Garrett Fisher

Author, Pilot, & Adventurer

Email subscription form header
Subscribe
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
Powered by FeedBlitz
  • Writings
  • Documentary & Interview
  • Press
  • Economics
  • Maps
  • Flying Videos
  • TEDx Talk: Forget Economics
  • About Me

Powered by Genesis

Flight: Spain, France: Cadí-Moixeró, Pic Carlit

November 19, 2016 by Garrett

One of the elements of the European air traffic system that rubs me the wrong way is the expectation that a pilot a) flies from point A to B and b) actually follows through on the original plan. The system really doesn’t contemplate willy-nilly in flight course and destination changes. It is not to say that it is illegal, or impossible, its just that it makes no sense to anyone but me.

At least 80% of the time, I fly precisely somewhere other than what I planned. That is usually evident once I get in the air and sample what lighting and other conditions are present. I then re-route my entire expectation, subject to constraints of fuel, airports, weather, and whatever client I am deviously avoiding (for favor of flying instead of working). Suffice it to say that my pre-flight weather planning consists of checking everything in a 3 hour radius.

The thing is, Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park (sorry for referring to it as a “national” park some posts ago – it is a “natural park,” which is a lot like national forests in the USA) is not visible from the house. All of the weather forecasts in the world do not tell me about lighting and cloud texture precisely along the ridge line, so I find out as I am taking off and get the first view.

This was one of those days. The wind was out of the south, and the cloud bank was stationary along the range. As the wind descended off the ridge, the clouds dried out precisely at the same point, presenting the illusion that they were not moving. Rather, it was two air masses yet again, this time with southerly winds instead of northerly, and the dividing line was again this mountain range.

Afterward, I wandered over to France because I could, and then attempted a formation flight with a glider, which did not work, because the silly thing outran me, even at full power.

Hints of first snow.
img_1965-18-of-620

Cadí-Moixeró ridgeline is notoriously difficult to photograph, as the 1,500 foot prominence is perpetually in a shadow.
img_1986-39-of-620 img_2003-56-of-620

This is the stationary cloud boundary.
img_2083-136-of-620 img_2129-182-of-620

Can you find the two deer in this photo?
img_2181-234-of-620

Again, this massive cloud deck refuses to cross to this side of the ridge below, due to Chinook (“Föhn” in Europe) winds.
img_2205-258-of-620 img_2230-283-of-620

Masella ski area.
img_2272-325-of-620 img_2286-339-of-620

Looking back at Cadí-Moixeró.
img_2322-375-of-620

Carlit plateau.
img_2338-391-of-620

I thought it was above timberline, until I found these trees. There are a lot of grazing activities here which may impact tree growth.
img_2353-406-of-620 img_2371-424-of-620 img_2392-445-of-620 img_2417-470-of-620 img_2424-477-of-620

Pic Carlit, France.
img_2442-495-of-620

The glider I could not keep up with…
img_2501-554-of-620

LECD – Aerodrom La Cerdanya (That is the Catalan spelling).
img_2504-557-of-620

Despite the Spanish proclivity to corruption, siestas, flamenco dancing, avoiding debt repayment, and general fiscal insolvency, Spanish farmers are constantly busy doing something. 
img_2511-564-of-620

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • Español
  • Français
  • Català

Blog Posts

  • Flights: Spain, Switzerland: A Crazed Aeronautical Bender…Seven Years Later January 25, 2023
  • Flight: France: Surfing the Wave December 19, 2022
  • Flight: Switzerland: A Mystery on the Eiger, 700,000th Photo November 16, 2022
  • Flight: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands: Losing My Flying-Over-Water Virginity October 24, 2022
  • Flights: Norway: Sognefjord, Longest Fjord in Norway September 24, 2022
  • Flights: Norway: Hardangervidda, Largest Mountain Plateau in Europe September 17, 2022
  • Flight: Norway: Galdhøpiggen, Highest Peak in Northern Europe August 20, 2022
  • Flights: Norway: Jostedalsbreen, Largest Glacier in Continental Europe August 7, 2022
  • Flights: Norway: Flyraseri ikke Flyskam July 17, 2022
  • Flight: Switzerland, France, Italy: 2,000 Hours & FL160 July 9, 2022
  • Flight: Day 4: Sweden, Norway: 56N to 59N July 6, 2022
  • Flight: Day 3: Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden: 53N to 56N June 27, 2022
  • Flight: Day 2: France, Belgium, Netherlands: 44N to 53N June 19, 2022
  • Flight: Day 1: Spain, France: 36N to 44N June 4, 2022
  • Flight: Spain: Rock the Casbah, Sierra Nevada, Africa on the Horizon May 8, 2022
  • Flight: Portugal, Spain: Promontorium Sacrum, Last Sausage Before America April 26, 2022
  • Flight: Spain, Morocco: Spanish Africa, Pillars of Hercules, Southernmost Point in Europe April 18, 2022
  • Flights: Spain: The Antipope, Package Holidays & A Clandestine Metropolis April 11, 2022
  • Flights: Days 2 & 3: France, Spain, Portugal: España Verde, Galicia, Aggressive Eucalyptus & Andalucía April 3, 2022
  • Flight: Day 1 of 3: Switzerland, France, Spain, Andorra: Alps, Mediterranean, Pyrenees & Atlantic March 30, 2022

Archives

  • January 2023 (1)
  • December 2022 (1)
  • November 2022 (1)
  • October 2022 (1)
  • September 2022 (2)
  • August 2022 (2)
  • July 2022 (3)
  • June 2022 (3)
  • May 2022 (1)
  • April 2022 (4)
  • March 2022 (1)
  • February 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (1)
  • December 2021 (2)
  • November 2021 (3)
  • October 2021 (1)
  • September 2021 (1)
  • July 2021 (2)
  • June 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (3)
  • April 2021 (1)
  • March 2021 (1)
  • February 2021 (1)
  • December 2020 (5)
  • November 2020 (5)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (2)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (3)
  • November 2019 (3)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (4)
  • August 2019 (3)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (2)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (3)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (3)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (4)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • December 2017 (4)
  • November 2017 (4)
  • October 2017 (4)
  • September 2017 (4)
  • August 2017 (5)
  • July 2017 (3)
  • June 2017 (4)
  • May 2017 (5)
  • April 2017 (4)
  • March 2017 (5)
  • February 2017 (4)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (4)
  • November 2016 (5)
  • October 2016 (4)
  • September 2016 (6)
  • August 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (4)
  • June 2016 (3)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (5)
  • March 2016 (5)
  • February 2016 (4)
  • January 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (4)
  • November 2015 (5)
  • October 2015 (5)
  • September 2015 (8)
  • August 2015 (8)
  • July 2015 (8)
  • June 2015 (8)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (4)
  • March 2015 (5)
  • February 2015 (3)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (10)
  • November 2014 (4)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (3)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • July 2014 (6)
  • May 2014 (1)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (3)