Originally Posted by
mad_jock
<snip>
I don't know if the Alps has local conditions that you need to be careful with. <snip>
Most decidedly. All mountains do. Even small hills do - you can get the 'clutching hand' effect where the wind isn't straight on and is flowing over a spur. The briefing notes for soaring the South Downs Ridge (done in a NE) make this very clear.