Rest Day, Fly, fly fly, Rest. Fly, fly fly. Oh my god what a life this is and how lucky I am to have been teleported to a different dimension where all that I dream is possible!!!

Very unusual it got stable here in Pakistan, real stable, no clouds at all and an inversion at 5200m. Hiked up to high launch with Christian Rankl and flew together to a new bivy site a little behind Chalt.

This is what a bivy site is supposed to look like. Grassy big landing, Spring water and wood withing a 15 min walk. And an easy stress free take-off above a huge SE facing trigger. Oh and the elevation- 4100meters – Christian this is in reference to your pick of Bivy spot last time!

The next day it’s still stable and my idea to fly out and return to the west are canceled, Chris has to go to Gilgit to get some money from his bank card, we fly together 20km to the south.

And get this.. I saw a group of Ibex!! As I was soaring a cliff face I heard rockfall, they were spooked by my presence and literally running up a cliff, I came into some bumpy lift at the time and didn’t get very close. Chris says in Austria you have to be careful because paragliders can scare them so badly they might fall down and get hurt. Great moment although brief. Incredible to glimpse wild animals in their element.

As I came towards Gilgit and Chris went to land clouds were forming on the South and East sides of Rakaposhi. “What the hell maybe today is the day to try and circumnavigate it,” I thought.

A cloud street led me easily between Rakaposhi        and Diran (both 7000+meter mountains) the pass is 5300m and heres the picture… not very interesting to look at but surely interesting at the time!! Why?

Because this is the the way I came in.. and would have to go out if it didn’t work! (looking South, Rakaposhi on the Right Side)

Like so many days here the wind is light and lift is everywhere, I easily climb out under a gentle cumulus. This is a photo of the East face of Rakaposhi and a Glacier I was seeing for the first time.

Ahh stress levels lower and I’m relaxed flying back. The cumulus forming above me in the wingtip photo is directly above my head.

Saddle between Rakaposhi and Diran. Toplanding after flight

Back at camp I thought it was time to relax and enjoy the location, however when I went to gather wood tragedy struck… Cow’s rampaged through my things!

The thing they found most tasty was a beautiful satellite photo map which cost 1600 rupees ($20)! Totally consumed, that and my liner glove and over-mitt for my right hand… in one of those cows stomachs. Other than a bit of urine and manure and cow saliva spread over all the rest of my gear is intact.

But it’s a reminder that the dangers and difficulties faced here in Pakistan are not what you would think.

And so for a parting shot here’s Christian showing us his stool sample. This is a necessary test to properly diagnois what kind of nastys are living in his stomach and which would be the proper antibiotic to treat it.

Ahhh the joys of Travel!!!!