Summary

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

Great Weekend

 

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. 

 

 

 

Light breeze on launch

 

 Saturday’s plans were to begin with a walk up to the Entrevernes take off just to sample the morning air.  It was brilliant – a light breeze on the slope to help us off.  Lynda flew around chasing the lift and landed at the Doussard landing field.  I cruised the ridge for a while and landed to collect the car.

 

Things just kept getting better.  We went back to the house for a quick lunch, picked up Kat and Mark and headed for Plan Fait.  The sun was high and pilots were climbing to the Dent de Lanfon.  We joined them flew a while then landed in time for a late afternoon flight home from Montmin.  Three beautiful flights and time now to prepare the bonfire, fireworks and BBQ.  Enjoy the Gallery and you’ll get an idea of how it all went.  Sunday proved different but equally special so I’m doing a separate Post.

 

Friday Morning

Saturday evening

the walk up

Light breeze on launch

Annecy paragliding weather briefing

Weather in this valley is very particular and never more so than in an Autumnal southerly.  All the forecasts gave a strong southerly wind and stuborn stability.

The Window Cam denied this and by lunchtime a light valley wind had set up.  So up to launch -

Launch offers a welcome

 

Light wind up the front and signs of thermal activity over at les Dents du Lanfon.  So go fly.  There’s a little lift for half an hour or so then a beautifull fly home -

 

 

Launch offers a welcome

Nice new carpet

All mine

Home sweet home

Window Cam

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.

Window Cam

Dawn  -  The sun comes up over the Mountains of the Bauges

 

 

Mt Charbon

Mt Sambuy

Annecy paragliding weather briefing

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.

Annecy paragliding weather briefing

Light SE winds. 50% sunshine. Must be flyable somewhere

Morning from my window and Morning from Les Saisies

Annecy_morning

Les_Saisies

 

 

The choise is yours….. Stay at home?  Go Fly?

Window Cam

A picture is worth a thousand words

This is sunrise from my bedroom window.  We’re all going out to play

Annecy paragliding weather briefing

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.

Annecy paragliding weather briefing

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