Dawn - Sometimes An Ultrarunner

Dawn - Sometimes An Ultrarunner

June 4, 2015

Flying From the Pass into Italy

The overlook at Timmelsjoch Pass
After getting (and getting over) a rather nasty cold, I took a few days off of flying and hiking.  Luckily the weather wasn't stellar so I didn't feel like I was missing too much!

Dave Turner and his crew were still near us, so we met up with him at the Timmelsjoch Pass, where Austria turns into Italy.  I had flown to here before, but the pass had been closed. With opening day now here, we drove through snow piles that were still 10 feet or higher on the 1st day of June!

There was a launch spot above the snow at the 2500 meter pass, where we could glide down and cross the border in the air :)   There's nothing like being able to descend 2000 meters and still be high above the ground!

It took Jim a long time to drive down the twisty road, and it descended all the way down to 300 meters ASL.   Unfortunately the valley winds were strong coming up from Merano, and both Dave and I landed short of town.  Luckily in our valley there were nice meadows to land in, unlike in Merano proper, where every inch of land is growing grapes or apples.

The road up to the pass (Photo courtesy of Dave Turner)
Yup...this guy in Lederhosen drove his tractor over a 2500 meter pass!
When in Italy...eat ice cream and pizza!

No comments:

Post a Comment