Annecy Monkey Migration 2012 - Day 1

Perfect day to start with in Annecy - totally clear, no clouds, and hot-n-sunny! La Peste and I arrived at our chalet 12:30 pm, after a 3 hour drive from Dijon, to find Don and Yolie already settled in quite nicely next door to us and relaxing. We got Jim and Bill on the radio from the Col Forclaz MontMin launch, checking the site out after their arrival. I quickly unpacked and then Ike and I drove up to Plan Fait Launch, above Talliores by our place for our first flight of the Annecy Low Orbital Surveillance Team.

Don and I launched at 2:30 pm, immediately skied out in very hard stable conditions, reaching the top of the Dents Lanfon at 6800' in just 20 minutes! We heard 1I and Flystrong on the radio again now checking out the Doussard LZ then taking the shuttle up to launch to fly from Montmin side. As soon as I reached the top of the Dents, Don and I could see the glacier covered Mont Blanc in the distance. That's when I felt like I was home again...

All of a sudden, I felt like a little kid who just kicked his ball across the street and ran across the road without looking - which is what I just did as I crossed Lake Annecy to the other side, chasing my ball without looking! As I arrive, I find no one there, and am now looking down to find zero wind in the sails on the boats below, due to the stable conditions. Too late now... I pulled in plenty high enough on the Rocs De Boeufs, but got no lift at all as I slowly sank to my demise below, next to the castle by Duingt. I radioed Don "Do not cross the lake".

I could hear Jim and Bill on the other side having a fantastic first flight and Don crossing over to their side to fly with them. I packed up in the soccer field I had dirted in, right next to the main road around the lake, and hitched a ride back to Doussard LZ to find huge smiles on Don and Bill's faces with Jim not wanting to land yet having way too much fun.

Then Jeannine and Yolie showed up and we all had a few cold bevies at the LZ, then drove 2 miles to Jim and Bill's place to check out their pad - nice place with an excellent view of the Bauge Range and the Dents Du Con! Now, we all drive off up over the Col Forclaz and down to Plan Fait launch so Jim and Bill can check it out before cruising down towards Talliores and our Pad in Bluffy, just below the flying site of Plan Fait.

Pretty late now at 8 pm, but sun still up so we all have wine, cheese, dry sausage, ham and all kinds of great pupus at a table in the garden in between Don and our place in Bluffy. There is a huge pasture surrounding us with views of Dents Lanfon, Le Parmelan, and a small view of lake Annnecy. The now setting sun is giving us a fantastic color show as we all relax into the evening. Day One complete and a great opening day! We'll try hard to get online tomorrow if we don't inhale to much fun and high altitude...

Aloha Mad Dog et La Peste