Paragliding in Paradiski - summer flashback

Nearly two weeks of storms building each afternoon, and two weeks of evening paragliding cancelled as a result for the Arc 1800 'Ecole de Parapente'. But our luck was in - the forecast for Wednesday evening was for clear skies, and our three instructors were so pleased to get up into the air for an evening flight that the kids' 20 minute flights were extended to the best part of an hour...

Paradiski - the Les Arcs La Plagne ski area in the Savoie, France

Scheduled take off was from above Vallandry, at close to 2000m, landing down in the valley floor near Hauteville Gondon, 1200m below. The paragliding school works closely with Arc Aventures. While waiting for our instructors, a local Savoyard farmer strolled past, taking his geese for a stroll...

The plan was to get down to the landing field before the take-off from Vallandry, but we needn't have rushed - the sole customer at the buvette was a dog who that clearly belonged to one of the instructors, and he obviously knew the form. It was a good 15 minutes before he opened his eyes, stretched, and started studying the sky ...


More laid-back sporting pastimes in the small lake behind the paragliding centre, a single angler, two keepnets brimming with fish...

Up above there was action at last. At one point there were twenty-three dots in the sky, impossible to tell which was which until they got closer. To begin with they headed over towards the Bellecote glacier - we learned later that the conditions had been perfect, with loads of lift from the evening thermals, helping them to climb to close to 3000m...

The view from up in the air was a little different...

These shots taken by the instructor, 'Franck'...

...along with some video sequences. Compressed for this blog, but the original clips are high resolution, along with some good stills, all put on CD by the instructor for collection the following morning for 20€ - pretty good value I reckon...

Coming in to land...

Unanimous approval from all three passengers on the 'two-seater' rides, although there was a certain amount of relief at getting back down on terra firma!...

The end of summer skiing on the Chiaupe glacier at La Plagne?

The demise of summer skiing at yet another glacier in Europe passed virtually unnoticed last year, although La Plagne itself hastens to tell us that the closure is by no means definitive. It was a beautiful July summer's day in 2004 when unbeknown to us all, we were to make out last trip up to the "Chiaupe" for a great day's skiing...

[click on the thumbnail photos to see the large scale images]

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne

First thing in the morning, July 2004, up on the little Chiaupe glacier in the Bellecôte sector of the La Plagne domain. Little did we suspect that it may well be out last time skiing at this beautiful little haven for summer skiers. True, it could be argued that with summertime snow conditions increasingly difficult to manage because of rising temperatures, the lift company, part of the massive S.M.A., is justified in arguing that snowsports on the little glacier was no longer economically viable during the summer.

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne

The local authority tried to argue its case, but the glacier was to remain closed through the summer of 2005. The La Plagne website (run by the tourist office) still maintains that the closure is temporary "until conditions improve", but locals have their doubts that they will ever see the lifts working again for skiers and boarders during July. This belief was reinforced when the old drag lift was replaced by a four-man chair, something that requires increased manpower to maintain and operate.

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne

A shame for the locals, both leisure skiers and those belonging to the clubs, who loved the peaceful, laid-back atmosphere of the Chiaupe, when compared to the hustle-bustle 'professionalism' of Tignes' Grande Motte. Not forgetting the crowds.

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne

That day in July summed up all the pleasures of summer skiing. No crowds, no queues. Perfect weather. 10 centimetres of snow a couple of days earlier, hardly skied on, followed by very cold overnight temperatures, warming up slowly during the morning, resulting in excellent skiing right through to the early part of the afternoon.

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne

Yes the glacier is small. And it's certainly not getting any larger! But although it always only opened during July and not August, it was a pleasant change from the commercialism of other summer destinations. Will it ever open again? We live in hope ...

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne

In the meantime the top cablecar station burned to the ground earlier this year and repairs in time for the start of the 2005/2006 season are still in doubt!

From 20040724 chiaupe glacier La Plagne