Flying in Fiesch
Stories and rumors on flying in Fiesch abound. In the following excerpts of an article he wrote some years ago, Martin Scheel, Meet Director of the 2006 Paragliding World Cup in Fiesch, shares his views and insights on flying in the Wallis valley, an area that has often been called “The Owens Valley of the Alps”.
Contents
Specific Winds
Grimsel Snake
A snake at the Grimsel pass? During my first years of flying I heard of it, but I didn't have a clue what this should be. Only when I repeatedly saw the snake of fog while hiking around the Furka pass did I realize what is happening there: The heated-up Goms sucks the humid and cold air from the Hasli valley into the Wallis. A valley wind, evidently, that lunges over the pass. As an aside: The same effect can be observed in many other places: Maloja, Gotthard, worldwide. Only that usually people don't fly in those places.
On calm days in July/August, the Grimsel wind reaches Münster at around 2 pm, Niederwald towards the evening, Fiesch is spared. But with the tiniest north or east wind tendency (gradient of 2-3 hp, “Bise” in the Swiss flatlands) it will be in Münster by noon already, and in Fiesch by 4 pm. With even bigger pressure from the north it is possible for it to tumble with an amazing force into Fiesch, at 2 pm or even earlier! Then a landing in Lax, or even better in Naters or Baltschieder is on order. The Grimsel wind basically never reaches Baltschieder. On the other hand you may encounter unexpectedly strong valley winds from the west, which shouldn't be a problem thanks to the excellent landing zone.
South and southwest winds can slow down or block the Grimsel wind to the point where it is much weaker or even barely noticeable. So we can use the convergence to cross the passes? Hardly so! Because in flyable conditions the Grimsel wind never completely disappears. And even if it does, if you should happen to go down on the Furka pass (landing in Gletsch) you'll still have to put up with easterly winds from the Rhone glacier.
The air from the Fiesch glacier
Glaciers show a catabatic flow even on flying days, their surface is too cold. This flow pushes in the case of the Fischer glacier, and also the Aletsch glacier, against the valley wind that's trying to go the opposite direction. If we get there high enough, we can enjoy fantastic trigger lines and convergences, even in deepest shadow. But beware of the times when this cold air suddenly breaks through and gushes across the landing zone! Within an instant the windsock turns 180°, strong turbulences build at low altitude levels. Ten minutes later the spook may be over, everything is quiet again – until the next one. In these conditions landing in Lax or Naters is also highly recommended.
<back to top>Wind and Weather Situations
You don't fly in Fisch in north winds, nor in “Föhn” (southerly flow), and with northwest only between Münster and Brig. Yes, wind is an important topic in the upper Wallis valley. But those who understand the connections, the system of why which flow exists, when and where, those will be able to experience great flights in Fiesch without taking any unnecessary risks.
Seasons
This up front: The annual season has a big influence on the strength of the wind flows. In spring the whole Goms area and all the mountain sides above 2000 m are still deeply snowed in. The amount of thermals (not to confuse with their strength) is therefore much smaller than in summer, the valley winds in central Wallis weaker. Shouldn't that weaken the Grimsel wind as well? One would think so, but no, not in reality: True, the wind itself, sucked into the Wallis by the thermals there, is weaker. But since it arrives much further “down” (southwest) due to the snow coverage, it may reach Fiesch much faster. Also the weaker valley flow doesn't manage to push it back during the afternoon. The same is true for the down drafts from Fiescher and the Aletsch glacier. In spring therefore you have to be very careful even with very weak Bise situation, whereas in August, with much stronger pressure gradients, the Grimsel wind may only reach as far as Münster.
(click for bigger picture)
Bise (red)
A heavy, cold wind at the lower levels. As mentioned before, the smallest Bise tendency very strongly supports the Grimsel wind as well as the down drafts from Aletsch and Fiescher glacier. This effect is even more accentuated in spring. Early launch, short distance into the Goms. Best to plan for a landing in Naters or even better Baltschieder. If the wind is too strong at the landing zone in Fiesch, landing at launch is much safer. If the Bise is established, one can safely land in Gluringen, where the wind is usually very laminar. Further to the west the Bise drops across the Lötschen and the Gemmi pass, but the area around Visp and Sierre is always affected by valley wind, at times very strongly so. Valley wind in the southerly side valleys of the Wallis is amplified. Storm strength winds in Martigny. The best flying site for Bise is Verbier, but one has to stay local.
Northwest (blue)
Unlike the Bise, the northwest winds increase with altitude. Despite that the Fiesch flying area from around Visp/Gärsthorn up towards Ulrichen in the Goms area are quite well protected. West of the Gärsthorn mountain you'll find very strong turbulences, because the wind is channeled by the Lötschen pass, slams into the sides of Wannihorn and Wilerhorn and pushes across these into the Wallis valley. On the sides of the Gärsthorn the northwest shows up as a strong southwest wind. The valley flow is amplified, the Grimsel wind usually as well. With strong northwest winds you also have to be very careful behind the Eggishorn mountain above Fiesch!
Southwest (green)
The amplified valley winds may reach as high as 2500 m in the Montana, Leuk, Visp area! No chance of flying into them. Watch out for Föhn effects (waves, strong turbulences) in the southerly side valleys and near the Simplon pass. Don't let yourself be blown backwards near the Grimsel and near Andermatt, fly well upwind. But besides all that, this is of course the wind you want for the 125 km classic to Chur.
<back to top>Routes
Furka
Standard is to take some time at the Aargrat/Sidlerhorn to build altitude. Fly towards the rock triangle above Gletsch (well upwind with southwest winds), where it's highly recommended to make lots of altitude before continuing towards the Furkahorn above Furka pass. Caution: Always strong glacier winds (downdraft) from the Rhone glacier! Landing in Gletsch is possible, never let yourself be flushed through the canyon towards Oberwald.
From the Goms back towards Eggishorn
Even with complete cloud coverage, the warm air of the valley wind is always forced to rise by the cold flow from the Fiescher glacier. The thermals are usually to be found below the Eggishorn above Fieschertal, or even further up the valley. Careful in northwesterly winds, that one goes around the eastern side of the Eggishorn.
Riederhorn
Crossing to Nessel/Brischeru is better done along the front side: Build up altitude at the Riederhorn and fly straight to Nessel. Near Nessel there is usually a relatively well behaved thermal on the eastern mountain side (lee thermal in the shade). May be turbulent at times. The crossing to Rosswald is fantastic: Because the valley wind is forced to slightly rise by the narrower valley, with enough altitude, one can just glide straight across. Never!!! fly into the leeside near Rosswald, always work yourself slowly up on the upwind side until you manage to reconnect.
Lötschental
Flying west, after Brischeru conditions become more demanding with every mountain ridge you cross. Turbulences increase. Fly high, below the valley flow is strong. Before crossing the Lötschen valley you need a lot of altitude, otherwise you can't reconnect above Jeizinen. In summer the valley wind may reach as high as 2200m and more!
Saas Valley
Important for big triangles. Near Visp you can soar in the valley wind, finding the thermals near the antennas is often difficult. Make maximum altitude at the Ochserhorn before flying into the Saas valley (extreme valley flow, no landing possibilities).
Rosswald, back to Fiesch
As mentioned before, never fly into the lee side of the valley wind (towards Simplon pass) near Rosswald. Build up enough altitude at the Füllhorn, and then it's best to fly straight across the Breithorn back to Fiesch. You have to fly around the Grimsel wind in the evening.
<back to top>Big Flights
The following is just a small sample of recent cross country flights in the Wallis.
- Benni Stocker: Out and return west
- Chrigel Maurer: Out and return east
- Alfredo Studer: FAI triangle
- Chrigel Maurer: Open distance (while he didn't actually launch in Fiesch, he still flew by and continued for another 200 km)