Hiking "wreck hunter" – Southern Alps at Digne-les-Bains

In each of these works, an aircraft wreck is found, lost in the jungle or in the most inaccessible mountains. Who hasn't dreamed of discovering an aircraft wreck in the mountains and travelling back in time — seeking to understand how it got there and what happened?

Exactly! As a mountain guide, I invite you to a day of unique hiking in the heart of the Haute-Provence Geological Reserve. Come and play the role of modern-day archaeologists, Indiana Joneses of the 21st^st century, with family, in a group or solo, and let's set off together in search of the still-substantial aircraft remains.

Investigation hiking and the history of aircraft wrecks

The appeal of this hiking route won't just be the twisted metal! What motivates the explorer, beyond the discovery of treasures, is the chance to travel back in time and uncover the history of these wrecks.

Together, we will piece together the facts and I will recount the many adventures — here is a brief overview across 3 hikes.

Near Digne-les-Bains, an air corridor for crossing the Alps, there are numerous aircraft wrecks, each with its own story.

• The fighter-bomber "Thunderbolt P47"

On the Siron ridge, a fighter-bomber "Thunderbolt P47" crashed in 1945. Its pilot, Master Marpaud, had set out to "run in" a brand-new engine in the area around the Salon air base. Then, near Digne-les-Bains, the engine splutters and stops mid-flight! His only option was to make a crash landing on a ridgeline. Injured, he spent the night outdoors and had to account for a brand-new aircraft, destroyed in an area where he should never have been…

Despite looting, significant remains of the aircraft are still present. Beyond the wreck itself, during this hiking route we will discover the famous Ammonite slab, whose reputation extends far beyond the borders of Digne, having attracted the interest of Japanese researchers. We will also explore the medieval village of Courbons. Plenty to vary the commentary throughout this full-day hike with 770 metres of positive elevation gain and pleasant trails.

• The "Dakota C47" and the "Flying Fortress B17"

On the Cheval Blanc mountain in the Issole valley, a "Dakota C47" and a "Flying Fortress B17" came down two days apart in 1948. As you approach the first wreck, the remains are extensive and the point of impact still visible. The story of this wreck is unfortunately far more dramatic, particularly as it was followed by the crash of the B17, which had been sent to fly over the site two days later.

This wreck is closely linked to history — the history of people and their lives in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Located at over 2,000 metres in a massif featuring steep couloirs, this more "technical" route requires a full day's hiking through off-trail alpine pastures.

• The collision of the "Mirage 3s"

More recently, in 1969, two "Mirage 3s" collided in the skies above Digne — a memory still vivid from my childhood! Rest assured, both pilots walked away unharmed. Remarkable men, those "knights of the sky"! One of them even went on to become leader of the Patrouille de France.

During this more accessible hiking route, wreckage can be found for a half-day investigation with a maximum elevation gain of 300 metres.

It will be more research work than hiking in itself, but no less fascinating for that!

But why did so many aircraft crash in such a short space of time? Unfortunate circumstances, fate, misjudgement, or all

simply particular aerological conditions are at the origin of these accidents. Unfortunately, we don't know much more than that. This leaves an element of mystery and imagination when it comes to discovering these wrecks. However, these weather conditions now make for an ideal playground for gliding.

For the more curious…

The choice of the aircraft wreck theme came about following fieldwork, research in archives and encounters with various key figures. À la carte, based on your interests, I can tell you so many more stories, such as that of the "super mystère B2" from Auzet, the "Paris-Saigon" in the Ubaye valley, or the "piper" on the Montagne de Boules.

Come and join me, with family, in a group or solo, by booking your hiking trip in the Haute-Provence Geological Reserve at:

• the website www.montagne-soleil-aventures.fr
• Please get in touch with us by email.