|
        
| |
|
La Blanche
|
|
|
A light north-westerly was not enough to make
the Gache work, but its western end was sun-facing and was throwing off
enough thermals to make it a good place to tow to. Crossing to the eastern
end near St Geniez a strong climb pretty much got me away to the Vaumuse
from where, at 5000ft, I moved to Authon to find a good 4 knots of ridge and
thermal - an easy start for a change. I reached the parcours at the
Cheval Blanc via les Monges and Blayeul.
|
|
|
|
Pelvoux
|
Ever hopeful of reaching the Maurienne and all points north,
I followed the parcours as far as Morgon. Across the lake, Guillaume and the
Ecrins looked to have low cloudbases, so I had a go at crossing to the St
Crepin valley using the mountains to the south of the river. This seemed to
work quite well in the NW wind.
|
|
Viso
|
Just to the west of the col de Vars, cloudbase was
11,000ft, easily enough for me to track along the western ridges of the
Queyras.
Already I could see that there was low cloud over the
passes to the Modane valley, so I was now abandoning all thoughts of
Mont Blanc, deciding instead to undertake a grand tour of the northern
Ecrins, dipping into the glaciers Blanc and Noir to enjoy some
scenery.
|
|
|
|
Turning Viso
|
|
|
|
After heading east to the col de Montgenevre,
I felt unable to ignore a juicy cloud street that ran clear across the
Queyras all the way to Mont Viso, which had only the top of its pointy bit
in the cloud. Cloudbase rose along the street to 12,500ft as I approached
the mountain. To the east, Italy lay under its white blanket while the air
was clear enough under Viso's cumulus for it to be possible to
circumnavigate the peak. Well, it simply had to be done (though the 8-knots
of sink on its lee side gave pause for thought) ...
|
|
|
|
Now heading west, I pointed my glider at the col de Vars,
intending to make a tour around the eastern end of the Barcelonette valley.
Back in October last year Ariane and I made a road trip to the Cime de la
Bonnette, and it was only polite to repeat the exercise in the air (though
not quite as low as the Booker Boys from Serres managed a year or two ago).
|
Cime de la Bonette
|
|
|
|
My next stop was Mont Pelat and the lac
d'Allos, which looked very different from its ice-bound state noted in
March. Thermals were now easy to work and, back on the parcours, I undertook
an indulgent run back up the Dormillouse for a final top-up before running
for home, after another excellent day in the mountains.
|
|
|
|
Lac d'Allos
|
|
