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Granada is a
fantastic place for cross-country. It Has hosted various PWC
events, and pilots have flown over 150km from here. In summer,
cloudbase can be as high as 5000m with wide thermals. There
is a chain of big mountains (3478m) that runs down towards
Almeria. To the east there is a huge expanse of flatlands
lasting hundreds of kilometres. To the north there are lesser
chains of mountains (2000m) running towards the flatlands.
Sierra Nevada is great for cross country
flying. You just have to remember that they are not flatlands,
and it is not advisable to find yourself at the bottom of
a gorge because you were too stubborn to land up top when
you had the chance. Likewise, mountains of 3478m are no place
to be in high winds. Be sensible, check your ground-speed
reguarly, and the meteo beforehand, and there shouldn't be
a problem.
The best time of year for cross-country
flying is March to October. In the section that follows, we
will try to give descriptions of some established cross-country
flights that can be done: |
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Cenes
de la Vega to the beach (+-70km) |
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This is one of the most spectacular
flights in the area, and requires a high cloudbase (3500m
in the area of the Pico de Valeta would be a minimum). Remember
that although the cloudbase might be lower in Cenes, it will
rise up as you progress into the mountains. From the take-off
at Cenes, climb up as high as possible and head west towards
the mountains. There are huge landing fields here, and behind
them the land drops off into steep gorges again. Take height
before the gorges, and if you are not willing to land in very
small emergency landing spots by the road, don't commit to
heading further east (away from the huge landing areas) until
you have regained height (+-2100m minimum). You can often
find thermals over the ridges to the left or right of these
fields. In the middle it is often sinky.
Continue east, and you will come to another take off (Sabinas)
at 2100m. Thermal up higher here (the land is high +-2000m)
and continue along the ridge to the ski resort. Before the
ski resort on the left, there is a huge rocky outcrop. You
can often find thermals here. |
Work your way up to the 'pico de valeta' (the distinctive
peak behind the ski resort) and achieve maximum altitude here
(you're going to need it!). Now you have 2 options: either
head off on glide towards the beach (south) or follow the
ridge west along to the end, where you will encounter a peak
called the 'pico caballo'. Whichever option you choose, the
next part involves a HUGE glide over the picturesque valleys
and villages of the Alpujarras. If you get the chance to gain
some extra height along the way, take it. You will arrive
low at the 'Sierra de Lujar', a chain of mountains about 2000m
high which you must cross to get onto your (almost) final
glide to the beach. If you manage to get up above this ridge,
you ought to be home and dry................I just hope you've
got somebody waiting to bring your car down from the take-off
and collect you!!!!!!!!! |
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| Cenes de la Vega to Baza(+-90km) |
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This is another classic flight,
and again requires quite a high cloudbase. There are various
ways to go: one requires 4000m to go comfortably, 2500 should
suffice (just) for the others.
Method 1:Follow the instructions
for the route 'Cenes de la Vega to the beach' up to the point
where you arrive at the 'Pico de Valeta'. Follow the ridge
along to the east. A route that will take you infront of,
and over, the highest peaks in the iberian peninsular. The
views and thermals are not for the faint-hearted. As I have
said before, 4000m at the 'Pico de Valeta' would be advisable.
You can do it with 3500m, or even less, but it is very uncomfortable
due to the harsh landscape, long walkouts and small landings.
Anyway, follow the chain until it starts to drop off. You
will see the flatlands in front of you. Leave the ridge and
head NE towards the larger town of Guadix. You will probably
experience a lot of sink as you leave the Sierra Nevada chain,
and it it not uncommon to end up in the first village 'Jerez
de Marquesado'. It is also worth noting that quite often the
westerly wind which you have been experiencing is reversed
when you reach the flatlands. In this case it is a good idea
to make it an out and return or, by heading north towards
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Guadix first, a pretty respectable
triangle. If you don't want to leave the ridge, and prefer
to carry on towards Almeria, be careful about keeping landing
options open; the ridge is covered in trees, and becomes shallower
and shallower in gradient, making it more and more difficult
to reach the flatlands and abundant landing. |
| Once you reach Guadix, carry
on straight east. This will take you over a smaller set of mountains
and you will find the town of Baza at the other side. From there
you don't need any more help from me............... |
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| Method
2: Involves getting as much height as possible above
the take-off in Cenes (2200m ASL would be a good minimum). Head
back towards the big lake that you can see behind you 'Pantano
de Canales'. Try to get additional thermals over the ridge on
the northern side of the lake. When you get to the end of this
ridge, search around for a thermal. This will make your life
much easier than if you jump the gap onto the next ridge above
the village of 'Guejar Sierra'. If you do have to look for a
thermal on this next ridge ('Sierra de Calar'), be advised that
it is not very steep, and the wind tends to accelerate there.
The overall effect is that the thermals are very inclined and
hard to take to the top. Assuming you overcome this, continue
above the ridge heading |
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| Method
3: Involves taking as much height as possible above Cenes,
and then heading straight north towards the next set of mountains.
You will fly directly over the landing field (hopefully a minimum
of 1500m above it). Head out over the badlands, where you are
almost definitely going to walk out if you land. Luckily it's
not a long way, and if you have taken sufficient altitude at
the start, you should have enough on glide alone to get to the
village at the other side of the badlands. When you get to the
next set of mountains, follow them along east towards Guadix.
In this section you should pay special attention to the landings,
because they're not abundant! From Guadix, follow the instructions
from method 1. |
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