La Lastra del Cano

Statistics

* Altitude: 1.625 metres (5281 feet) ASL
* Top to Bottom height: 500 metres (1625 feet)
* Orientation : S and W

This is an epic site. For a time in the 1995 it held a huge number of national distance to goal flights (after a goal of 170km to Arcones in the PWC). The European record has been achieved at this site on 3 occasions.

The take off is a grassy slope, in a large clearing in the pine forest which covers most off the hill. There is always a smell of wild Lavender and thyme, and the view out front toward the Gredos mountains and the river Tormes below are fantastic. On a day when we fly here it means that the wind is too strong from the south for the anabatic wind to come up the Peña Negra launch (on unstable days, southerly winds of more than 20km/hr can be stopped by the valley breeze at Peña Negra). Unless you get away early, the conditions can become too strong to take off. During the evening conditions usually lighten and provide excellent smooth ridge lift, occasionally with usable wave from the Gredos in front.

The face of the hill is steep, and has many granite fingers and ledges where the Griffon Vultures nest. When we fly here there are always vultures to accompany us.

Takeoff altitude: 1531m