Local Flying :: Col de Bleyne

(MONTAGNE DE THORENC)

Flying Towards Take off on Col de Bleyne Ridge. Photo © Charlie Hedges

:: Introduction

Col de Bleyne is a southerly-facing site with a 400m top-to-bottom and excellent XC potential. There are an abundance of big fields to land in both in its own valley, and along the route to Saint André, although in spring and early summer grass is grown as crop, and fields containing it should be avoided. The Montagne de Thorenc is best flown in a light southerly meteo wind direction, although on a good, light-wind day thermals will be drawn up the front regardless.  

The site is primarily a thermic site, so is most often used in Spring and summer, although people have been known to thermal there above snow-covered fields in winter!

:: Safety Note

The site is primarily a thermic site, so is most often used in Spring and summer, although people have been known to thermal there above snow-covered fields in winter!It can be turbulent in a westerly - better to decamp to Lachens.

:: Access

From Nice, head east along the A8 and take the Cagnes sur Mer exit. Then either follow the D6 from la Colle sur Loup to Gréolières through the Gorges du Loup, or come through Vence and via Coursegoules on the D236 and then the D2. From Gréolières, take the road to Thorenc and climb up to the Col de Bleyne. At the Col, a track breaks off right and goes all the way to take-off.From Nice, head east along the A8 and take the Cagnes sur Mer exit. Then either follow the D6 from la Colle sur Loup to Gréolières through the Gorges du Loup, or come through Vence and via Coursegoules on the D236 and then the D2. From Gréolières, take the road to Thorenc and climb up to the Col de Bleyne. At the Col, a track breaks off right and goes all the way to take-off.

The take-off you see is CDB1 (for these purposes - not an official name). To get to CDB2 there is a short walk on a path through the trees to the east.

:: Maps

• IGN Serie Vert 1:100 000 map 61, “Nice Barcelonnette”
• Michelin Carte Routière et Touristique, 1 :200 000 map 245, ” Provence Cote d’Azur “.
• IGN ” Top 25 ” (1 :25 000) map 3542 ET.

:: Take-offs and Landings

Take-offs

Name / Orientation	GPS co-ordinates	Altitude (m AMSL)	Notes
CDB1 South	44°38′44″N - 06°48′48″E UTM 32T 0323989 4853517	1525m	Approximately 400m top to bottom.            Beware of snagging lines on stones / shrubs on take-off. The wind can switch direction slightly, making launching a little tricky if you catch it at the wrong moment.
CDB2 South	UTM 32T 0324098 4853500	1536m	Steeper, longer launch than the first making it slightly easier. Faces slightly more easterly.

Landings

Name	GPS co-ordinates	Altitude (m AMSL)	Notes
Col de Bleyne (Thorenc)	44°37′59″N - 06°49′24″E UTM 32T 0324324 4852039	1120m	The field is very big, and has streamers or a wind sock near the road. The wind here can be coming from either the East or the West - there is a convergence point that moves backwards and forewards.                     Please pack up at the edge (not the middle) of the field.

:: Useful Numbers

Name	Tel / Radio frequency	Website / Email
Greo Finesse Max C/o Michel GRAVINA Mas de la Djibouze 375 Chemin de la Combe 06140 TOURETTES SUR LOUP	Mobile : 06.82.28.03.85
Balise	143.9875

Mike and Robbie setting off towards the Teillon from Col de Bleyne Photo © Charlie Hedges

:: XC Routes

• The site record is held by David Dagault for a 257km flight to Megeve on 8th May 1998. At the time it was also the record for the whole of France!

• Pilots have flown in just about every direction from Col de Bleyne.

• A favourite route is NW to St André, which is about 30km. There are many ways to achieve this, but as a starter it’s possible to climb high on the Montagne de Thorenc and then head slightly west as you go over the back, and try to connect with the ridge behind to the west of the obvious zig-zag path, where it faces more to the west. Run along here to the Teillon and then onto either the Crémon, or straight to the Chamatte if it is a good, high-base day. (From the Teillon, either fly over the Col de Barnubé, or push round onto the west face of the Teillon and jump across). Run along the Crête de Chamatte and Crête des Serres, and climb high before making the crossing onto Le Chalvet.

  It is possible, but generally not easy, to make the return trip to top-land at Col de Bleyne. More common is to carry on from St André, towards Dormillouse or Allos. (Or take advantage of Aerogliss’ cold-beer facilities in the St André landing field).

• You can fly north towards Allos, by hopping straight onto Arpille and then slightly west of north traversing the East-West running ridges until you cross the Entrevaux valley and meet up with the huge north-south running ridge that goes almost to Colmars. The interesting valleys are very pretty, but not exactly served by busy main roads, so if you go down in there, hitching out again could take some time. The locals are friendly though! 

• Another possibility is to head straight out from TO and climb on the far side of the valley near the ruined village, If you manage to get high here it is possible to fly to Greolieres, alternatively fly E along the Col de Bleyene ridge before getting high. You should be aware of a lack of easy landings on the final few kms to Greolieres and the cliffs above the road leading down to Greolieres can be turbulent. 

:: Other Activities

• Le Castelleras de Thorenc - on a hill on the opposite side of the valley to Col de Bleyne, are the ruins of a chateau and 12th century roman church
• Winter skiing at Gréolières-les-neiges and Oderburg
• Mountain biking, climbing, walking etc.