226 km O/R from Saint-André !

See flight trace OLC
See flight trace on Google Earth
As a general rule in the past, most flights north from Saint-André stopped at the Fort of  Dormilllouse (50km) giving the out and return run of 100 km which kept most people happy.

On a few days a year, when there were good conditions and a light southerly, paragliders and hanggliders continued further north which meant the long crossing of the Serre-Ponçon lake onto the south slopes of the Ecrins without any hope of coming back.

Today, with the glide we have on the best topless and rigid wings gliders (and event the top PG),  pilots make the crossing onto the Ecrins, and then later in the day the return onto the Dormillouse for the "run" back to Saint André  (which is in part ridge soarable) with the help of the early evening thermals on their westerly faces.

Sunday 17th june had all the ingredients for such a flight as the forecast gave light winds at 3000m, cloud base at 3500m, cumulus clouds, and obviously for mid-june a very long "convective" window.

As is often the case, the big flights on good days aren't difficult, you just have to be well prepared for being in the air for a long time (7hrs 8mn) eat, drink and keep concentrated but with such a 'stimulating" flight and fantastic views, I found the time literaly 'flew" by !

Interestingly apart from the higher cloud base (3900m as opposed to 3400m) in the Ecrins, I found the air mass to be very well organized and not at all turbulent (there was virtually no wind high up) the valley breezes as allways were quite strong. 

My turning point in the Ecrins was chosen for its proximity to the landing fields in the Valgaudemar Valley, and I had enough height at all times to glide "out" to other landable areas. 

Several crossing have been made from East to West of the Ecrins by French Atos pilots. I hope to be back again this year ! 

In front of the Dormillouse Fort, I was able to climb to 3300 m :  a good height to make the long crossing of the Serre-Ponçon lake

The first southerly slopes of the Ecrins looking north

Still heading north, it's getting serious !

Still looking north to the peaks in top of the photo is where I turned for the flight back. In the foreground, the Valgaudemar Valley

It's where I turned : L'Olan 3564 m

The return crossing of the Serre-Ponçon onto the Morgon and in the distance the Dormillouse

The Morgon in the spectacular evening light

Back at the take off at 7.30 pm !

Anne got back to the landing field at 8pm after completing a 7 hours bike ride in the high cols near where I had been flying : her report here