checked the operation time of the cablecar, so it eventually became a bit rushed ascent O:).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/35.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We stated from Klein Matterhorn, which is with 3820 masl the highest cable car in Europe. Matterhorn is in the background.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/36.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Breithorn at 4164 masl is really close. But you are in 4k, the air density is 66% of the sea level’s one, so the trip is still not without effort.</em></p>
<p>We started at 13:00 from Klein Matterhorn, and at 14:15 we were at the top. I am surprised to see it now when I checked the photo timestamps. We were pushed by the last cablecar departure at 16:15, but still, it is quite fast for <a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/johekegava">2.6 km distance and 350 m ascent</a>. We both felt the lower air density, but no dizziness (or just a very slight one). The wind at Klein Matterhorn was 55 km/h, definitely stronger on Breithorn, but it did not feel dangerous.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/37.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Highway</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/38.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Only crevasse crossing, <a href="https://www.rega.ch/en/explore-rega/in-words-and-pictures#pictures">Rega - Swiss heli rescue</a> kept an eye on us. Or was it just a <a href="https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Media/Offers-Articles/Helicopter-Sightseeing-Flight">signiseeing tourist helicopter</a>?</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/39.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Top! Swiss side.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/40.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Italy</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/41.jpg" alt="" />
<em>With Matterhorn</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/42.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/43.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>15 minutes on top was enough to freeze and take only half of the pictures that I wanted, as the camera was freezing as well.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/44.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I thought we have some extra time, so I let Marta make an ice anchor. The truth was that we were just in time back, the staff was really pushing us to run to the gondola.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/45.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Bye Breithorn, see you soon for ski and fly!</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/46.jpg" alt="" />
<em>From the north, Breithorn looks a bit scary.</em></p>
<p>We traveled back to Zurich. For dinner, we had Raclette, which balanced our energy outtake :D.</p>
<h2 id="relaxing-trip-to-schwyz-alps">Relaxing trip to Schwyz Alps</h2>
<p>For the last night, we chose a more relaxing trip from <a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/karekocoma">Spiringen to Sisikon</a>. I was enjoying a significantly lighter backpack, showing it to Marta maybe a little bit too much.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/47.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Gondola? Not for us :).</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/48.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Harald was finally taken to the mountains.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/49.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Cabin at Chinzig Chulm (Kinzig Pass), where we slept. I knew of it since <a href="https://bender250.github.io/Active_weekend/">last year’s bike tour</a>.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/50.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/51.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/52.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/53.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/54.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/55.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The nature somehow reminded Dachstein.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/56.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Although it was windy (foehn again - but it also brought the sun), we both used the chance to swim.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/marta/57.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Autumn colors were reminding us, how lucky with the weather we were.</em></p>
<p>With plenty of time, we hitchhiked back to Zurich. One of the cars was Tesla 85P, just a casual car :).</p>In October (8-14), Marta was visiting me, which meant having some hiking plans. It was raining/snowing quite a lot during the first week of October, but for the visit, we were very lucky (yet restricted to go only to Wallis).Paragliding - Brevetkurs2019-11-01T00:00:00+00:002019-11-01T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_Brevet<p><em>Photos in this blog post are broken at the moment. I hope to fix it in the future.</em></p>
<p>The second part of the paragliding course (Brevetkurs) in Switzerland takes significantly longer than the <a href="https://bender250.github.io/Paragliding_Grundkurs_Interlaken/">initial (Grundkurs)</a>. We should do 50 to 80 high flights, which is 20-25 flying days. We are free to choose these days, so I go flying almost every weekend for at least one day. Each of these days would not be for a blog post, but as I am now over half of the course (50 flights, 18 hours of flying time), I will summarize the most exciting experience.</p>
<h1 id="new-flying-sites">New flying sites</h1>
<p>As we are required to fly in 5 different regions to be allowed to take the exam, flying helps me to discover fascinating places in Switzerland.</p>
<h2 id="kandersteg">Kandersteg</h2>
<p>My first flying area of Brevetkurs. In Grundkurs, you have almost no responsibility, but in Brevet, you have to bear with all the safety precautions - weather check, area knowledge, and your own state. So Kandersteg scared me with all the power lines and other cables. However, none of that is a real trouble, it is just necessary to be aware of them, as they are everywhere (update: it would be nice to remember them, my one lousy landing in Kandersteg was between trees and a cable).</p>
<p>After several flights, when I was just reminding how it feels to fly, I had a nice last flight. The valley there ends with a cliff, located favorably to soaring the valley wind. Some mates were flying all the time high above me, even landing on the takeoff. And finally, for the last flight, I was allowed to try it as well, so I experienced a 50 minutes flight! From 1800 masl, I got to 2500 masl. I froze a bit, but it taught me to trust the wing a lot.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/1.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Views from takeoff in Kandersteg. The small red spot is someone else soaring,</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>While soaring, we had this view over a waterfall. There is a via Ferrata around it.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>That’s me, image taken by my instructor flying close to me :). A few minutes later I almost landed in a tree.</em></p>
<h2 id="lauterbrunnen">Lauterbrunnen</h2>
<p>Lauterbrunnen is a fascinating valley, with 800 m tall cliffs that attract base jumpers. I like to flight here, as the moment when you fly over the cliff, and all the valley opens is just majestic. And also the gondola there is included in my Swiss annual ticket.</p>
<p>As we do not have to fly far to distance, we usually train here maneuvers that quickly lose altitude, as fast circles, and collapses. I was surprised to do very fast circles immediately on the first flight there. My school is a bit crazy, but I like it.</p>
<p>One day we flew from Birg (2600 masl instead of usual 1680m). Landing in 860m and some thermals led to 40 minutes flight. And we were launching just at the base of clouds, which was pretty scary (humid water has a stronger lift - pulls you to the clouds, but you cannot fly in clouds without seeing the ground).</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>At the takeoff, you can enjoy the view to Eiger from the side, Jungfrau in the middle and other fancy mountains.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Scenes_around_Gimmelwald_-_the_cable_car_back_down_from_Gimmelwald_to_the_Lauterbrunnen_valley_bottom_%2810955489246%29.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We fly over these cliffs, having a high altitude to learn maneuvers.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/5.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Flight from Birg, where we took off just below the level of the clouds.</em></p>
<h2 id="grindelwald">Grindelwald</h2>
<p>Grindelwald is the most touristy place around Interlaken, so it was a bit surprising that I have not seen it until the end of August. It is famous for its view of the north face of Eiger. For us paragliders, it is more important by perfect conditions for thermalling, due to orientation to the south.</p>
<p>The topic of the day was to fly as long as possible. I have not expected a long flight, as my last thermalling attempt was a fiasco. Thus I started unprepared - I did not put suncream on my face (it was 10 am), I did not drink enough, I did not wear warm enough clothes. All that said, you can guess that I had a long flight where these things bothered me. First, I was barely able to keep my altitude, as thermals are weak in the morning. But I have a huge wing, so while others landed, I managed to stay. And as the sun grew thermals stronger, I started ascending. From 1600 masl, I got back to the takeoff in First (1900), and after some more time, I flew to Faulhorn (2680) and higher and higher. I estimated my highest altitude 3200 masl, and the thermals were still favorable to go higher, but my body was not. I started feeling dizzy, dehydrated with sunburn, and slight hypothermia. After a moment when I felt weak passing out, I decided I have to land quickly. I asked the instructor if I can top-land (land at the takeoff place), and he was against it due to strong thermals there. When I explained my situation, he allowed it at my own risk. I was so focused that the landing was almost perfect (takeoff instructor said it was better than his O:)), but I was mainly happy to be on the solid ground after the four hours in the air. It took me one hour to get rid of the dizziness. I ended the day with just one hour flight when I got quickly to 2600 masl.</p>
<p>I flew in Grindelwald once more. It was my first hike and fly, and also my first alone flight. Thermals were again favorable, but I was decided to not do anything stupid when I am alone.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Eiger above Grindelwald</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>A lot of time in the air to make selfies with Eiger!</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Views to Grindelwaldgletscher</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Faulhorn</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Ridge where the thermals were strengthened by soaring valley wind</em></p>
<p><a href="https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOjPjObnvsgQ8bcpfI5MPFrAnmHJxC_hAF-CP7knMJL_rVJjKNYUQqBLkWl3F_XPQ/photo/AF1QipPnYn7RtVDDmDfaVG1aDPULuo44ph6ri2CorR7e?key=cS1sUlVVUjlYX05NYzlBRXRRcUhqTGNZZlhuZGd3">Video before I decided to land.</a></p>
<h2 id="interlaken">Interlaken</h2>
<p>There are three landing sites in Interlaken. Lehn, where we land all the time, and although I do not like that landing much (I struggle with determining my altitude there), it will be the place where I will do my exam. The second landing is at the airbase, and it is mainly backup for flying from Grindelwald. The most touristy is in the city center (Höhematte), and as it is quite far from takeoff at Beatenberg, we do not fly there, so we can practice maneuvers. That changed when we did a hike and fly to Sulegg, a mountain in the south of Interlaken.</p>
<p>We started the hike and fly from the upper stage of a gondola in Sulwald, and after one hour, we were at Lobhornhütte. We swam at the lake, prepared for flying by acroyoga, and had all-you-can-eat dinner at the hut.</p>
<p>The next day we left before 8, so we were too early up, as Interlaken was covered by inversion. Paragliding became #parawaiting, so I hiked a bit and took pictures of the surrounding! It was worthy, the clouds disapeared, and it was one of my most memorable flights. Also, because I lost my polarization filter when I took the camera from my pocket!</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Jungfaujoch</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Interlaken from Sulegg</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/13.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Others were taking of below the top.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/15.jpg" alt="" />
<em>ChillOut students love Alpha Pi2 (all of them have the same wing).</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/16.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/17.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Maybe not everyone.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/18.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/brevet/19.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Interlaken from birds’ perspective.</em></p>Photos in this blog post are broken at the moment. I hope to fix it in the future.Wallis in autumn2019-09-29T00:00:00+00:002019-09-29T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Autumn_Wallis<p>September 28 - 29, I was supposed to fly in Zermatt. However, the wind forecast was not favorable, so the plans were postponed. I did not like the change of plans, as it gave me one free weekend and collision of plans next weekend, especially when the forecast did not look that bad. But when I experienced the wind from tropical storm hitting Europe, I was glad not to fly.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/1.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Les Haudères</em></p>
<p>I started quite late, leaving Zurich at 8:30 resulted in getting to Les Haudères after 12:30. Anyway, I had big dreams, hiking the whole way to Zinal in one day, and sleeping above Zinal</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em><a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/jehulotasa">Map</a> of my naive plan.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The dry meadows have an interesting color..</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>..in contrast to glaciers.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/5.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The view from Col du Torernt. These peaks are Dents du Midi..</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>..and the furthest at the horizon is Mont Blanc, places that I saw two years ago when I was living in Geneva.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The views to the other side were no less interesting.</em></p>
<p>Somehow, my pace was horrible, so I had no chance to make it. I ended after 10 km with 1500 m of altitude gain, by Lac des Autannes. It was a shallow, thus warm lake in 2650 masl, so I swam a bit before the sunset, that was way too early also due to the west slope. But given the winds, the lake was perfectly sheltered, and I could bivouac just under the starts. I was not feeling right, so I spend half of the night watching the stars, not being able to fall asleep.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I hurried down to swim before the sun sets.</em></p>
<p>Sunrise was a reason why I was willing to get up at 7. Watching four 4k peaks - Weisshorn, Zinalhorn, Det Blanche and Ober Gabelhorn changing from pink, over golded to bright white was worthy.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Sunrise over Grand Cornier and Dent Blanche. I had to wait for the sun much longer.</em></p>
<p>Most of my views on Sunday were around Lac de Moiry, who could not be fascinated by the turquoise blue water in the middle of the dry red-ish meadows. Crossing the dam was interesting not only because of the views but also due to info panels. The fascinating fact I learned was about ancient Europe to Africa border, which was just about the lake length, so I was standing in Europy, and the glaciers were Africa.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Lac de Moiry, now I stand in the ocean.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Sad history of the glacier.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/16.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/17.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Hiking on Sunday was much more relaxed, 650 m up was no problem.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/18.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/19.jpg" alt="" />
<em>New views</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/20.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Blueberries were mainly sour but still nice to have some. Yet the color was fascinating.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/21.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The Weisshorn [4506] is considered by many mountaineers to be the most beautiful mountain in the Alps and Switzerland for its pyramidal shape and pure white slopes [from the other side]. – wiki</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/aw/22.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Zinalhorn</em></p>
<p>On the way home, I watched altocumulus lenticularis, clouds that signalize strong winds in the atmosphere. They were everywhere. Probably it was a right decision not to go flying :D.</p>September 28 - 29, I was supposed to fly in Zermatt. However, the wind forecast was not favorable, so the plans were postponed. I did not like the change of plans, as it gave me one free weekend and collision of plans next weekend, especially when the forecast did not look that bad. But when I experienced the wind from tropical storm hitting Europe, I was glad not to fly.Glacier tour2019-08-01T00:00:00+00:002019-08-01T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Binntal<p>On August 1, Switzerland celebrates the Swiss national day. Where else to celebrate it, then in the Swiss mountains? Thus I went to Italy.. border.</p>
<p>More specifically, I, Flo, and Tobias went to Binntal in Wallis for a four-day hike over several glaciers. As I am fascinated by glaciers, but until recently, I was not educated in the crevasse rescue, I was both excited and scared of this trip.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/1.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Enjoying mid-summer.</em></p>
<p>The tour started with several troubles. Flo boarded a wrong train and forgot to take a stove. Tobias was not that surprised, having already experienced such Flo’s days. To my surprise, they managed to get the stove by a flatmate, so Flo was just 2 hours behind us (instead of 4 hours, as the train went once per 2 hours). Secondly, a hiking trail that we selected for the first day was closed due to a massive rockslide. A detour added 3 km and 300 elevation meters, totaling in 10 km with 1 km elevation.</p>
<p>We used the extra time for lunch by a mystery lake, which is mysterious by its no out-flow, at a place of Ticino-Rhône drainage divide. We refilled our water, I swam (in this order), and Flo caught on us.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>This is the no out-flow lake.</em></p>
<p>After two more kilometers, we reached Griesgletcher, snaillike flowing down the valley. The dirt on its surface made walking with bare boots possible, even at 20° slope. The dust was only on the top, so all the streams of water cutting its path deeper into the ice were crystal clear. We were not roped up, so I was free to observe all the fascinating shapes that water in its liquid and solid states can form. It was a sunny afternoon, but on the glacier, the temperature was just perfect, with the valley wind getting colder with increasing altitude, as it flows over the chilling ice.</p>
<p><em>Note: I would never finish this, so from here I release mainly pictures with some comment.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The safe part of the glacier, no gear needed.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I was fascinated by these shapes in the glacier.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/5.jpg" alt="" />
<em>And more shapes :D.</em></p>
<p>We found a safe place for camping in 2750 masl below Punta dei Camosci. Tobias made a great dinner.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Camping view!</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The weather changed on Friday. The plan was to reach Blinnenhorn, which we renamed to Blindenhorn, as it was never visible.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Rare moment of visibility, but this is not Blinnenhorn.</em></p>
<p>Eventually, we decided to skip the ascent of Blinnenhorn just 200 meters below the top (Blinnenhorn is 3374 m high). The rain was forcing us to go to the cabin Rifugio Claudio e Bruno. All of us realized that we forgot to take euros for this trip.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Luckily the weather for the evening was good, so we moved away from the hut.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>On Saturday, we planned another ascent, this time to Ofenhorn (3235 m). Again, we canceled it due to weather.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Instead, we spent the time with crevasse rescue training.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Heeeelp! …</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/13.jpg" alt="" />
<em>… from this view from “crevasse”.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>In the meantime, the weather got better, but we were lazy to do the ascent.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/15.jpg" alt="" />
<em>So we passed the Hohsandjoch with the views to the Binn valley.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/16.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Which looked like this in lower altitudes.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/17.jpg" alt="" />
<em>I loved this view, so we camped here!</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/18.jpg" alt="" />
<em>And practices some acroyoga.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/19.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We realized that we can see some 4k peaks, such as Weisshorn.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/bin/20.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Last look back to Ofenhorn, before finishing the trip in Binn.</em></p>
<p>In general, we have skipped both high peaks, and I enjoyed that feeling on missed closure. I see Swiss people so dedicated to ascents that they forget to enjoy the journey. But we have spent our time as we felt was right. It was both an enriching experience, as I was happy to get some crevasse rescue practice, and relaxing, which gives you more time to feel the mountains.</p>On August 1, Switzerland celebrates the Swiss national day. Where else to celebrate it, then in the Swiss mountains? Thus I went to Italy.. border.Schoolmates visit2019-07-31T00:00:00+00:002019-07-31T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Innsbruck<p>During July 26 to 31, I had a visitors Berta, Jára, Kuba, and Marles. We stayed for three night in Zurich and then we drove to Innsbruck for an additional three nights.</p>
<h2 id="pizol-five-lakes-hike">Pizol five lakes hike</h2>
<p>On Friday, we decided on a <a href="https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/routes/route-0931.html">hike of five lakes</a>. Eventually, we have seen even more lakes, some hazy views, I had a chance to swim, and due to the time lost swimming, we were almost caught by a T-storm.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/1.png" alt="" />
<em>Map of the Pizol area.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/2.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The first lake. It did not seem deep enough for a good swim.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The second lake was deeper, worthy for a swim.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/5.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Colours of the third lake were more as in fairy tail, also colder water.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Third lake from above, with several tiny lakes around.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The fourth lake.</em></p>
<p>As you can see, the lakes are getting prettier as the color turned to turquoise. If you are waiting for the fifth lake, it was not so beautiful, and it would break this gradation, so I did not take a photo of it.</p>
<p>We were glad to do the hike in the more ascending direction (taking a gondola down). It was both better for our knees and views.</p>
<h2 id="zurich-and-luzern">Zurich and Luzern</h2>
<p>Zurich and Luzern sightseeing become a must for all visits, with an optional chocolate factory tour on the way.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Zurich from Grossmünster church.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Luzern bridge. A good hiding place for T-storm weather.</em></p>
<h2 id="bad-ragaz">Bad Ragaz</h2>
<p>Bad Ragaz is a small village close to Pizol, famous for its thermal springs. The spring is located in Tamina gorge.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Fascinating, how deep is the gorge. Also a convenient shelter for us in rainy weather.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Walking to the darkness.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Where is the fog coming from? Ah, it is steam, from the spring (36.5 °C)</em></p>
<p>In general, I appreciate we did hikes that were new for me. Hopefully, they were also the best given the weather.</p>
<h2 id="innsbruck">Innsbruck</h2>
<p>In Innsbruck, we were staying in a cute Airbnb in a side valley. Our view allowed us to watch the sunset over Innsbruck and reach surrounding mountains easily. Unfortunately, the weather remained quite similar.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/13.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Views from <a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/3xzlb">Hundskopf</a>. Due to this and the slippery path in quite exposed terrain, we have reached the top only two of us.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Rare moments of views from Hundskopf.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/15.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Travelling gnome, or Guardian of Hundskopf? Probably both</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/16.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We wanted to do some via Ferrata.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/17.jpg" alt="" />
<em>And the weather changed to this just in the afternoon. View over Innsbruck from Bergisel.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/18.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Hike in <a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/3xzo4">Lizumbach valey</a>.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/19.jpg" alt="" />
<em>This is not a ski resort. To our surprise, all this valley is a military training area.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/20.jpg" alt="" />
<em>This time, it was Kuba who went into this lake.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/21.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/22.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Cows, horses, meadows. This somehow reminded me of the Pyrenees.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/23.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Holy camera. We have lost Marles during our trip.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/24.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/25.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The last day, we went to <a href="https://en.mapy.cz/s/3xzrc">Olympic ski resort around Widdersberg</a>. We had great views and scary experience from steep gravel paths.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/ins/26.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Is this also a military complex?</em></p>
<p>In the afternoon, I fare-well with my friends and hitchhikes to Zurich for another adventure. I needed two rides to get to Switzerland, both were cool people! And I have seen mountain passes on the way to Davos that we skipped due to bad weather.</p>During July 26 to 31, I had a visitors Berta, Jára, Kuba, and Marles. We stayed for three night in Zurich and then we drove to Innsbruck for an additional three nights.Skiing in late June, my first 4k mountain2019-07-01T00:00:00+00:002019-07-01T00:00:00+00:00http://bender250.github.io/Allalinhorn<p>I have been silent for more than two months. The main reason was the end of the semester when I was busy with teaching. And given the bad weather, I was rather working, studying for paragliding theory exam (I passed!), and doing home tasks, than going for some fancy trips.</p>
<p>Tropical week in Zürich, day temperatures around 35, what is a more provoking plan than to go skiing? But Zürich inhabitants were not surprised.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/1.png" alt="" />
<em><a href="https://bit.ly/2YOL8I2">Map of the Saas-Fee area, where we went.</a></em></p>
<p>It is my first glacier tour, and I am scared as we have too little time to plan our ambitious tour. My mate Martin suggests mountains as Bernina, Monte Rosa, or Domm. My concerns lead to compromise, Alphubel (4206), a PB+ tour where is only one more difficult section, passing the Feekopf ridge. Based on several videos on YouTube, the path should be secured.</p>
<p><a href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/2.jpg">My 30 liters backpack is surprisingly able to take all the gear, I am ready to go.</a></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/3.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The first view from Saas-Fee.</em></p>
<p>In Saas Fee, we observe much less snow than expected. Will it be skiable from the gondola’s uppers station?</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/4.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We just did our first mistake, putting on skins before looking to the map. We have to ski down 200 meters first. Skins down, nice 35° slope to assess my new skis in the melting snow.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/5.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Task 1, ski 200 m down.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/6.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Upper station of our gondola, melting snow showing the glacier, Alphubel on the right.</em></p>
<p>From 2600 up to 3500 is the air density really changing. We are burning, but we progress relatively fast. Melting glacier warns us with regular serac falls, fortunately far of our path. The views are nice, but the closest surrounding is too modified by people, the summer season on the glacier starts in 2 days, so the lifts and slopes are almost ready.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/7.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Seracs were falling over this cliff.</em></p>
<p>We reached a restaurant at 3500 around 3pm. Eventually, it will be our sleeping place, but first, we enjoy the views and go for a tour. It is encouraged to reach 200-300 meters higher altitude than where you plan to sleep. So we skied to 3700 to the highest lift station. Skiing down showed us that skiing on these pistes with frozen traces everywhere won’t be a pleasure.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/8.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Restaurant in 3500 m.</em></p>
<p>We watched the stars for a moment and then slept shortly until 3:15. Frozen snow is safer, so we wanted to walk most of the tour during the night or early morning. Unfortunately, packing and breakfast took longer than anticipated, so we left around 4:30, during dusk.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/9.jpg" alt="" />
<em>We got just 250 m above the restaurant before the sunrise. Every step today is so much more difficult.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/10.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Skis down, the snow is too icy and steep, crampons are better. I feel already more tired than on Saturday.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/11.jpg" alt="" />
<em>My first motivation is over, from the Feejoch pass (3807), we can see Matterhorn.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/12.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Now the hardest part, rocky Feekopf ridge, then on skis to 4206, Alphubel is the snowy mountain. I fight in my brain with my dizziness, “Mountains are just about your head” helps, I continue walking.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/13.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Crampons works perfectly on snow, so I am not extremely scared of the steep slopes. But on rocks, they tend to slip off my boots. At the second pillar, we get to non-secured vertical III climbing. After considering alternatives (leaving the skis where we were), we retreat, as the last pillar should be the worst.</em></p>
<p>The back-up plan is Allalinhorn (4027), the second easiest 4k in Switzerland (for those, that take the lift to 3500 m). With the mountain sickness, even this is not easy. Swiss couple coming from Alphubel is twice that fast, they are just better. The last 10 vertical meters are a bit scary, but no pictures would show the steepness.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/14.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Finally, the view from 4027 masl!</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/15.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Matternhorn.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/16.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The ridge on the summit, showing via normale path, which we ignored.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/17.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/18.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/19.jpg" alt="" />
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/20.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/21.jpg" alt="" />
<em>The first lift brought more than 20 mountaineers. We were the only ones with skis :D.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/22.jpg" alt="" />
<em><a href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/23.jpg">My attempt to do headstand.</a></em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/24.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Martin skied down from the top, I left my skis in Feejoch. The melting snow was quite funny, but I was scared of the steep slope leading to crevasses.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/25.jpg" alt="" />
<em>You better slow down before such crevasse.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/26.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Allalinhorn from the restaurant.</em></p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/27.jpg" alt="" />
<em>And the panorama to the other direction.</em></p>
<p>On the way down, we asked the staff of the restaurant to send down our stuff that we want to ski down as light as possible. They denied us to ski that it is too dangerous and asked us to take the lift down for free.</p>
<p><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Bender250/bender250.github.io/master/images/eth/export/all/28.jpg" alt="" />
<em>Our tracks!</em></p>
<p>In Saas-Fee, I immediately felt better, no dizziness, big taste to eat something, full of energy. So altitude has an influence on me. Sleeping so high for just a single night was the issue. Adaptation should be just 500 m up per day (from 2500 m up). But who has time for that?</p>
<p>In the valley, it was incredibly hot. Again, almost no Swiss was surprised by our skis. Just one asked us, where we were, challenging us that next time, we should take a harder route. Only a Czech group and a Slovak group both independently said something as “The locals are crazy, they go skiing when it is summer.” I am proud that my mountaineering attitude is considered local.</p>I have been silent for more than two months. The main reason was the end of the semester when I was busy with teaching. And given the bad weather, I was rather working, studying for paragliding theory exam (I passed!), and doing home tasks, than going for some fancy trips.