A 42 Mile Cruise around the Bauges Range

Just a short recap of yesterdays flight. The day started with low clouds everywhere in the valley and on the peaks as the front passed. It was freezing cold, which I was very excited about, knowing the lapse rate would be way better than the hot stable days we have had so far. By noon it was clearing as the report said, and by 2 pm, pilots were skying in every direction!

Don and I launched Plan Fait, while Bill and Jim took the shuttle up MontMin an hour and a half behind us. We waited, and when they got up we all crossed the lake to Rocs de Boeufs. I arrived first, and went directly to the granite peak in the back, then hooked a big one to cloud base at eight thousand feet, along with two sail planes, two hangies and a few parapentes. I wanted to extend my vision into the Bauges Range today, as there were way too many low clouds the other way. Yep, an 8,000 foot cloud base is low here! I continued south to the end of the Bauges over Chaterlard, where I almost dirted, but I caught a low save from four thousand up into the clouds at eight thousand in the lee of Chaterlard.

Then I drifted over to the ridge of Dent D'Arclusaz which is 19 miles from the Dents Lanfon, and I was thinking of continuing toward Grenoble, but it would be an easier retrieve if I turned around and headed back by way of a triangle around the Bauges Range. So I crossed the 10 mile valley over the Isere River to the Grand Arc to find fewer clouds that way. There was just one over the peak, and I climbed under it to 7,500 feet, staying on the edge of it as I made my way toward Albertville off in the distance. From my studies, I knew that in this particular valley, the breeze turns toward Albertville and Ugine, so I was on a downwind slide toward Doussard. So it had been downwind on both legs so far. It was an easy cruise over Albertville, but a bit scary, as it is a huge city with nowhere to land while crossing the side valley. Also, there was a high power staging station there in the cross valley, with huge high tension lines going off in every direction across all the nice pastures, as I was slowly getting lower. But on I proceeded, and next was Ugine coming up, where a huge factory was in the cross valley, so again it was scary to be so low, with the possibility of sinking out in a spot with no LZ until after the cross valley.

But I knew I was approaching a convergence zone, as my downwind situation was going to collide into the valley breeze coming from Lake Annecy and Doussard. Sure enough, I hit mellow convergence lift where the two valley breezes collided into each other,  and I made it over the factory with no problem and into Ugine. I knew for sure I was fast approaching a valley breeze that I would not be able to penetrate, and sure enough, BAM!!! I hit a wall of wind, and on speed bar I proceeded at 8-9 mph until I went hands up to land, and elevatored straight down into a pasture, nice and easy. I made it almost to the other side of Ugine, but not quite. So I had made it 12 miles back towards to my destination, for a 42 mile incomplete triangle. I was so happy, as this was only my sixth flight, three of which have been long cross country distances, long for me that is! 21 miles, 32 miles and now 42 miles! This has been my best experience flying in France so far. I called Jeannine immediately at 7 pm to let her know I was down and safe, then also made a call to Jim just in case. La Peste drove the 30 minutes to get me, and also brought me two cold frosty Pelforths! Wow, what a woman. We were back home by 8 pm, and I was so tired. We had a nice dinner in our Bluffy chalet, with wine and relaxing conversation.

Til next time
 Aloha.

Mad Dog, in Annecy France