Un Oeil Jim: First 5 Days of Annecy Flying

18 September 2012: Montmin Launch - Doussard LZ

First flight after long 23+ hour flight in from Hawaii. Both Flystrong Bill & I got very little sleep during travel, yet upon arrival and seeing the amazing mountains around Annecy we pushed through and decided to fly. After scoping out the launch at Montmin via foot we drove to check out the Doussard LZ, took a shuttle back up from there for 5 euro, set up in lots of traffic (tons of tandems and solos), flew a bit more than an hour in light thermic conditions, never got much higher than 500’ over launch, landed, met up with Mad Dog, Jeannine, Ike and Yolie. Toured our respective lodgings and had a great late evening dinner over in Bluffy.

19 September 2012: Planfait Launch - Dents Lanfon - Talloires LZ

First flight off the Planfait launch - worked my way up to Dents de Lanfon eventually wimping out when I got to just over 6100 MSL, a little more than 3000ft over launch. Super stoked to have made it in relatively stable conditions.

20 September 2012: Planfait Launch - Dents Lanfon - Roc des Boeufs - Doussard LZ

1st lake crossing with Mad Dog, took a huge frontal while up over Dents de Lanfon that scared me so bad I opted to head for the crossing about 500ft lower than Chris. We both struggled to try and find enough height on the far side of the lake to try going back across. Eventually we made a futile attempt at that and both ended up landing at Doussard where Flystrong and Don were gracious enough to come pick us up.

21 September 2012: Planfait Launch - Dents Lanfon - Roc des Boeufs - Soccer field near Duingt

Second lake crossing, this time I sort of led the way with Bill flying nearly next to me at times and Don not far behind. We knew right away it would be challenging to get up on the other side since wind was from almost westerly direction, meaning we wouldn’t get the normal ridge lift when we approached the low end of Roc des Boeufs. As expected we all began a slow but steady descent once across with all of us landing in close proximity to a soccer field - only Flystrong landed at that tiny field. Don and I landed a bit upslope in a much bigger grassy field. Don & Bill hitchhiked back around the lake while I got to sit with gear enjoying some scenery and beverages.

22 September 2012: Planfait Launch - Dents Lanfon - Mt Veyrier - just short of Talloires LZ

Fun ascent up to Dents de Lanfon with Chris and Don, at one point with just the three of us circling in the same thermal. As expected Mad Dog soon out climbed us and was reporting cold air up at 7000ft. I’d stated my intention to fly up toward the north end of the lake if I got up, so once I got to 6100ft off I headed toward Mt Veyrier. Don followed but took a much better line than I did arriving much higher and pushing further to the north to the very end of Veyrier. Mad Dog decided to grace us with his presence over there too, although he was secretly eying the line down toward Chamonix. I’m sure if he had the energy he likely would have sprinted off that way. I tried to up my bump tolerance by hanging out in a spot I found about 2/3 of the way out to where Don was. There were some screamers rolling up. I’d hook one crank up in it, bail out and go out front, lose some altitude, head back for more. There was a big thunderstorm developing off in the distance so we all headed back toward Talloires. I came up just short (more worried about busting a 150 meter over housing rule) and landed in a field, while both Don and Chris made it back to Planfait. Bill had climbed the Dents de Lanfon while we were off on our sortie. They all landed at Talloires except for Mad Dog who dirted at his gite in Bluffy. I had to hike about 10 minutes to get there.

The scenery and flying in Annecy is spectacular, I haven’t taken pictures – too busy trying to get better at thermal flying and too chicken to let off one hand to snap a shot. Just kidding, my few shots are linked to the photo above!

Adieu! Bon Vol.