This is because most of our adventures
involve climbing into the higher mountains to the North and East of here. This
is done in a series of steps climbing as high as possible (in our case) on one
mountain or ridge before proceeding to the next higher peak like a series of
stepping stones. A String of Pearls to the high mountains. Compared to the
experienced local pilots we are still learning and exploring the boundaries of
the more basic of these routes; all the time considering likely outcomes and
potential pitfalls of our plan. Often having more than one eye on our escape
route should it all go pear shaped. On the way out there is often very little
time to relax and enjoy the view. Which is why, as you will have read, we so
often route via the Parcour. This is a fairly reliable base camp before
venturing further into the crags and crannies.
This week things have been behaving
differently not allowing us to follow the familiar routes too easily. In fact
moving some of us, ever so slightly, toward proper mountain pilots where you
have to read the clouds and terrain intimately. The high pressure and
descending air over the Alps has tended to inhibit the "valley brise"
which organises the thermal activity in a predictable fashion so the lift can
be unpredictable and much more akin to the "ratty high pressure"
thermals of England but on a grand scale. All chart heights are in meters
so after a while we start thinking in meters and in the scale of things it
doesn't seem that much different to feet back home; they seem to come and go at
a similar rate. Having said that there have been some spectacular climbs
especially where the high ground helps the thermals break the inversion.
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| Mt Viso (in Italy) |
Despite these difficulties, or maybe
because of them the team still managed some inspiring flights. Matt and JB
reaching Monte Viso on the Italian border before Matt continued to the Glacier
Blanc where he met up with David J. Phil, this time really solo 'cos he had taken two launches to get away
and the others were long gone, managed to push NE close to the approach to the
Glacier Blanc before an approaching band of spread out persuaded him to turn
for home. He was particularly proud of taking a short cut home which involved
following a ridge to hop over into the Barcelonette valley and thence returning
by an alternative route unfamiliar to him.
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| David climbing the north face of Glacier Blanc |
The arrival of Rowan collected from
Marseilles airport by Matt and JB last night has certainly upped the culinary
standards. The praise for his food serving to offset the relentless
"advice"of Christian the CFI with whom he is having some lessons in
mountain flying in the club K21 "Mike Charlie". We all have to have
check flights with Christian who is a brilliant pilot and a really pleasant guy
but he does put you through it in the air: for your own benefit of course. We
are all sure Rowan is benefiting enormously :-)
- Phil
- Phil
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| JB engrossed in the day's footage |
