Europe summer 2011

First was a nightmare transit from the southern hemisphere – I told Bec that once we got to the mountains, things would improve!

Paris

Then the trip kicked off with ten days in the Pyrenees, walking through the mountains, camping and staying in refuges, with the odd tandem flight. I am still working on this blog entry and a video of climbing a peak near Aneto. 

Hautes-Pyrenees

Next we spent a relaxing few days in Millau, a small French city with a Mediterranean climate. I am still working on a video of a nice tandem flight. 

Millau, France

From Toulouse (via Gatwick and Munich) I travelled to Salzburg, and straight into the mountains, for vol biv in the Bavarian Berchtesgaden for five days, limestone country with the aptly named Steinernes Meer (Sea of Stones) and Hagengebirge (Hail Mountains). I finally updated this with a story (13/11/11). 

Bavaria

After a good hot shower in Zell am See I randomly relocated to Krimml, where I did a multi-day loop and got a good fix of Austrian mountains (Tirol), with a few short flights but still no cross country. This trip continued in a similar vein when I relocated to Kuhtai (mountains near Innsbruck) with James, before we arrived in Salzburg. I have added more photos and expanded to a full length Austria blog (3/12/11). 

Tirol, Austria

The ranks were reinforced to half a dozen Conondale club pilots for the ten day X Alps, a fantastic fast paced road trip through the alps, following the biennial paragliding adventure race. This blog has been updated (25/9/11), I’m hoping to receive a few words about the trip from the others soon however! 

Valais, the Alps

After a couple of days in Annecy, Andrew and Chris joined me for the next week of vol biv in the french alps. One of the best places for it, we flew every day, eating well and hitching every other day. The blog has been updated (23/9/11) – recommended. 

Ecrins, French Alps

With a couple of days of poor weather, I decided to relocate back to the Pyrenees this time exploring the Spanish side, spending several days at the acro mecca of Organya. This blog has been updated with photos (mid-Sept ’11) and a video (late-Oct ’11). 

Organya, Spain

Next I briefly visited Ager, a cross country site in dry country, where I started a vol biv heading north. This blog has been updated with photos (mid-Sept ’11).

Ager, Spain

In Castejon de Sos I found ideal vol biv country, and had a great multi-day trip in the Spanish Pyrenees including XC, peak bagging, hitching, waiting out wind, and dodging showers. This blog is complete including photos, video to come. 

Spanish Pyrenees

Returning to Castejon, after a social days flying I embarked on probably the best trip of the season, a four day vol biv crossing the Pyrenees and continuing into France. The blog has photos added, and now (4/2/12) a video, and is recommended. 

French / Spanish border

In Toulouse I decided to end the trip there, while I could have easily done another month I booked a ticket back to Australia and arrived a couple of days later.