This was not the sight we wanted to see the first morning:-
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwpb9qIRjM4Ws0H5LKetmNBvs7YQOtQgJb_LVgSmlPwo5Ge0j6H7l1OFMjcrerGWGRN5Ded6fV20eG1ENhwekFAx-WIEyj_B8IbJKZaEppOIwDRJatMaOO-3SSPHp3Y3AH_2ddkTmby0/s640/P1000417.JPG) |
Bugger off snow |
Fortunately within a couple of hours the picture had improved and with a brisk NW breeze it was obvious the wave had set up and the therms were popping.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQBpV9u9OGUzhVzzDaxIMkJaGvTIrHyT4S7iJ7MtmqBgm1pMhW58-rjNlrYeQDccg9s0-SVAnpHBySHl0kRYQthN7AitEgLvrkBijUGUz2EIi8deNssMflQrGBk930YuDazXVlrmnl-I/s640/P1000418.JPG) |
Wave over Rosans |
Andy Perley in the Nimbus 4 "Z2" and I launched mid afternoon for a warm up flight and after a relight (oops - perhaps pulled off too low?!) had a pleasant 4 hours running round the Lure, Blayeul and Gap town. On the way back I diverted to Pic de Bure and while Andy went in to land, climbed in the rotor and popped up into the primary wave. This was humming and the climb to 14,000' peaked at 13kts. Climbing at 1300' a minute is always impressive and this was made better by the vertical wall of cloud alongside. The wind dropped off at height so this was like riding a tube in surfing parlance, so when the wave broke at 14,000' I should have expected it to be rough but oh brother!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKc4VhJplqPWZJXZtcBPiOsV4nJfgLtpqetaybo6YJ0DG3auXdQu-SMd830vJWE6DafKSjTKLWj4HGXLw6Pge1KTCIjYmi7XYCm3vU6-DcgqHIcbu7nayHd7h_DF91IMYMfXlriy6KwA/s640/P1000428.JPG) |
Primary wave behind Pic de Bure |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BmMqoeELI_cFPd_cTov9dIoR5Ai86fyZz1naFTfx8IC37Xhc7wo_Oj60k_TYXo4PVYe6ooZzuaPbDpXDxoNt9_QSv6BrY-nJQFuM0wHkXt0TxpkMGEmJGBbTWK8myjveBFYSw50_sGQ/s640/P1000431.JPG) |
The view from 14000' |