Flaine & Les Carroz
Flaine
So bit of an update… all in all, it’s been Airport Transfers and some lovely skiing… We decided to have a ski in the other valley, that being Flaine and Les Carroz,
on piste down to Les Carroz
and what a beautiful valley to ski in. Fabulous dynamic runs lovely and wide with some excellent alternative views along the way. We’ll certainly be returning sometime soonish. Glorious weather, with clean, fresh pristine air…. heavenly.
More pics here…
Road Trippin’…
So apparently it was a great days flying yesterday… if you were fortunate enough to be up at at launch late morning! 3000 meters+ was the norm, so some distance was attained, before the heavy weather rolled in…
Sadly, I missed it…enough said…
We had a busy day on the road again… can’t believe how much work there is to do at the moment. On the road, in the chalet… etc. etc. am happily employed but recreationally frustrated, can’t be in two places at once I suppose. Geneva was interesting with a big RAF group to Transfer both ways, at least they were an entertaining group to Transfer, smiley faces in the rear view mirror!
Not a Cloud in the Sky
If you are a member of the ‘Cloud Appreciation Society’ and are against the ‘banality of blue sky thinking’, you might as well have not bothered getting up this morning!
Because that’s all it was all day… clear blue skies, with just a hint of the odd tiny wisp of cloud that appeared and disappeared without a trace, blink and you’d have missed it. Nope, not barely a cloud to be seen, not including the contrails though, there were a few of those.
Transfers again, so no flying. Of what I gathered, there were a few gliders around but stability beat them all it seems, no-one seemed to be going anywhere. It was all very quiet… just one or two gliders in Chamonix just scraping above the Pump, but not much more than that.
Still we had time to readjust our harnesses, and transfer the reserves and all, still a bit more setting up to do but nearly there.
What, Only an Hour?!
first ones on launch
We did manage to get out and fly first thing this morning. Unfortunately, we only had an hour before the driving commenced. Taking off in virtual nil wind, then sudden short fast surges of twisting thermals made launching a tad difficult… but after a couple of attempts all was well.
It was the first time, I’d actually flown in lumpy morning air for ages, we normally wait for the thermals to kick in, but didn’t have the time so had to take what we could. It was short and sweet, and our feathered friends were around and came to join me again! 
this time I could see it was a Kite, with it’s distinct forked tail… I would have liked to have stayed up, it was certainly doable and good practice for bitty conditions, but alas I was summoned down.
On landing it was nice to see Caroline, Marie, Denis and Mathieu all amazed that we’d already flown!
It was interesting to hear Dennis’s comments on the radio having changed his harness. We both found a similiar experience inasmuch as the turning was much more of an effort, and it isn’t as precise as it could be with a different harness. Anyway, we’ve decided to go for a harness change with the Delta, and keep the other ones for the Mantra’s. I’m hoping to get out and have a go tomorrow.
It will be nice to go ‘lighter’ for a while… instead of being so heavily ballasted up!
It turned out to be a very stable day, with no-one getting really high, as far as I know.
Cloud Candy, Floss
Cloud Candy!!!
So I’ve been forced to start a new category! The one I’ve thought about before titled “Potentially Great Days Missed!” so this is the first entry… just thought it would be interesting to see how many we miss through the year…
For starters, yesterday and today. It did look kind of good yesterday, the sky had broken and the clouds were carrying potential! Had a look on the xc league later in the evening to see that Tom Payne had clocked a just short of 25k triangle here in the valley. Today, was another good looking day with candy floss early floating semi-transparent cloud forming on Varan.. didn’t want to look! Back home I could see a couple of gliders specking out en route towards Servoz.
Fortunately, the weather looks like it’s going to remain good for the next couple of days, and tomorrow… we should get out, here’s hoping…
It’s Not April Is It?…
You’d have thought so with all the showers of late. We’ve had lots of rain, with warmish temperatures so when the snow settles around 1600 meters the sun shines and it melts quite quickly it’s looking a bit slushy, and doesn’t really inspire much enthusiasm to want to hit the slopes.
...these guys are enjoying the thermals at least...
We’re still occupied with ‘roadworks!’ and the Transfers are keeping us busy. There was a bit of a break in the clouds although low, it did look ok to fly unfortunately time was again limited. There’s light at the end of the tunnel though, from next week the Transfers are calming down a bit so some free time is on the cards, and the week after then… well it’s looking like that could be our first free flying week!!
The weather here has been lousy it was pouring down all the way to Geneva and back today, with a glimpse of a rainbow at the Swiss border. They’re having some great weather in the UK, when it’s good there it’s usually not so good here…
Just Watching..
..wonder where he's been?...
The hope was to maybe get to squeeze a flight in between all the other commitments, but unfortuantely it would have been cutting it all a bit too fine… consequently we couldn’t get out. Someone had a great flight though, because by the time I’d got back home I could see one sole glider gently returning into the valley in the reflective sunset gleaming on the mountain.
It must have been a good day….
Birds on the Wire… framed feeder
Busy Birds and Fresh Snow
Woke up to snow! Yes… winter had returned. If there’s snow down here, which wasn’t forecast it should be great up high. Only problem being we had Transfers, and lacking vehicles. One was in for an MOT whilst the other needs some work doing, consequently no transport until later on. We hoped to go to St. Gervais for some night skiing, but this was not to be due to arriving back a bit late and the night skiing only being open until 8pm, which is a bit early. No matter we’ve got tomorrow free!
With the new snow arrival, the birds were in abundance on the feeder, can’t be easy for them in this weather. It was a surprise to see the snow though, the telly gives a better forecast than anything else, not because of the forecasts but because the signal/reception starts breaking up when there’s any weather close by, the snow was forecast only to around 1000 meters so you can imagine our surprise when it was down to around 600!
Just as the snow arrived so did the message to say Dennis’s glider had been despatched… and more snow is forecast! Just as expected…
If you like birds, I’ve sorted out my camera settings now so it will be enlarged properly for a closer view.
Hi Cyril, Moving In?
Hi Cyril, Moving In..?
Cyril showed up early this morning.. with a great message in foretelling snow!
one of the many visitors frequenting the feeder
It didn’t take long before the sky was completely covered… so another day enveloped in grey, but at least this time there was precipitation in them.
It was mostly, rain down here but snow up higher.
It certainly feels like spring is on it’s way, as the Great Tits, have returned and are furiously feeding. Over winter on one of our walks, Tizzy drew my attention to a dead robin that looked like it had frozen solid and after all the strange happenings with the birds falling out the sky, I just felt it would be nice to help the little chaps out over winter so bought a bird feeder. I can’t believe how fast they plough through the feed… but they are getting braver now and I managed to take some shots of the little chirpers.
Still keeping busy with Transfers.
Visual Grey, Rules
The last few days it looked like this..
view across the valley!
In fact, I woke up thinking it had snowed because it seemd really bright peeking through the window only to discover the depth of fog! Nothing to report, only more Transfers.
For Sale
We have for sale two Kortel Kamasutra 2 harnesses with pods. 1 XS and 1 M. They are both the latest models purchased in Sprng 2011 and the condition is ‘As New’ Both for €750.00 each + postage.
Kortel Kamasutra 2 with pod
We also have for sale a Small Kortel Kanibal Race, again in ‘As New’ condition with the new modified flight deck/chest strap arrangement. Yours at a mere snip of a price of only €600+ postage
Kortel Kanibal Race
Please feel free to email us at info@flyers-lodge.com …
Autumn Is Upon Us
Autumn is definately here, with the treetops all turning, the temperature dipping, a regular dampness in the morning, and condensation on the windscreens. The snow has made a fleeting appearance , settling on Varan, and the surrounding mountains although then disappearing… just a minor taste of things to come. Our flying has now taken on the more serene character of gentle air and mild soaring. It is all still very enjoyable as what we don’t have in the spring and summer months in the shape of strong thermals and xc potential, we make up for in the sheer beauty of the changing landscape and the depth of colour, artists revel in. So here’s to welcoming in all the changes that mother natures offers….. We are still flying, but just scraping climb outs now.
