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Take-Offs and Basic Orientation
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Here you find the 4 major
Takeoffs around the lake and in the pictures you will see more important names of locations you will
hear other pilots speak about.
For the broader scale check my
XC-Page.
Take-Offs
- Planfait is used earlier in the year (Apr/May) almost exclusively.
Interestingly it often allows an earlier start than the higher Forclaz.
- Col der la Forclaz is higher and it is a huge takeoff with a wonderful Panorama
where a lot of commercial tandem flights are offered.
- The other 2 TOs are rarely used. Entrevernes allows an
early takeoff.
- For more Takeoffs in the area see
Craigs
Google-Paragliding Map
Landings
The landing at Planfait is where all the shops and schools are located.
Doussard is better in turbulent conditions: more space & calmer.
Official Welcome Publications
The city of Annecy has a nice tourism website:
www.lac-annecy.com
You can find some helpful documents, especially:
Here
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the region
Details around Lake
Tourist Office
PDF
Google Earth
Tristan Shu 360 |
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The local weather in Annecy is special in 2 aspects:
- the area is often still protected from a strong northwind that likes
to develop in the Rhone-Valley, called "Mistral". In Annecy's Planfait
one can often still fly if there is some northwind
- The valley wind is quite constant on a thermic day, no matter what
the overall wind-direction might be. As you can see in the picture to
the right, the wind is channeled in around the city of Annecy to go
straight over the lake to the
takeoffs. This makes the rate of flyable days so high in Annecy! -> If the sun is out, you can
almost always find pilots in the air from April to September.
Weather-Forecast
Annecy in Winter
To say it short and simple: Annecy in winter sucks when it comes to
flying: The lake develops a big inversion of cold air that lays lazily in
the bowl and stops all windflow and most of the thermals. There might be a
lucky short flight once every 4 weeks but even in the flatland you'll find
more opportunities to soar on hills in the wind.
-> Better continue south to the area around Monaco, or switch to Skiing,
Snowboarding and Speedriding: In only 30 Minutes you can reach the first
decent Ski Area: La Clusaz
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Protected Bubble
Valley Winds
current!
Meteogram |
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Transport
In the summer there are Shuttle-Services from both Landing fields to the
take-off:
- The Shuttle in Doussard runs quite regulaly in the season.
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Econavette : Free transport to Planfait Takeoff!
- At the begin and end of the season, you can carpool with the locals
around noon at both landing fields, usually planfait is better then.
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Camping
Althought there are a few campgrounds along the upper half of the lake
they are very cramped and rarely used by paragliders. There are 2 that I can
recommend
Hotel / Hostel / B&B
I don't have any personal experience with this here in Annecy.From
what I heard from pilots, these seems pretty decent:
- Florimontane.fr: Close
to Landing and Takoff Planfait. With its own Creperie!
Antoine, the owner is a very experinced paraglider and can
help you if you have questions.
- Maison-du-Moulin:
it is very close to the usual landing spot in Doussard.
Owners specialize in paragliding.
- Roc de Chere.com : Close
to landing in Planfait
If you have other tips, send me a mail!
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The motto of the region is:
IN TARTIFLETTE WE TRUST !
( Wiki)
and this is not really meant as a joke: The variety of food is a bit limited
- not what I expected from the country of the famous "French Cuisine".
My recommendation is not to expect too much and enjoy whatever you get. At least
the atmosphere in the summer is truly superb, sitting outside in most restaurants. |
Le Pecheur, Veyrier
Annecy, Center |
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More information can be found at the Annecy
Tourism Website and the local Clubs.
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