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Deja-vu
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Off Chabriere
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Today was a tiny bit less unstable and consequently a tiny
bit less stormy, but again I didn't feel inclined to stray too far from
base. A long tow to Trainon got me away quickly enough, but the parcours was
already out of bounds. I found an unusually good climb near Oratoire
that put me over 9000ft, well above the other local multi-level cloudbases,
so I was able to do a long glide between the cumulus towers direct to
Chabriere. I arrived below the top and turned left, keen to test the theory
that any wind pointing at a mountain face should result in a climb.
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Success! At its north-westerly tip, Chabrieres gave me enough
of a climb to get me to the mountains across the Orciere-Merlette valley,
where Klaus's train was busy working some weak lift. I managed to find my
own thermal (with the help of some passing buzzards) and crept ever higher
until I reached the Valgaudemar where, at 11,000ft, I had plenty of height
to do some exploration, although regrettably not in the direction of the
Ecrins which remained socked in with cloud.
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Pic de Bure
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Mid-level stratus was spreading from the north-east and I
decided to head back towards the sunshine. Another glide took me to the pic
de Bure, getting me there above its summit. Even a visit to the Glandasse
seemed to have limited potential, as another cu-nim was growing directly
above it. A final tour of the Sisteron cuvette concluded my dealings with
the Alps for this year.
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Valgaudemar
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