Annecy 32 Miles To Chamonix Video's

   Wanted to include the video clips I took on this 2012 Annecy/Chamonix France trip. five Video's of the  Annecy to Chamonix 32 mile cross country flight with altitudes up to almost 13,000' over Le Grand Bornand & gliding over Pointe Percee on the Aravis Range & into the Passy Valley to Aiguille du Veran, then into Chamonix Valley.  Then one video of my 42 mile flight from Annecy in the Bauges Range crossing the Isere Valley. Last but not least 2 video's of Via Ferrata climbs, one from the Aravis Range at the Col des Aravis next to La Clusaz & the other in the Passy Valley next to Chamonix under Aiguille du Veran with amazing views of the Mont Blanc Massif, chasing Jeannine up these sheer granite cliffs faces. Who is up for a little climbing, hiking & Paragliding next year? La Peste needs someone to abuse, sorry I mean hang out with.

Aloha Mad Dog & Jeannine... Sorry La Peste  

Click on link below to start the adventure...   

 .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkbvK7uFI3M&list=PLvSTi6GYkXCeuBSoZTjhLGPq3X7ya-a8b&feature=plcp

Chamonix: A Jewel in the Sun

This is the last installment on a long Chamonix saga, which includes for me and Jeannine more than 18 years of visits to one of my favorite places in the world! A few wintertime flights in Chamonix to start with, while snowboarding here in the early years, then finally summer adventures of hiking hut to hut on the Tour du Mont Blanc thru France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as epic flights in summer between the Chamonix and Passy Valleys. Culminating this year, checking my dream flight off my bucket list, flying 32 miles between Annecy and Chamonix France, over Europe's highest mountain peaks in the Alps! Not to mention a 42 mile flight from Annecy in the opposite direction, over Lake Annecy into the Bauges Range, so close to completing that triangle...

Climbing Via Ferratas in Annecy Region

This will be a short compilation of days 6, 8 and 11 in Annecy France which were not flyable, but none the less stellar in appearance. They were overcast days filled with excitement and possibly terror if you're the one who had to follow Jeannine and climb these vertical Granite walls! Throw in a dark looking rain cloud and she moves twice as fast and is impossible to keep up with while climbing...

Un Oeil: Short flight chronicles

Since there's no way to try to keep up or compete with Mad Dog's awesome flights here in Annecy, here's a brief recap of my not so stellar but none the less satisfying flights over the last few days.

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!

A Dream Come True: Flying from Annecy to Chamonix

Today started just like the previous days: a cool, clear sunny morning with no clouds. We drove together up to Plan Fait launch above Talloires, arriving to find very stable conditions. But some pilots were getting up by 3 pm, so we all launched into the blue as a couple cu nims were starting to materialize. I got lucky as usual, and after a slight struggle, I topped out on the Dents Lanfon. Then I thought I would wait for the boyz today, so I glided over to Lanfonnet.

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.