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Wonderland
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Today's forecast of lighter winds and increased temperatures
over yesterday's brought a mood of optimism to the audience. It was to be
Mike and Angie's last day, so it would have been excellent for them to leave
on a high.
Just before today's grid was launched, we were treated to
an exhibition of ultralight glider launching techniques. The ultralight was
tied to a microlight by means of a rope hanging from the back of the propeller,
and the combination became airborne in a very impressive 20 metres.
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Ultralight Gliding
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Hongrie worked well today and it was an easy hop to Authon.
Auribeau, however, was still rather coy in supplying useable lift so I ended
up back on la Bigue for a repeat of yesterday's performance. Once on the
Coupe I was able to run the parcours northwards and devise a plan. Cloudbase
looked better over the Barcelonnette valley than it did towards Guillaume,
so I took a climb at les Trois Eveches and headed off to the Grande Berard.
Cloudbase was around 10,500ft, making it easy to reach the north side of the
valley above the tops (always a wise move in this valley), and I continued onwards towards the col de
Vars.
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Near col de Vars
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The panorama was sublime. Due to the recent poor weather,
rather a lot of snow had fallen over Alpine ranges, and the combination of
pure white snow, dark rocks and sunlight striking through a cloudbase barely
over the summits was enough to make any normal person's head spin in wonder.
I continued past St Veran and the col d'Agnel towards Mont Viso, which today
was mostly hidden by cloud. Cloudbase was now 11,500ft and climbs were
easy to find.
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Col d'Agnel
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Mont Viso foothills
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From Viso I headed north, past Rochebrune, beyond which
cloudbase was even higher. I managed to get within spitting distance of the
col d'Etache and decided to call it a day at that point. A chute of cloud
filled the col and bases looked lower in the Modane valley, so that will be
a pleasure better left for another day.
Back at the tete de Peyron, I took a straight glide over
the southern edges of the Ecrins to Dormillouse via Guillaume. Fully
expecting the parcours to work well I was a little disconcerted to find
myself sliding down to Seyne, but I managed to get a good climb when it
mattered and I was soon back on course for the lac Sainte Croix.
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The Serremontdenier was not working particularly well,
but there were enough small spurts of lift to get me to the Pont d'Aiguines
and back to the main ridge without concern. Then it was a direct glide home
and the end of an excellent day.
Dinner was at the refurbished Iris de Suse (now rebranded
as the Lou Castču) in Misons village. It used to be run by a very strange
man, the bonkers offspring of d'Artagnan and Basil Fawlty. I can now report
that normality has been restored, and the new restaurant is back on our
recommended list. |
Rochebrune
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