Local Flying :: La Colmiane

:: Introduction

La Colmiane lies south of the boundary to the Mercantour National Park, approximately 40km almost directly north of Nice. It is within easy reach of the large mountains to the North and the views once high are spectacular, reaching into Italy.

:: Safety Note

Beware that wind can easily switch from coming up to coming over the back of the col above the main landing therefore you should check the wind direction on approach. The valley is also pretty well protected but the surrounding valeys are narrow, this should be taken into account if leaving the area and flying XC

:: Access

D2205. 5 km before St Saveur de Tinée, turn off on the D2565 on the right, which goes to La Colmiane. You reach the small village of St Dalmas about 2km before arriving at La Colmiane ski station. The football field in St Dalmas, known as “Le Soun Pra”, is the official landing field, and is signposted from the village. Libuelle, the paragliding school, have a bulletin board on their building in the landing field. This shows the locations of the main take-offs and landings.

There are several take-offs at La Colmiane, but the most often used are the two described below:

Veillos

There are actually two south-facing “Veillos” launches, that are located on spines of the Mont Pétoumier - Mont Pépoiri ridge north of La Colmiane. All summer there is a Navette from the Veillos chairlift, and the chairlift itself is in use.You can also drive up:

From La Colmiane, head out on the D2565 towards St Dalmas. On the very first sharp left-hand U-bend in the road, there is a minor road that goes straight. Take this. It immediately splits into two forks, the right-hand one of which is the track up to take-off. (There is a chain across the bottom - replace this after you). You pass 2 hang-glider launches as you zig-zag up the hillside, and the road eventually flattens out and goes into the back of the bowl. Continue here, going left on the main track when the road goes right to a refuge. The road follows the ridge-line to its end, and then zig-zags up again. You can park at the top of the zig-zags. Take-off is the grassy area above the road.

Le Pic de Colmiane

From the col at la Colmiane, drive up the dirt track that goes to Col du Suc, which is signed “Parapente”. Drive past the first streamered area - the better takeoff is higher up. You can park in the obvious area where the road goes over the col, and walk up the footpath which goes to the top of the chairlift. Launch is just below the chairlift, and is a clear, grassy area marked by windsocks.

:: 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 3741 ET.

:: Take-offs and Landings

Take-offs

Landings

:: Useful Numbers

:: XC Routes

• From Veillos: Climb high on the ridge going up towards Mt Pétoumier. Do not go low into the bowl to the East, because it will be in rotor from the westerly wind which comes over La Raya (the obvious ridge in front of you). You could run along the ridge to La Raya and climb at the end.

• From Le Pic, a circuit around the valley can be achieved. It is usual to climb immediately to the right of takeoff to get high before crossing onto Le Cayre Gros. When you are high here, you can cross the valley onto les Aiguillettes below Baus de la Frema. Climbing here gives access to the big bowl leading up to Mt Petoumier. Be wary of getting low in this bowl, due to the west wind coming over La Raya. You can then cross onto Mt Giraud to the west, and then cross the valley again to gain Lauzette, and from here back onto Le Cayre Gros.

:: Other Activities

• VTT - 215km of marked circuits in Valdeblore. Contact Centre de VTT FFC Val du Mercantour. Web www.valdeblorevttclub.free.fr. Tel 04 93 02 84 35.
• Climbing
• Horse-riding - Contact Les Papooses (La Colmiane) Tel 04 93 02 85 81 or 06 07 46 57 25 ; or Centre Equestre Soun Del Pra (St Dalmas, Valdeblore). Tel 04 93 03 30 06 or 06 71 37 47 37.
• “Colmiane Forest” aerial course (Rope bridges, aerial runways etc). For children and adults. Tel 04 93 02 83 54.
• Via Ferrata. Tel 04.93.02.83.54.
• Visit the very quaint old village of St Dalmas