About this flying site
one of the nicest flight of Chamonix
Grands Montets paragliding site and weather forecast
French Alps. Live seven-day Alpine flying weather, launch directions and site information for Grands Montets.
Altitude3,234 m
Launch directionsSW, W
Coordinates45.9478, 6.9600
AreaFrench Alps
Flying profile
Best Workable Not recorded
Grands Montets is a mountain site in the French Alps with a recorded launch elevation of 3,234 m. It works best in south-westerly and westerly winds, and can also work in north-westerly winds. Pilots fly it for ridge soaring and thermal, using foot launch.
- Terrain
- mountain
- Lift
- ridge soaring and thermal
- Launch
- foot launch
- Cross-country
- Not recorded
Recent forecast scores
Day scores for Grands Montets from Magic Skyweed's latest forecast runs (17 Sept, 15:34 UTC), on our 0–100 flying scale. The live forecast scores every hour against your own glider and limits.
- Thu 17 Sept49/100 No-go · top-to-bottomhigh confidence
- Wed 23 Sept61/100 Good · ridgelow confidence
When the wind is wrong for Grands Montets
The nearest site we have rated for each wind direction Grands Montets doesn't cover.
Aiguille du Midi -S / Nnortherly wind, 9 km away · 3,593 m · N, S launch · ridge soaring and thermalPlan Praz/ Brevent (Chamonix)north-easterly wind, 8 km away · 1,927 m · NE, S launch · thermalLes Luéseasterly wind, 16 km away · 2,000 m · NE, E, SE, S launch · thermalFlegeresouth-easterly or southerly wind, 7 km away · 2,345 m · SE, S launch · thermal
Site briefing highlights
Short extracts from ParaglidingEarth. Read the full guide before you fly.
Take-off
high altitude take off (3250m), which can be reached with a cable car. The take off is on a glacier be carefull with the crevasses.... it's better to go there with a mountain guide.
Landing
usual Chamonix LZ 'Bois du Bouchet': ATTN: this LZ is VERY close to the (year round) no-fly zone LF R-30A! To be on the safe side, make your approaches from the north side of the main road!
Access and parking
20 mn from Chamonix; by cable car: http://www.chamonix.com/lognan-grands-montets,85,en.html
Local weather notes
Weather info (or on FFVL frequency): - http://www.balisemeteo.com/depart.php?dept=74 - http://www.balisemeteo.com/balise.php?idBalise=94 (Brevent)
Flight rules
>> July-August: be aware of no-fly-zone on south side of Chamonix (Mont Blanc -Aiguille du Midi)! (> see pix) >> LF R-30A active year round!! (> see pix!)
Check current site guidance
Paragliding sites near Grands Montets
Flegere7 km away · 2,345 m · SE, S launch · thermalPlan de l'Aiguille (Chamonix)8 km away · 2,275 m · W launch · thermalPlan Praz/ Brevent (Chamonix)8 km away · 1,927 m · NE, S launch · thermalAiguille du Midi -S / N9 km away · 3,593 m · N, S launch · ridge soaring and thermalLoriaz11 km away · 2,020 m · SE launchPunta Helbronner11 km away · 3,384 m · thermal
Forecasts are planning aids, not safety clearance. Check current observations, official airspace and NOTAM information, local rules and your own experience before every flight.
More paragliding sites in France · Alpine paragliding sites · Read the paragliding weather guide