AF,
I severely doubt that anyone who has been into the Croix Rozier at Villefranche would be phased by Bex, but for me the contrary winds were a bit of an eye-opener!
The locals were completely sanguine about the winds -- it's nothing for them.
I'm surprised you haven't got storms forecast with you -- the meteo.fr website has some big fat thunderclouds sitting over you for the next couple of days. Thanks to the man in the R44 by the pumps at Villefranche, I've run out of adrenaline when it comes to waiting for my plane being blown over or shot to bits by hail, hence the move to a hangar for a few days.
Croix du Coeur sounds interesting (thanks too bluskis). I might see if someone can take me to look. Tell you what, though, I've decided I don't like summer mountain flying as much as crystal clear, calm winter days. Going into these places in the afternoons would be no fun at all. I can easily see how the L4 cracked up at Croix Rozier, even despite the fact that it is based at Bex and has ample experience of nasty winds.
BTW, next trip to the Alps I'm going to have an EGT gauge fitted for my own and my engine's peace of mind.
All the best and thanks again for the car trip a couple of weeks ago.
Best,
David
P.S. The aero club at Ecuvillens has a frozen lake (Lac Noir / Schwarzsee) which they fly into every winter, all winter. Sounds fun.