Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi

The reason for my trip to Chamonix these days has been that for today Vincent expected very little wind at higher altitude and he suggested that we might try from the Aiguille du Midi (22 years after my last flight here). In July and August it's forbidden to launch and fly on the south side of the Chamonix valley! This time I had my (old) crampons with me; Vincent has taken care of the rest (rope etc).

looking down to launch

the ridge everybody has to go down (or up)

South launch (rather flat...)

Vincent

Mont Blanc du Tacul; Mont Blanc (background); Aiguille du Midi

It has taken me a while to make this descend, but with Vincent's help it has been not too difficult. Furthermore (as I had hoped), my left knee didn't 'make any troubles'...

Unfortuately it has been rather warm (even at this altitude), so the snow had already become rather soft.

My first launch failed, as I sank into the soft snow and couldn't run properly. Vincent helped me prepare for a second launch and this time, by treading as softly as possible, I got away rather nicely - thanks also to my wing's excellent TO-performance (> remember TO is at 3660m!).

The rest of the flight (which lasted 2 hours, then my light harness became a bit uncomfortable; but whith my 'standard' harness, launch wouldn't have been possible at all) has been sheer pleasure: nice thermals, high tops > 3500m), great views and lots of pictures:-))

Aiguille Verte (left) and Mer de Glace (or what's left of it)

Over Aigulle de Belvedere Looking S/SW: Chamonix Valley/ Massiv du Mt.Blanc

Mont Blanc (4808m)

Main LZ in Chamonix:  'Bois du Buchet'

I landed shortly after Vincent, who had taken off about 10' after me...

I had promised Vincent, that I would invite him and his girl friend for dinner if we could make this flight happen, so later this evening there is a nice 'Cote de Boeuf' waiting for us ;-)

See this flight on Ayvri.

(More pictures - also some taken by Vincent - in my Flickr Album 'PG 2022 - Frankreich')

Chamonix -Aiguille du Midi (2.Juni 2000)

22 yeras ago - almost to the day- I could make a flight from the Aigulle du Midi. Of course not from the top of the mountain, but after having descended a steep and narrow ridge. TO then has been towards the North. Below some pix form this flight (scanned from printed photos)

looking down to launch from top of Aig. du Midi, for the ridge in the foreground crampons have been a must...

N-launch

looking back: Mt.Blanc (background, left side), Aig. du Midi (right side)

Mont Blanc du Tacul, 4248m (left), Mont Blanc, 4808m (background)

Aiguille du Midi (3842m)

I still remember the day rather well. Not the actual flight, but how I got to launch.

I did go up to the Aiguille du Midi neither well prepared nor well informed. Then I saw the steep and narrow ridge leading down to launch and I realized, that without crampons the descend wouldn't be possible (which of course I didn't have, nor an ice axe). So what now? In the end I asked a mountain guide, who had just came up the ridge with his guest, if he'd be so kind and lend me his crampons. I promised him I'd send them back up asap with the next guide who passed me once I had descended this ridge. For reasons whatsoever he agreed and so I got to make my flight :-))

The flight (with a ProDesign Target44) had lasted about 1.25hours and I had landed in 'le Tour', a few kilometres up the valley towards Switzerland (but that's another story).

Chamonix -Planpraz

Unfortunately, Vincent had to work today, so he 'sent' me to Planpraz, the site most often used here in Chamonix for solo, as well as for tandem pilots: easy access (gondola and just a few minutes walking), large TO (facing SW and SE) and a great view.

An interesting 'detail' about this TO here at Planpraz: in front of launch passes the cable car Planpraz-Brevent (gondola and cables can be seen near the bottom/ middle of pix). So, one has to pass under the cables after launching...

mountain spring: Gentiana alpina (commonly Alpine gentian)

SW-launch

..interesting cloud covering the top of Mt.Blanc...

Even though many pilots had been present on launch, it has been a pretty relaxed atmosphere due to a (more or less) steady headwind and ample space available. Thermals had been rather strong and punchy at times, so the wing needed to be flown actively, but no problems at all. Also, the wind at the higher altitudes (as indicated in the picture above) didn't influence the flying.

LZ 'Savoy'

After having enjoyed the scenery for a bit more than an hour, I landed at 'Savoy'. This LZ is just a 10-15 minutes walk form the gondola station to Planpraz/ Brevent, where I had parked my car - luckily in a covered car park, so the car has not been nearly as hot as it has been yesterday, when I had to leave it in the blazing sun :-) 

Chamonix - Passy (Plaine Joux)

 

Waking up to a beautiful morning :-)  My first day here in Chamonix this year and also the first flight since the problems with my left knee had stopped me flying more than a month ago.

Vincent had suggested we'd go to Passy (Plaine Joux), as the NW-wind's influence might make flying in Chamonix difficult. I had feared that such a low TO like Plaine Joux wouldn't work with these high temperatures, but luckily there has been enough instability to produce nice thermals.

Plaine Joux

The TO here is in excellent condition: a wide space covered with artificial lawn - and it's also toplandable. I had some problems getting high: it has taken me nearly an hour until I finally have found the 'elevator' to cloud base; but the views made up for all the scratching :-)

Chaine des Aravis

Vincent

Mont Blanc (Vincent)

Landing after a bit more than 2 hours - and no problems at all with my knee :-)) I really hope it will remain like this!

Vincent had invited me for dinner (Indien), the sunset was an additional bonus ;-)

Webcam on Aiguille du Midi 17.6.22 at 2110

Webcam on Aiguille du Midi 17.6.22 at 2240

Basejumping...

 

;-)