 |
| Annecy 2007 - Mont Blanc - day 7 - 9th September 2007 - View the entire paragliding news archive |
Annecy Trip 2007 - visit to St Gervais
Having flown four sites around Lake Annecy we were keen to explore a bit further. Good friends of ours, Graeme (sky dived with us after my wedding)and Nicky have just taken the plunge and bought an apartment near Chamonix. They will be refurbishing it to accomodate 6-8 guests for climbing, walking, cycling, paragliding or skiing holidays. Their aim is to have it ready for next year. Naturally we wanted to see the place and check out any potential flying sites. As it turned out they were only 10 minutes from a paragliding LZ.
The apartment building in St Gervais. After some refurbishment of the interior and the addition of some home comforts, Nikki and Graeme will be renting out the apartment to climbers, skiers and paragliders. The building is 1 minute walk from the Mont Blanc Tramway and they are well placed between several paragliding sites. I'll be posting a link to their web page when it's complete.
Nicky, Esme and Jason
We saw some paraglider pilots coming in to land, so we jumped in the car and followed them. It turns out there is a paragliding landing field just 10 minutes from the apartment. We spoke to a couple of the local pilots and checked out this useful information board, then followed up a van full of paragliding students to find the take off site.
Take off was spectacular. Mont Blanc looms large in the distance. There is a huge level area half way up the mountain, with shops restaurants and bars. Lots of parking and green areas around means there is not walk up, and plenty of space to lay out your wing away from the mat. It was a really nice spot.
The take off mat itself was an immaculately groomed and rather large expanse of gravel. This is the best maintained launch site I have ever seen and we will definitely be flying here much more in the future.
Jason claims I pushed him out if a thermal. I think I might have done, sorry Jase.
Jason and I explore a new site. It is always a treat to fly in a new location with new scenery.
There are a number of small water falls and mountain streams along the ridge.
The St Gervais site offers an excellent view of Mont Blanc in the ditance and is frequently flyable when sites around Lake Annecy get blown out.
The LZ viewed from the air
Jason packs his glider in the LZ, just 10 minutes from Nicky and Graeme's new apartment. I think we will be seeing a lot more of them both next year! :)
|
(Back to top) OR - - View the entire paragliding and powered paragliding news archive |
|
|
|
The content of this site is � Mark Andrews 2005-12, mandrews1973@gmail.com
|
|
 |
