Paragliding Holidays - Flights from Annecy

Paragliding holiday flights by clients at Maison du Moulin B&B. Why not join them?

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For those with Google earth A Lark - John English - Richard Barber - May2006

A Google Earth view of Richard's flight

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Introduction

Before setting off on our XC Brendan spent a good deal of time showing the intended route on a topographical map, we then spent a little time looking at the weather to ensure that the clouds weren’t going to overdevelop and that the wind wasn't going to suddenly pickup or that it wasn’t really strong up high.

It was then explained that any decisions, were my decisions and if at any stage I wasn't happy I should go and land.

Motmin Takeoff to Sulens
Brendan, Gareth and I took off from Col du Forclaz (KMZ it) just after 14.30hrs, we all immediately caught the house thermal just to the right of launch to above the first ridge. Brendan and Gareth then headed off down towards the end of the ridge in the direction of Plan Fait. I decided to carry on climbing as I was in a good thermal. After getting to the top of the climb I contacted Brendan to see whether he thought I could head directly back to the main face. Unfortunately he mistook my glider for another and suggested I head in his direction... Once I got close enough to be seen he realised I was high enough to head back and we all then started slowly soaring our way up the back ridge.

We then slowly scratched our way up to the top of tournette, Brendan and I really struggled to get up past a little inversion, but once we did everything became much easier and the friendly cumulus above sucked us above the peak and the alps started to unfold before us, before long we were off on our first glide away from the Annecy Valley towards Sulens.

Sulens The joys of being a novice on a slower wing...
Gareth Brendan and I all headed off together on glide and before long I was on my own as the other two shot off ahead on their quicker wings. I wasn't worried as I figured it just meant that I would know exactly where the thermals were... As I approached I saw Gareth and then Brendan both immediately hook into good lift and they shot up to cloud base in about 5 minutes.

Sadly when I got there, I found the lift, lost the lift and completely failed to find anything useful. Meanwhile up above me I could see the others flying through the whisps. Eventually I found where the lift was (everywhere I hadn’t been and I then climbed up as the others headed off on glide again. Once near the top I headed off in there direction and saw first Gareth and then Brendan get a real thump of lift as they reached Charvin.

I hurried after as fast as I could (3/4 bar was as much as I was willing to risk) and got a thermal with a really punchy core. I chickened out on staying in the middle and had a relaxed climb on the edge, still climbing at over 3m/s. I hooked up with the others who kindly waited for me and we then transitioned onto the ........

The Aravis
Getting onto the Aravis felt like a real achievement as I hadn’t flown for a while before heading to the Alps and I had heard about the incredible scenery, but not imagined that I could reach them from Annecy. Again guided by the others (the advantage of the slower wing) I arrived at the same altitude as the others just when they had found lift and then we all climbed up together and then headed off further down, getting a little higher with each climb.

Eventually we were all just below cloudbase at 3000M looking out into the Selanches Valley in one direction and back to Tournette in the other. The three of us were all circling together, discussing whether it was time to head back toward st Jean le Sixt.

Assymetric Fun
Again I was being left behind on glide so decided that since the air seemed friendly and I hadn’t had any collapses it was about time to see if I could keep up if I really stretched my legs out and made myself as aerodynamic as possible…

Oops, I stretched out as much as possible, concentrating on the speed and glide ratio on my glider, without worrying about the topography far below, but after a previous experience the summer before I was holding my risers... Sure enough, I got slapped.

One second everything was going well, I was starting to catch up with Brendan, the air was smooth and the next thing I knew, the glider was turning violently, the risers were trying to cross, I held them apart, weight shifted and recovered conveniently heading in the same direction, just a few metres lower…

Saint Jean le Sixt to Thones
After my little adventure I was a lot less keen to start messing around with the bar and although I used it on my last attempt at a transition towards Thones, I would have to admit I didn’t use it with conviction. I landed there and watched as first Gareth and then Brendan worked back up over Tournette, both landing in Doussard.

The whole flight was a fantastic experience and was something I could not have achieved without the careful thought, guidance and a great deal of patience from Brendan. That is why I am heading back to Irwyns again at least 3 times in 2006…

Just click and enjoy MY FLIGHT