Gudauri Paragliding Route

We have been having great flights lately. Here is one such flight from Gudauri, last Sunday. The wind was good (South-East), not too strong. It had rained the day before, but thermals still developing.

Here is the flight.

Key lessons:

1. the break-out thermal after launch is likely to be on the mountain before Kudebi, shown on the bottom right. Kudebi itself often is inconsistent. 
2. going along the ridge facing North is likely a good idea. I could have taken this even further. 
3. above Ukhati, good to get maximum altitude. It's not entirely easy, as there is convergence of winds. 
4. once you crossed the valley, keep on that broad face, to get up. I went toward Kanobi, and there is no lift there, because of valley winds. 

Great day, can't wait to go back.

Delphinus | new site!

We found a new flying location! Locals refer to the mountain as Delphinus, and it towers visibly over the road between Ananuri and Pasanauri. Yesterday, we finally decided to take a look at it. Locals immediately told us that the mountain was accessible by road, up to the main ridge.

As it turns out, there is a ridge that is almost 2 km long, running roughly east to west. You can launch at multiple points along the ridge, although the best point probably is close to the peak, since it affords a flatter takeoff point, as well as the opportunity to launch when the wind comes more from the east. At 2150 m, it is higher than Tianeti, and also seems to offer better opportunities for cross-country flying.

Two flights there so far, September 4 & 5, 2010. One took me quite a way out west, but that's a different story. The second one, on a day with strong inversion, gave good lift along the ridge, although no thermals to be found further out.

Landing in the Valley is not a problem, although you need to watch for various powerlines. Also, some of the landing sites have plenty of rocks, and several have lots of sand, which your wing may not like too much. (Obviously, watch the valley winds!)

On balance, this appears like a major new opportunity for flying in Georgia, even if Google Earth decides to show it in the darkest of colors. It may offer very significant cross-country possibilities. Even just for soaring, it presents you with the sight of beautiful mountains, church ruins, Kazbegi in the distance, two lakes, and much more.

It's probably only suitable for advanced pilots, or intermediate pilots with detailed guidance. On a day with strong eastward wind, I reached climbing speeds of 6.9 m/s. The next day, with little wind from the east, I still had short surges of 5.9 m/s, as the thermals punch their way up along the hillside. Flying needs to be pretty active.

More information and nicer photography to follow! We will also try and find out more about the mountain's great name.

Israeli Pilots in Paragliding Festival

Among the guests in a paragliding festival we had two pilots from Israel, Teddy and Tal.



This was gentle evening soaring. Typical for mountain weather, it had actually been raining, briefly, around noon. The launch site is just about the Austrian hut, and accessible by car.

Caucasus Paragliding Festival | Gudauri

Irakli Kapanadze organized a great paragliding festival, the first Caucasus Paragliding Fly-In, at the end of June.



On the Monday, we went out flying to Gudauri. Here we are flying over Kudebi, with Mik Broschart from Nova. It's tough working your way up to over the peak, since you risk flying into an isolated valley. But if you stay close to the mountains, you can soar up. Launch is just up from the Austrian hut.

Gudauri | April Flight

Flying in Gudauri, in early April. Definitely some powerful thermals there, but way out in the valley, so they are not easy to catch. Also, it isn't easy finding a good connecting thermal. Definitely a reason for more people to fly together.

In the distance, you see Mt Kazbek.



The launch is from Kudebi, at 3000 m, through fairly slushy snow.

Gudauri | Winter Flying

Fun, and freezing.



You can fly all the way into the valley, about 1600 m of altitude.

Gudauri | All the Basics

Gudauri is Georgia's premier winter-resort, 80 km (or, to be more precise, 100 minutes north) of Tbilisi. In relatively barren landscape, it offers some spectacular views.

A challenging flying location in thermal conditions, it is a good place to practice in winter with ski lifts.

Launchsites:

There are three main launch sites. In summer they are accessible by 4x4, on a rough road. Taking a local driver is a good idea.

1. Kudebi (3000 m) -- the very top of the resort, typically primarily for winter flights when the lifts are working.
   
2. Austrian hut (~2700 m) -- a good launch site in early afternoon, just below Kudebi, exposed to the South, and overlooking a huge gulley: a good exit point for cross-country flights. No need to go up to Kudebi, typically, since you can launch from here.
   
3. Red boxes (~2650 m) -- a launch site later in the afternoon, easily recognizable as you are coming up the road, a little lower down from the Austrian hut, also good for afternoon soaring.
   

Landing:

Potentially, there are many landing spots in Gudauri. In winter, the bottom of the second lift is the preferable landing location. In summer, this site is treacherous, since the slope below has occasional thermal releases, which instantly reverse the wind direction.

Difficulty:

Not a place for beginners in thermal summer conditions. Landing sites are in relatively narrow valleys, winds are strong, and the landscapes and winds are complicated. Located at the weather divide along the Caucasus main ridge, this is a complex environment. Unlike, say, Svaneti, it does not have a generous landing space.

Strong regional winds may not break through to ground level, but create strong turbulence at higher altitudes.

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