In the beginning of August I arrived in Chamonix, France. I had never been there, or anywhere in the Alps before. I had come because I wanted to hike and fly from the west side of the Alps, all the way to the eastern end. The rules were simple- hike and fly only, and try not to use any form of assistance. This means, no trains, gondolas, busses, or any assistance of any kind. I tried to keep to this rule, and ended up making 85% of the trip unsupported. Actually, I had more of an adventure than I had planned. Not only was the route from Chamonix to Slovenia difficult and amazing at the same time, but I arrived ahead of schedule. Taking advantage of my final week, I turned around and flew all the way back to the Dolomites in Italy. The trip was pivotal for me, showing that large distances can be covered quickly by both foot and PG travel. Amazing adventures can be had in this manner, and I believe that many more pilots will be making trips like this in the upcoming years. |