Today was forecast to be a bit iffy with a few showers and potential thunderstorms over the high mountains. Fortunately things were better than expected.
The day started early and we were launching (with two tugs and a chastised tuggie in attendance) by 1115. We set off in various splinter groups and progressed North East. Once again a nifty convergence line helped us from Barcelonnette to Sollieres where we turned right and along the face of the Gran Paradiso. The views here were stunning - running over ice fields alongside jagged peaks and all at 12500'.
Sadly we were denied getting all the way to the Matterhorn as one rain cloud had heard the forecast and was raining on Aosta.Instead we went over the the South face of Mt Blanc and climbed to 13,000' before running South, exiting past the ski resorts of Courmayeur, Les Arcs (pictured left), La Plagne and back into the Sollieres valley. We carried on South as far as Barcelonnette and facing another shower decided to run West out as far as Die. I'd almost pushed things too far and had a bit of a squeeze coming home having to wait 20 minutes to get high enough to cross the Col de Cabre and get back into the Serres valley, then decided I didn't need the field I'd picked and could get into Aspres, then decided I could probably make Serres, then decided I had enough energy for a beatup. A perfect end to a damn good day.
Henry and Geoff have nearly got the LS8 undercarriage fixed so we may be full strength again for the last two days. Time now for beer and trough at the onsite restaurant.
Dan's trace shows we did something like 600kms but then we did fly for 7 hours - again. 48 hours in 7 days is probably not bad value.
The day started early and we were launching (with two tugs and a chastised tuggie in attendance) by 1115. We set off in various splinter groups and progressed North East. Once again a nifty convergence line helped us from Barcelonnette to Sollieres where we turned right and along the face of the Gran Paradiso. The views here were stunning - running over ice fields alongside jagged peaks and all at 12500'.
Sadly we were denied getting all the way to the Matterhorn as one rain cloud had heard the forecast and was raining on Aosta.Instead we went over the the South face of Mt Blanc and climbed to 13,000' before running South, exiting past the ski resorts of Courmayeur, Les Arcs (pictured left), La Plagne and back into the Sollieres valley. We carried on South as far as Barcelonnette and facing another shower decided to run West out as far as Die. I'd almost pushed things too far and had a bit of a squeeze coming home having to wait 20 minutes to get high enough to cross the Col de Cabre and get back into the Serres valley, then decided I didn't need the field I'd picked and could get into Aspres, then decided I could probably make Serres, then decided I had enough energy for a beatup. A perfect end to a damn good day.Henry and Geoff have nearly got the LS8 undercarriage fixed so we may be full strength again for the last two days. Time now for beer and trough at the onsite restaurant.
Dan's trace shows we did something like 600kms but then we did fly for 7 hours - again. 48 hours in 7 days is probably not bad value.
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