La Pesse

La Pesse is a launch above Nus in Italy's Aosta valley — either a small shallow field or a slightly steeper one 30 m to the east. It's a morning-and-evening site in valley-breeze regime: from April to September you can fly here in the morning (usually until 11:00 or 12:00) or in the late evening. In the afternoon the valley breeze can hit 50 km/h and become unsurvivable for a paraglider — plan carefully, and if you find yourself flying mid-day, top-land on the fields at Verrayes / Frazione Hers.

Launch & conditions

Two options: the small shallow field, or the slightly steeper one 30 m east.

Getting there & local rules

On the motorway, exit at Nus and follow signs towards Aosta. Entering Nus, follow signs to St-Barthélemy. Drive up several kilometres into the St-Barthélemy valley. After the small hamlet of Val Dessus, continue about 200 m and turn right onto the road signposted 'La Pesse'. Drive up the asphalted-then-gravel road; at takeoff, continue a bit further to a grassy field on the right where you can park (no room to park on the road below takeoff), then walk back 2 minutes horizontally to launch. Landings: on the Châtelair airfield runway or behind the Fénis castle. If landing on the airfield, notify the aeroclub in advance — aeronautical radio on 130.000 MHz, or in person otherwise.

Local rules & hazards

Do NOT fly in westerlies, northerlies or föhn — extremely turbulent and dangerous. If the forecast says northerly but you find a gusty southerly at launch, it's a rotor — don't fly. From April to September, only fly in the morning (until 11:00 or 12:00) or in the late evening — the afternoon valley breeze can reach 50 km/h, unsurvivable for a paraglider. Watch for general aviation, ultralight and helicopter traffic in the valley — don't fly the centre of the valley at high altitude. Do not fly west of Nus — the Aosta ATZ starts there.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to La Pesse, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open La Pesse with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.