Quatre Traine a Plane Joux

This story starts in Chamonix on a morning of the bluest skies and clearest views. Today I put my passport in the flight deck. The Monkeys anxiously all clamored to the Brevent. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. Mad Dog helped Larry, Mack and Sharky off. Sharky got his first flight on his new lady over Chamonix Valley.

Duck and Frosty, aka Big Island John, were next to launch just as the thermals were starting to kick in and launch was getting crowded. Ike, Mad Dog and I launched into the Chamonix Rodeo and it was a ride up that made doing sit-ups a thing of the past.

We pretty much hung together and had our ups & downs. Don headed up valley and Mad Dog followed him but of course Mad Dog was on top, for most of the time. They got further up valley than I did and came back to Brevant, this was the only time I saw the top of Mad Dog’s wing.

We benched up and I hit a new record high of 7548’. Mad Dog made the call “Going down valley, see where I will end up”. He never really got a response from Don or I because our hands were always busy.

There were some big ups and then downs as we jumped from thermal to thermal. We could here play by plays from Duck on the landings of Larry, Mack and Sharky. Frosty was MIA but not for long, We spotted him below us, bare legs as we reached the last peak of Chamonix Valley. Mad Dog, well he was on top, made the call, “I am heading to Plane Joux”. With his bad back could not twist to search for the rest of us who were close bellow his tail.

This was the last place to bench up and there were several parapentes scratching, but only 4 left to head towards Plane Joux. Ike & I flew into some wispy clouds knowing we were going to be on glide and followed Mad Dog. Frosty left but he was a little lower.

We were now on glide, very comfortable; I was finally able to get on the radio to inform Mad Dog that I was with him. Ike & Frosty chirped in as well. Mad Dog asked “Has anybody taking pictures.” I got my camera out but it was frozen, hit a low temperature of 39 degrees and I guess it could not take it.

While on glide, I was finally able to look around and enjoy the view. Wow, this place is huge and for once I started to actually appreciate the snow capped views until my fingers started to get numb.

It was a great glide. We were able to talk a little and watch Frosty head over to another ridge to try to get some lift because he was lower than us. Suddenly a familiar voice chirped in, “Reaper here where are you guys.” Someone informed him that the four of us were crossing from Chamonix heading to Plane Joux. Reaper said he would be at the LZ if anyone landed and needed a ride back up. It was oddly comforting to hear his voice as I remembered him radioing to me as he drove along side me on my first Bay Crossing.

Well we didn’t need a pick up at the LZ because 3 of us top landed at Plane Joux to enjoy a glass of wine and an awesome celebratory meal. While we were sitting at the table Frosty came in, he had a low save out front and said he had to grab some goat farts to get up.

Reaper, Bonnie and Flash soon joined us at the table followed by Duck, Larry, Mack, and Sharky on launch. We now had a start of the Hawaii take over as a Barrel of Monkeys took over the launch pad.

Plane Joux is becoming the favorite site most likely due to the bar at launch as well as on the LZ. We all landed at the LZ except for Don and Mad Dog who top landed to bring down the vehicles. Don and Mad Dog later stated “Wow that was a great couple of flights, but we never made it to an LZ.” I think that was a brag, but I was still glowing from my first XC here in France.

It’s Time to Fly Get Your Gear and Go!!!!!!!!


missing from picture: Frosty