Hi Patrick
I own a C172N and is based in Lausanne (LSGL). 41 years old, with 4 years of mountain VFR under the belt, i know the local area very well. Please feel free to drop me a line if you pass by here. LSGL is beautifully situated close to the city of Lausanne – right at the foot of the alps. It can work as a good base for you to (perhaps join me) flying the mountains.
Simplon is awesome, and not as demanding as many think. Perhaps also check out the alternative through Skt Bernard pass and behind the alps. Third could be the longer scenic route from LSGL behind Mt Blanc, Monte Rosa, Matterhorn and then onwards.
In any case, I’m here should you need some input.
Off topic but this week is great for an Alpine flight. We should do an Euroga Alpine Formation outing… I was thinking of taking tomorrow off.
Sion: often times the fog forms in the valley and raises later in the day. Weather can change quickly and there is only two ways out – power or west. I haven’t flown intot he actual airport but I posted a photo last year of a TS hovering west of the field with associated gusts. In that case, only power and routing east via Brig/Simplon would have worked. I’m have little or no mountain time so for these trips, I bring along an instructor, relax and enjoy the experience.
Albenga – firstly, it’s definitely worth the visit but stay in Alassio rather than Albenga itself. It’s a €15 taxi ride if I am remember. Flown here twice, and it’s not complex but did it on CAVOK days. I think CAVOK would be best for the first trip and I’d keep some Synthetic Vision running and hit the throttles if I lost vis on way in. If I recall, two VRPs on sea at either side of the town. Some radio blockage close buy due to terrain if low down checking out the sunbathers! Suspect you’ll be the only plane there!
Please feel free to drop me a line if you pass by here.
Will do, Martin! I’m nearby quite a lot for work these days. While sunset is still too early for any weekday evening flying I suppose, I’d very much like to meet up to share experiences or even go flying together. I’d happily buy you a dinner for some mountain flying stories (food for thought 
).
I may be around the weekend of 21/22 feb (preliminary plan is to go skiing at least one of those two days) and also the entire week thereafter (up to 27 feb). Then again possibly Sunday March 8 to March 12 and that week, I may fly myself. And then I’ll be coming with the airplane sometime around the 22nd/23 March and staying until around the 28th before heading further south to Italy if weather permits.
We should do an Euroga Alpine Formation outing… I was thinking of taking tomorrow off.
Not around this week, but something like that would be pretty cool.
