September 23, 2009

Squash
A friend of mine wanted to fly her paraglider from the top of Mont Blanc.
This mountain known to the French as La Dame Blanche tends to be rather taken for granted as it is right in the heart of comfortable, civilised europe.
This is very far from the truth. Most ( 2 thirds of all expert mountaineers ) fail in the attempt. The greatest dangers are technical difficulty, mountain sickness, avalanches and stone fall, crevasses and seracs, weather conditions and the shear bloody distance you have to climb.
If you want to fly a paraglider from the sumit you have to carry it there and this means a considerable and debilitating extra burden.
You also have to have the right wind direction and strength. It may take you 2 or 3 days to get to the top and advanced weather forecasting for the winds at 5000 meters just does not exist you must rely on your own expertise, experience and judgement.
If you accept this challenge knowingly and determine to meet it by training, grit and humility then you are a very special person and may have an outside chance of success.
Squash is such a person. Her purpose was not simple ego but to raise funds for a charity and give a very special motivational boost to a friend.
Two companies supported her
Ozone paragliders donated an ultra light weight paraglider the Ozone Ultralight to fly off the top
and
Pidcock motorcycles of Longeaton who provided a BMW GSF 650 to get her out to Annecy
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Paragliding from Mont Blanc |
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Posted by irwyn
May 8, 2009
This is a review by Richard Garener who stayed with us recently Annecy bed and breakfast
Classroom: Lake Annecy and surroundings
Date: 14th April, 2009
Course: Intro. to X-C and thermalling 101
Instructor/pilot: Irwyn Jehu (M. X-C with Hons.)
Pupil: Richard Gardner (Novice = Yes!)
Glider: Gradient Bi- Golden (Tandem)
Site/launch: Plan Fait, Lake Annecy
Landing: SIV landing field, Bout du Lac
Syllabus: Climbing out, touching base, transition glides, low saves, route plans, sources of lift, swearing in welsh, keeping warm, in-flight banter, etc.
[Note: There's a sequence of photos to accompany the narrative at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30865836@N06/ I'll try and post a tracklog if I can work out how...]
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Posted by irwyn
April 5, 2009
To you guys comming over soon
Spring is here. The A Comp taking place here this weekend has clocked up thousands of K. A mate of mine failed to make goal in time yesterday and got 95K . He flew on to goal but in over 5 hours.
Not sure yet how they got on today.
Today Gareth and I had a gentlemanly bumble around the Grand Tour. Huge strong smooth thermals from low down with cores of over 6.5M/S carrying us swiftly to base.
It did OD but the restitution has switched on now. Yesterday there were pilots big earing down after 7.30
Forecast is for a week disturbance mid week returning to good conditions by the weekend. If you don’t fly this week do try and get some ground handling in.

Gareth leading across Annecy today
All the best
Irwyn
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Posted by irwyn
November 29, 2008
Pleasant enough week. Exercised the dog a lot. Fought and won a battle with Orange and Livebox on Tuesday?. Done quite a bit of DIY. Played a bit with French admin and the Mairie – always good to pass the time.
Thursday was brilliant and clear but very stable – Paraglided down from Plan Fait.
Friday went Ski Rando up Sullens. Beautiful route, wonderful powder snow and back to the restaurant in time for an omlette
La Clusaz ski domain opens this weekend so I suppose I’ll have to pay a visit.

The sun is coming up
Off to La Saisies first for a bit of Rando and to get my low rate season pass
Big question – Do I take the paraglider? It’s a hard life.
As it turned out we just had time for a gentle walk.

Adrian stroles along
Then it was home to some Bloke cooking – big pot, bottle of wine, warmth ……..
Had a nice day
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 24, 2008
Snow was forecast for Friday onwards so Joan and I want to our appartement in the hills. I spent 4 days laying the first traces on the North slopes of the Bargy. No car just straight out of the door and back, shower, munch – heaven in deep deep powder.
The dog loved it too.
This is one walk – up to Lac Benit – one of my favourite places;
This was the view out in the morning

looking out in the morning
I sorted the kit – dressed up and set off

view from the garden
Mont Saxonnex is a small French village ski domain with a lot of mountain to explore.

The ski area
I set off following the deserted pistes and forest trails.

Winter sunshine

Silence
Chunky the faithfull hound leads the way through the forest

Chunky leads out
and we lunch at the lake

The Top table
Under the ‘Eyes of the Bargy’

The Eyes of the Bargy
Looking back

Lac Benit
Chunky and I head home

The route home
All in all a great day out.
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Montain Walking |
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Posted by irwyn
November 11, 2008
This shot shows the spectacular route up the cliff face

- The route
Here is a Google earth shot of the route It is clearly waymarked from start to finish. About an hour to the top of the falls followed by another hour and a half over the plateau to the monument car park.
The Gallery gives an idea of this unusual path and the variey of mountain terrain which is covered.
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Montain Walking |
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Posted by irwyn
October 22, 2008
From my bedroom window I have clear view in the morning of the imposing sumit ridge of this the heighest Mountain in the Bauges. As well as it’s greater height it differs from many of the mountains in the region as one must use ones hands to reach the top. The scrambling though simple is probably more than my dog could manage and it might be wise to take a walking rope so as to assure children. Probably most useful on the descent.
Twas a beautiful autumn morning and we left the car park at the Sythanex ski station above Faverge at 8 am.
The marked path to the Col des Orgeval indicated 2 1/2 hours and we did this without much trouble in 2. One passes by way of a farm which affords shelter and cheese in the summer. From here we could see sleepy Marlens waking up

Next the path enters the cwm and climbs the low ridge beyond where it splits for Choriand on the left and the descent to the col on the right ( Sign Posted). On the descent one has a clear view of the scrambling to come.

Scrabling up always seems far less tiring than walking. One quickly gains height. The views and interest constantly improve and all too sudenly you arive at the top. The descent as always proved more tiring.
We were at the top before noon and had not hurried. We did pause 2 or 3 times on our way up.
The panorama is excellent. 360 degrees of spectacular alpine sumits and vales.
From the top I learned that the sumit visible from my bedroom is false being a meter or two lower but further forward so Adrian and I descided that next time we’d take the North Ridge route as is being followed by two climbers in the picture below.
All in all a great day out.
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Montain Walking |
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Posted by irwyn
October 25, 2008
Checked out my website and tue enough great weather today. Checked out of the window and bugger it’s Autumn. At this time of year ‘le grand beau temps’ often translates into a sea of low cloud. The Annecy valley is particularly prone to this because of the warmth and humidity provided by the lake.
But follow the links to Le Saisies and La Clusaz and you find brilliant sunshine. The La Clusaz webcam clearly shows the top of the sea of cloud below the village.
Mark and I had planned to try a delicate XC from Le Saisies and an early start. I have woken with a bit of a thick head (Talisker) so we’ll take the 4×4 up the Cret de Loup at la Clusaz at lunchtime and try a flight along the Aravis Whatever happens it looks like being a great day.
The afternoon should clear in the Annecy valley so the acro dudes can strut their stuff and we should all end up with tales to tell this evening.
Salut,
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather |
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Posted by irwyn
October 26, 2008
Hi There,
Another boring day in paradise. Weather is perfect so everyone is going out to play. Quite stable though. Remember the sun block.
Might be the last good day for a while.

Kat at La Clusaz yesterday morning
Cheerio
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather |
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Posted by irwyn
October 27, 2008
High cloud this morning is forecast to thicken and turn to rain by late afternoon.
So get your socks on and whizz off to Marlens without delay.
Then start farting your skis. Snow is likely to fall down to 700 meters. Remember Plan Fait is 950.
Fingers crossed for a great weekend of chill Northerlies and thermaling over fresh snow.

Yesterday morning looking South East from the Aravis
TTFN
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paragliding weather |
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Posted by irwyn
October 28, 2008
Sorry no paragliding weather for the next few days.
Snowing above 1200 and dropping so we’re all going snow shoeing. Will probably have a feast in one of the refuge huts Thursday night and either fly or tobogan down on Friday.
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather |
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Posted by irwyn
October 30, 2008
A picture is worth a thousand words
This is sunrise from my bedroom window. We’re all going out to play
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
October 31, 2008
A picture is worth a thousand words. View from my bedroom this afternoon

Back after 2 days up the mountain playing in the snow. Check it out
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Montain Walking, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 1, 2008
Light SE winds. 50% sunshine. Must be flyable somewhere
Morning from my window and Morning from Les Saisies
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Annecy_morning
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Les_Saisies
The choise is yours….. Stay at home? Go Fly?
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 2, 2008
Helo world it’s a brand new day.
Moderate S wind (possibly rising through the day). 50% sunshine.
So a brisk walk up Entrevernes and a fly off to be followed by a bike ride around La Tounette.
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Montain Walking, paragliding weather, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 3, 2008
Dawn - The sun comes up over the Mountains of the Bauges

Mt Charbon

Mt Sambuy
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paragliding weather, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 4, 2008
Looking West over my neighbours roof to the Roc des Boeufs and Entrevernes take off

- les-roc-des-boeufs
No wind in the valley – light SE aloft – sunshine for the afternoon.
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paragliding weather, window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 5, 2008
The sun is a shining to welcome the day

Through the square window towards Forclaz
Time to go fly.
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window cam |
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Posted by irwyn
November 10, 2008

Friday Morning
Friday dawned clear and I had to pick up Lynda from Geneva. We were back in time for a flight at Plan Fait. Lynda managed 40 odd minutes in the light thermals and I came down after an hour and a half of light delicate thermalling. A good start and it looked even better for Saturday.
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Posted by irwyn
September 26, 2009

Softy

- Rock hard
One thing above all made this project possible from conception to conclusion – my climbing companion. Should you attempt a similar escapade you’ll quickly discover just how vital your companion is.
Paragliding stuff
WING If Paragliding wings were boats my OZONE Peak would be an arctic trawler. It might not win any races but it’s about as unsinkable as they come. We had a down wind glide in some amazingly rough air and it saw me through. For those thinking of performance it has done a 100 K XC thermal flight.
Harness Supair Everest Neat and light – I had it modified by Ripair to suit my body length better. Now I love it
Sack Kortel sack/airbag – Absolutely brilliant. Its well made, fantastic design for mountain use very comfortable to carry - big enough for my kit on the way up, stows all my kit on the way down, doesn’t impead the launch and gives excellect protection.
Mountain stuff
I love it all – collectively it’s my teddy bear, my security blanket – The Jetboil stove given me by Matt Pepper is a top favourite. I can scoop snow and make tea in the morning using one gloved hand. On the other hand I’m a bit too sentimental about my axe it’s heavy and short but when I found myself whistling down hard water ice with the prospect of stopping us both I new the head would stay on and the pick would bight.
Heady stuff
Great moutaineers know when to turn back – Great paraglider pilots know when not to fly. Kit these days is so good in either sport it wont let you down. Yes there are and always will be ‘objective dangers’ but most accidents are due to climber/pilot error. On our second training climb in the dark, at altitude, in fresh snow with no tracks we wandered off route. Roped and moving together we slipped. Yes we stopped ourselves but in previous falls I have stuck my axe in my belly and have locked my legs together with a crampon in my calf. This time we were lucky. The first time I climbed Mont Blanc I saw 2 chaps fall to their death. This time one chap died on the day we flew down. Gather experience, Get the best kit, Get super fit, Get acclimatised and always remember that in the lifetime of a man the Mountain waits.
The joy of climbing a mountain like Mont Blanc and then flying down to land by the car with your companion cannot be explained. If you take all the very best, most wonderfull things that happen in your life this is way way up there but you can’t share it. It’s so unique it’s a secret known to very few.
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Reflections |
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Posted by irwyn
September 25, 2009

- 25°C 4300 metres

+ 25°C 2300 metres
As far as kit is concerned little has changed in the 38 years since I first climbed Mont Blanc. You need the best, rugged all weather, high mountain kit you can get. If you can get the same performance from lighter weight then go for it. Remember light weight kit does not reduces the need to be at top form.
This is what I had but didn’t take the bivi stuff **when we went to the summit
| |
Kit List for Mont Blanc |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Stuff |
From |
weight |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Wing |
Ozone Peak |
4830 |
|
| Harness |
Supair Everest |
524 |
|
| Sac : airbag |
Kortel sak |
1045 |
|
| Reserve |
Supair ultralight M |
|
** |
| |
|
|
|
| Sleeping bag |
McKinlay Army 11 |
2625 |
** |
| Bivi Bag |
Gortex |
558 |
** |
| Matress |
Thermarest |
376 |
** |
| Stove |
Jetboil |
433 |
** |
| Butane/propane mix |
220 net |
370 |
** |
| Pots and pans |
|
394 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Head torch |
Frendo Long beam bulb inc 2 LED settings + spare batteries |
131 |
|
| GPS |
MLR |
259 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Tee shirt |
Decathlon Base |
236 |
|
| Layer 2 |
decathlon long sleeve |
243 |
|
| Layer 3 |
North Face Summit Series Jacket |
614 |
|
| Down Jacket |
Helly Hensen |
1210 |
|
| Gloves |
Technique Extrem over mit |
|
|
| |
Daschstine Woolen Mit |
|
|
| |
Decathlon under glove |
356 |
|
| Balaclava |
HH Fleece |
108 |
|
| Over Trousers |
Decathlon |
617 |
|
| Trousers |
|
600 |
|
| Helmet |
Decathlon cycle |
240 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Rope and assorted crabs glacier kit |
20M 9mm Crabs prussics etc |
1000 |
|
| Axe and Lightweight alloy crampons |
1410 |
|
| Boots |
Korflach |
2730 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| First aid kit |
bits in a bag |
212 |
|
| Energy food |
Decathlon range gells glucoze etc |
400 |
|
| Food |
Pasta cake tea bags mars bars |
1000 |
|
| Water |
1 ltr fresh and 1.5 ltr energy drink |
2100 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Total weight |
20259 |
|
| |
Weight of rucsack |
14426 |
SUMMIT |
| |
|
|
|
Oh yes and toilet paper and a candle
If you want to know how it all performed have a look at Reflections
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Posted by irwyn