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Montgirod-Arcachat

📍 Rhone-Alpes , Departement de la Savoie · Nearest city: Aigueblanche (6 km)

69 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1931 m · 📍 View on map

Forecast next days

Updated: 2026-04-20 13:17 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time

Composite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.

Wind chart — altitude × time

Color: green < 20 km/h · yellow 20-30 · red >40. Arrows point to where the wind is blowing. Each column = 1 hour. 4 altitudes: 10m surface, 80m first thermal, 1500m (850 hPa) thermal cruise, 3000m (700 hPa) top.

Wind next days (Open-Meteo model)

Colors: green < 15 km/h (optimal) · orange 15-25 · red >25 (flying not recommended). ⚠️ = shear >25 km/h between 10m and 850 hPa (potentially broken thermals).

Takeoff orientations

Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable

Why this site has thermal potential

Takeoff description

2000m When you are under the power lines along the road after the cheese farm- go to your right on a 4x4 track and make a judgement on where to launch from off the steeper slope 1900m (GPS co-ords) Normally use this launch on the far SW part of the mountain away from the power lines and easier to access. Go just past the refuge and look for the little wind streamer on the steeper gradient next to some small shrubs, park your car on the corner.

Pilot comments

XC : This site starts to work early in the year as well as early in the morning. Facing SE with a very steep gradient that has little cow paddocks and forest getting that morning sun this site boasts some good thermalling opportunities. If the wind is N around to W, it is still possible to get flights in before 1pm thanks to its orientation and the micro climate of the Centon/Villette area. However when the valley system works it comes over the top joining the valley wind from Moutiers towards the high mountains from as early as 11am. BUT-It is possible to fly in the afternoon on a stable day trying to fly bubbles on the lee side especially in Autumn/Winter. Despite all meteo winds, every flight at about 10am, there is a light pleasant thermal breeze on launch, with a view of Tignes Grande Motte,Saint Foy,La Rosiere,les Arcs,la Plagne,Val Thorens,Meribel and Courchevel. There are various routes to take once gaining altitude with an early start to your day, some local French pilots have achieved massive distances and return triangles If you are unlucky with the wind or arrive too late-there is a small ridge to fly from that is a good XC starting point for afternoon flying behind the Montgirod side, the launch faces W called Naves. ACRO : Beware : Centron houses and power lines and main road, fly acro over the trees in the left corner. Fly with a Rogallo or Base system. Minimum 700m in the box with bad wind, max 1000m starting at 1900m. The same distance driving to launch as driving up to Forclaz(Annecy) from Doussard, but the road is smaller, at least tar all the way up. The glide out to the 'box' can also be compared to Annecy at some (2.5 to 2.7km), this is good because most sites in the French Alps used to do 'acro ploufs' require a long glide that eats height.

Nearby sites

Naves (lac des bozons) (51) · Pra Plan (45) · Le Grand Mont (63) · Les villard de Macot (44) · Prariond (36) · Teleski Granier (42)

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