11:41 - Climbing at Pormenaz and looking back at the Brevant (2525m) and the Mont Blanc (4810m)
11:41 - Looking right at the Pointe d'Anterne (2733m)
11:42 - Approaching the Passage de Derochoir (2246m) at 42km/h
11:50 - Nice cloud above the Pointe de Plate (2554m)
11:50 - Look right at the Desert de Plate
12:09 - On the transition from Varan to the Aravis
12:10 - Looking right at the A 40 autoroute from Geneva
12:10 - Looking left at Sallanches
12:26 - Climbing to the north of the Quatre Tetes (2364m)
12:32 - Joining Damien climbing past the Pointe Percee (2750m)
12:32 - Looking back past the Quatre Tetes to Varan
12:36 - Following Damien towards the Col des Aravis (where he started his flight)
12:36 - Lots of snow and a long way to the first cloud, but people like Damien succeeded to come from the Col, so it has to be possible to get back!
12:36 - Looking right across the Aravis to the Bargy
12:41 - Looking back at the Pointe Percee - I'm already below ridge height
12:41 - Passing the col between the Tardevant and La Mia - Tom got through with 3m to spare!
12:41 - The cloud over the Tete Pelouse (2539m) is now within reach
12:51 - Damien found a climb even before the Tete Pelouse and we all gratefully climbed up above the ridge after him. The Croisse Baulet (2220m) is in the background.
12:54 - Back above the ridge looking down on the Roche Pertia above the Lac de Confins
12:54 - Looking back over the Pare de Joux (2384m) towards Mont Lachat de Chatillon (2050m) which is a popular paraglider takeoff in the summer
12:54 - Looking back at the Pointe Percee - I'm happy how easy it turned out to be despite the snow
12:54 - Looking ahead past the Tete Pelouse to the Col des Aravis
12:54 - The La Clusaz ski area is still running!
13:36 - Having crossed the col the next target is the Tournette (2351m) which has a perfect cloud waiting for us!
13:36 - Climbing above the Orsiere and looking back at the Chaine des Aravis
13:45 - Following Tom on the easy transition from Sulens to Tournette
13:45 - A picture of perfection!
13:57 - At cloudbase at 3000m above Tournette (2351m)
14:00 - The next target is the Roc des Boeufs across Lac d'Annecy - but is it working over there yet?
14:00 - Looking right at the Dents de Lanfon (1824m) (left) and the Dents de Cruet (1833m) (right)
14:04 - Looking south past the end of the lake into the heart of the Bauges
14:05 - The first cloud appears above the south end of the Rocs des Boeufs - so it is working, at least at the south end!
14:10 - Arriving above the Rocs des Boeufs and looking south east towards Faverge
14:10 - Looking back at the Tournette (2351m)
14:40 - After an easy (lucky) run down the Rocs des Boeufs (1774m) I climb out and look back north at the lake
14:40 - My plan is to go round the Dent d'Arclusaz (2040m) (far right) before heading east back to Chamonix - but first I must fly over Trelod (2181m)
15:02 - Passing over the village of Ecole on my way from Trelod to the Dent d'Arclusaz - the fields are yellow with dandelions I guess!
15:02 - How perfect is that cloud? I think it looks a bit like a rabbit (with a minature elephant on it's back)
15:15 - Leaving the cloud after a powerful 5 m/s climb above the Dent d'Arclusaz - starting on the way home to Chamonix
15:28 - Passing Albertville - I can see Mont Blanc (and therefore home) in the distance
15:49 - The long transition from Pointe de la Sambuy to the end of the Aravis - running parallel with the Dents de Cons (2062m)
15:49 - Passing Faverge on my left
15:55 - Passing over Marlens before connecting with the end of the Aravis - the valley wind makes it possible to get up from very low
16:23 - Thirty minutes of hard work later and I'm finally climbing near Mont Charvin (2409m) - I notice the cloud at the far end of the Aravis is getting very dark
16:35 - After Tom and I finish climbing above Charvin we decide to divert to avoid the development to the north east
16:35 - This is anyway the direct route home - there is quite a big cloud over Megeve but so far it looks okay
17:15 - No photos for 40 minutes because of the concentration I needed to find a climb and also because we got rained on by the cloud!
17:15 - Safely above Mont Joly (2525m) and we know that we're home safe - yeah!!!
17:22 Climbing out from Mont Joly (2525m)
17:21 - Following Lucas home to the Chamonix Valley
17:21 - Cloudbase is above the Col de Miage (3367m) - was a tour of Mont Blanc possible today? There is probably still too much snow.
17:44 - Passing under the amazing Glacier de la Griaz under the Aiguille du Gouter (3863m)
17:45 - Flying to join Tom climbing above a spur
17:45 - Looking up at the Aiguille du Midi I notice that the cloudbase is higher than it - might it be possible to climb up there?
17:55 - Still far below the Mont Blanc (4810m) but I'm now above 3800m!
17:55 - The target is in sight! The Aiguille du Midi (3842m) (left), the Refuge des Cosmiques (3613m) (middle) and the Mont Blanc du Tacul (4248m) (right)
17:55 - The Mont Blanc du Tacul (4248m)
17:55 - My dream for ages has been to fly over the Aiguille du Midi cable car station
18:03 - The Refuges des Cosmiques (3613m)
18:03 - Fly past of the refuge
18:06 - Wow!
18:06 - The last lift has gone down so the place is deserted
18:07 - The incredible cable car station of the Aiguille du Midi
18:10 - Passing the Aiguille du Midi paraglider take off ridge with the Grand Jorasses (4208m) in the distance
18:10 - Looking back I see that cloudbase is already coming down below the Aiguille du Midi - I can't believe my luck to have got there just at the right moment!
18:12 - Passing the Aiguille des Grandes Charmoz (3444m) and looking though to the Grand Jorasses (4208m)
18:14 - Looking over at the Mer de Glace at the Aiguille Verte (4102m) with its nose in the clouds
18:34 - Nearly down in Chamonix - the work is finally finished on the new town square - it's really nice!
18:34 - After seven and half hours and 155km I finally prepare to land back at the landing field near the Plan Praz telecabine - what an amazing day!
