FlyBC "Site of the Day Archives" - August/2007
"There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". - unknown
Aloft @ 3000' NOAA Sounding CYXX | Rate /1000' | Forecast calc using SOAR8.XLW | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Woodside Report - rain all day with a few patches of sun around 7:00 pm.|
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Bridal Report - you had to try hard to stay up today.
Rob and Alan top-landed to drive cars down but otherwise most people had
to scratch around to stay up in the gulleys below launch. |
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Bridal Report - light conditions made for forward launching two tandems today, one with 12 year old JJ for her last adventure before school starts next week, and another with Alex (a local girl from Rosedale). 20 minutes each in light lift and no wind touchdowns in the mowed grass. Many others didn't fare too well with landing in no wind, some hitting fences, golf greens and tall bullrushes. | Bridal Report - Thanks for the ride back to the LZ. Too bad that I was the only one who went XC today. I think that it might have had something to do with Martin N. and Alan D joking about how today was going to mess up my average airtime on my log book spreadsheet and that there was no way that I was making it to Elk. Anyways I got to 1416 meters ASL, made it to Elk, but not quite to the point of being able to glide into the Chilliwack valley, and flew for 1:59 before landing in Rosedale Park - Rob Wouter's Summer Vacation Report - Happy Birthday, Jim. I guess I owe you a Boston Cream Donut! Had a great time in Villeneuve. Spend a week flying, eating and partying with the local club before the Vertigo started. Lots of cool people at the competition, awesome acro and as a volunteer not that much to do except eating free food and enjoying the show! Saw a hangglider snap in half while doing acro and some paragliders getting cravatted or risertwisted but they all managed to throw their reserves and "land" nicely in the water. Been on the road for almost two months, I'm flat broke, but flew over a 70 flights at 20 sites in 4 different countries.. ..and I still thank you for getting me into this! - Wouter 
Felix Rodriguez and Wouter J at Red Bull Vertigo in Switzerland - photo by ??
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Mara Report - we packed up camp after 12 days at Mara and headed towards Osoyoos.
Jack called and was enroute to visit a friend in Osoyoos so the plan was to meet there,
but as we got closer to Vernon the sky clouded over and we headed to the Ranch instead.
Good call as we got closer to Falkland it started raining right through to the Toll Booth.
Even Kamloops was rainy and cold?? The summer is over for the Interior I guess. |
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Sicamous Report - Norm insisted I take a Birthday Flight off the Sicamous Ramp and it was thermic so up we went leaving Colleen at camp for a conference call. It was a challenge getting off as the thermals weren't getting back to the road I was setup on (in fact it was blowing down the road). After 3-4 tries, I got solid wing overhead and I walked off the ramp into the abyss. There was some nice thermals up to +3.6 m/s out front and it was windy from the NW on the lake. I flew for 35 minutes landing in some nice rotor near the A&W. Thanks to Norm for driving. | Mara Report - Norm had once last chance for an XC flight before going back to work and the towering CUs looked good for lift! Colleen was nervous as I joked about B-stalling to Enderby and Vernon. Norm launched as it shaded over and worked hard for 40 minutes landing in the Piano LZ. Colleen flew after the sun came out and got about the same staying at 1000 meters. I drove down and picked her up and she insisted I fly too, and I got about 12 minutes landing at the Foodliner. Bridal Report - Alan launched early, got 300 meters below launch & managed to save himself. It was a bit easier to stay up when the rest of us launched, but still light with big blue holes. The day kept getting better with Klaus & Alan going to Ludwig (Klaus ended up going back to Elk & then flying home!) and Rob doing his usual laps & Derek toplanding at Lower & Upper over the next 4 hours. I had 2 flights of 1 1/2 hrs each, the last one Alan & I rode the merry-go-round at Lower trying to topland. I got in first & showed Alan how to do it, I am Eagle of the Month after all! - Martina
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Mara Report - rain in the morning, and some flights later but most people headed back to work leaving Colleen, Norm and I. We tried Mara Launch but it was too cross and wet, so we took a short cut to Sicamous on Skyline Main Road, which ended up on a deadend somewhere east of Sicamous at 1600 meters. Another route down Downwood Drive took us into the heart of Sicamous after 28 kms of backroads, and we found no new launches. We went up to the Sicamous Ramp to check it out as the locals have renovated the ramp with some new wood. | 
Colleen and Norm staying well away from the ramp at 1050 meters ASL - photo by JPR 
Sicamous Rainbow as it rained lightly on the way down from the ramp - photo by JPR
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Mara Report - we put the boat back in the water for one last set of maneuvers, before everyone went home but by the time we had it ready the South wind kicked in. | It was even windy in Whispering Pines, so Norm suggested Vernon Mountain. We all headed to Vernon and we were at launch by 2:00 pm and it was blowing a steady 35 kph! We waited for it to calm down and it got stronger! We were entertained by a sailplane climbing out over Vernon town, and heading north. Eventually the hackey-sack had to come out, for some pre-flying exercise. 
Colleen, Alex, Carl and Holgar hackeying - photo by JPR
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Mara Report - cloudy morning, so we went out over the Lake for a few stunts. The Boomerang Sport does a very manageable full stall and exit, but a bit more work needed to SAT and HELI. | We went back up for a planned XC flight but it was as forecasted, 220 degrees at 11 knots so tough going for the first 30 minutes as Norm and I battled the south winds in the first gulley. He hung in longer and in a bold move, went in the lee at the clearcut to the south of the gulley and worked his way up as I headed to the lake to man the boat as I was sure most people would end up on the Beach. Carl ended up over the lake at the same time as me so I could watch his maneuvers up close, followed by Alex who came out very low. Nataliya did some nice SAT entries and didn't spin it this time, so she was very happy until she "pooched" her approach and ended up 15 metres short of the beach. She was rescued by 3 ladies on an air mattress as I went out to get her wing in the boat. 
Atis on the drying rack, getting ready for tomorrow's fun - photo by JPR After all our excitement at the Lake, and getting back to Camp to get dinner ready, Norm finally landed with about 2+ hours of airtime under his belt.
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Mara Lake Report - we flew several flights from Skyline Launch. We missed the first trip up as we were in Sicamous shopping as the others flew. | We flew again at 1:45 pm, and Holgar got high right away and was on his way to Enderby. I launched next and got away lower as usual, but there was good lift behind Emil's house and beyond. Jack launched next and was getting up in the first gulley and took some time to get up so I waited near the Foodliner out front where the thermals were strongest. I told Jack to come out further as we got near the Cliffs and he was doing well at 1400 meters. I hit a +6 m/s boomer of a thermal that took me to 2000 meters and drifted me into the "dreaded Enderby Gap" and I tracked it across the Gap and over the rocks on the other side and I was maintaining 1700 meters over there as Jack was landing at the High School field. 
Over the Dreaded Enderby Gap at 1700 meters ASL - photo by JPR 
Jack on final at the Enderby High School - photo by JPR The lift was small past the Gap and Nataliya was on the way to retrieve Jack and Holgar so I headed back to Enderby and was doing about 18 kph into the wind but I came over town at 1400 meters and landed in Jack's LZ and we went to Cliff's for a beer while waiting. Later Colleen flew and made it to the Cliffs at Enderby and I picked her up at Lulu's Restaurant for dinner. Carl had some fun over the lake and misjudged his landing so he spent the evening drying things out. 
Carl and Colleen admiring the 6907 on the drying rack! - photo by JPR
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Lumby Report - Jack, Carl, Holgar, Nataliya and Alex went up Coopers in the morning and Colleen and I met them up top. Sledders for most part with Alex and I climbing above launch for 5 minutes. I blew my top-landing approach and sunk out before I could do another so we retrieved with Alex's truck. The second flights were better with Alex and I over launch for 20 minutes and I landed in the ball field in town to be near food. | 
Lumby Ball Field near the famous Chinese Restaurant - photo by JPR Mara Report - a late flight off Mara for an planned XC to Enderby. Alex went highest and furthest with a landing near Grindrod as everyone else ended up in the LZ or near that point.
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Mara Report - we had Chloe (grand daughter) all day so she helped me in the boat while Carl, Jack, Nataliya and Alex did 4 maneuver flights over the water. Carl was testing the 6907 and he said "Wow!". Some hairy moments with a cravatte for Alex, and some low saves by Jack as he went Parachutal for 1500 feet! Chloe was bored as she slept through most of the stunts. The last flights were out to the regular LZ. | 
Jack and Alex soaring north of launch - photo by JPR
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Mara Report - it rained most of the day, but around 5:00 pm the sky opened up and there was nice CUs on the mountain with south wind, so we went to launch. It socked in as Jack and Carl got ready and we had to wait. When it opened up we got 2 up-cycles only and they took them, leaving the rest of us to drive down. |
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Mara Report - we arrived on the evening of the 17th to hear about great flights around the Valley and prepared for the fun SIV Clinic we had planned. | We had 12 pilots on the first day Friday, and no one landed in the water, except for some wet feet including me on a tandem when we landed right at the water's edge but my passenger sat rather that running. Hands up and the glider landed on the beach at least. 
Garry Hachey's landing trench - photo by Gary K Colleen was pulling her hair out trying to get people to launch, in perfect conditions. Too wired up worrying about the SIV to get in the air, I guess?? The next day we had another 12 pilots, and they all got off fine and did great maneuvers, including some great stalls and spins from Gary Kinney. Again, no reserve tosses, so I guess I am being too easy on everyone? the week has just started so maybe later we will have some. Unfortunately, it started raining on the 19th so we had to go shopping. 
Thomm flying Woodside last Friday - photo by Kelly
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Woodside Report - Miguel and Russell were out training and they had three incredibly stable flights, the last two requiring forward launches to get off. They went to Bridal but Tom C drove down saying the wind was too cross from the North, so back to Woodside. | Mara Report - Norm had some good flights getting to the Waterslides north of Kelowna once and then to Enderby yesterday. About six gliders at Mara on that same day, with the locals making it only to the Foodliner. Getting stable already?? 
There is a new Magnum flying around Golden, watch for JP and team - photo by JPL
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Woodside Report - Kirill was out QuadCat'ing and landed after 10 am cause the air was too rough. He noticed a warmer layer at 2500 feet. | Around 3:00 pm, I talked to Derek who said Alan was flying Bridal and was bobbing between 100 meters of Lower Launch (below and above), so Derek and Martina came over to Woodside, while I worked on the boat for the SIV Course this weekend. Colleen went up with Derek and Martina, and they got up almost immediately. Colleen topped out at 1000 meters, and flew for 45 minutes, about the same for Martina. Derek flew for a shorter time and top-landed to drive down. One other Aussie was spotted at launch but no reports from him.
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Bridal Report - we met Derek, Martina, Barry and Andrea at 4:00 pm and went straight up to Launch. | Derek launched first to try and catch up with Rob, Robin, Alan and Ihor already in the air above the Saddle. I followed Derek off and scratched around for the longest time trying to mooch off Barry, Martina and anyone else in lift even heading way out below Gloria in Tiger Country before I snagged a good thermal that took me above Archibald and Upper Launch where Nicole was relaunching. We flew together for a few turns and she headed east as I went west. Colleen launched last and was soon above me on the Ridge and said that she was having trouble finding sink when she headed out to land as the entire ridge was thermalling later, which made top-landing difficult but I made it in coming in lower and hoping for a bubble. Derek also top-landed to drive Rob's Suzuki down, so no retrieves were needed. Stats: +4 m/s up, -3.8 m/s down, light winds
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Black Mountain Can Am Report - we woke up late and had a nice pancake breakfast cooked on Guy's BBQ Train and headed up to Upper for a flight, good cycles just no visibility as it socked in. Back to Lower Launch for a flight before we left for home as it looked like rain. Before I could set up the 6907, it started to piss down. A few got in the air before me, and were soaring around in cloudsuck but after it rained the lift was replaced by steady sink. | I launched and was on the ground in 4:36, Darryl was right behind me on a large Vulcan and also sunk at the same rate. Two HGers at Upper were maintaining. Lots of entertaining landings as the wind was not as it seemed. We headed back to Woodside for an afternoon flight arriving at 3:00 pm to hear Thomm say it was rough and strong, so we unloaded and went up at 4:00 pm, and I launched first to test the air for Miguel and I flew for 15 minutes and top-landed to help him launch. Colleen and Derek flew off and were sky-ing out as I launched Miguel and he had a nice flight getting up at times and eventually landing at the Ranch in nice conditions. I retrieved him and Martina and we went back for a nice glass-off flight with everyone logging over an hour landing just before dark.
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Black Mountain Can Am Report - Day one of the Can Am and we spent 2 hours in the Huntingdon Border Lineup. But no loss as we arrived it was just turning on and we loaded up the truck with 6-7 pilots and we headed to Upper Launch. | When we arrived there were no less than 60 pilots of either persuasion (HG or PG) loitering around waiting for a cycle as it was cross or down. We bailed and head to the "Leap" launch lower down and south of Upper Launch. Good call as we arrived and we had the smaller launch to ourselves. I launched first and was ridge soaring north of launch slowly gaining and I flew over launch to let everyone know it was good to go as Kevin was readying his M2. 
Jim over Black's Leap - photo by Martina Kevin launched followed by Eddie and Colleen and we were soon mixing it up on the Ridge with each other and pilots sinking down from the Upper Launch. 
Colleen after launching at the Leap - photo by Martina Kevin and I were outclimbing the locals and doing pretty well except for the occasional near miss from a certain unidentified HGer and we headed north to the bowl below Upper Launch and Kevin climbed out fast. I hung around for a bit and after estimating my time at an hour, I headed out to look for the Pylon waypoint but it was the other side of the valley and I missed seeing it as I landed in the circle. The skies were dark, but the lift was abundant as the following picture shows. Final sign-in numbers were 93 registered pilots, with only about 8 Canucks. Where the heck was everyone? 
Gaggle soaring above the LZ - photo by Martina There was a few incidents today, 2 Canuck pilots failed to make the LZ one on a yellow UTurn and another on a Blue/Black Edel Live. Also, a treed PGer below Upper Launch who launched a brand new Gin Rebel with a tangle and he spun in heavily damaging the Rebel loaner (ouch). The last flights of the day were made by Colleen followed by Miguel off the Leap, she made it look smooth but Miguel was getting "turbulated" as the strong north winds made for interesting rotors over the lake, but they both landed near the circles.
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Woodside Report - Thomm, Derek, Jozef and I flew around 4:00 pm, in pretty strong conditions. Windy, chopped up bullets! Thomm top-landed to go to pickup Colleen for a flight as Derek and I flew to Agassiz.
The second flights were much smoother and Thomm top-landed again to drive Derek's truck down to ease the retrieve, thanks Thomm.. |
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Woodside Report - calm winds and no rain brought Kirill out to fly his new Trike. | 
Kirill burning up 2 stroke oil in a desperate bid to keep the mosquitoes away - photo by KT We watched Kirill from Kilby Beach and later Kilby Farm where we had lunch. As we were heading in I heard a jet approaching from Chilliwack area and snapped this quick shot. Looks like a CF18 from the Abbotsford Airshow doing a media flight over Harrison Lake. Kirill was on the ground by now packing up but they were around 6000 feet, same altitude as he was earlier. 
CF18 over Harrison Mills - photo by JPR Beware transitting aircraft to and from the Abbotsford Airshow this weekend around Bridal and Woodside, maybe safer to head down to the Can Am at Black Mountain, WA just south of Sumas Crossing. Camping at Silver lake included for $25 USD for 2 nights.
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Woodside Mayhem Report - Thomm, Al and Justin were out and they briefed a visiting Aussie PG Pilot at launch. He was warned of all the places you don't want to be when it is windy,
but later I found out he was also a HGer, so wind doesn't affect the HG as much apparently so they scratch closer?? | Well, he pretty much ignored Thomm's warning about going back too far almost ended up in the trees to the North cliffs near the towers. Then in a desperate bid to climb out near launch got too close in and had a collapse that spun him in towards the rock at the launch ramp, but he just missed it and ended up in the small trees below launch. A few bruises but otherwise okay. Justin helped him back up to launch. Wouter's European Report - After a week of rain in Holland I went crazy, grabbed my glider and drove to Italy where I flew with some other dutchies for five days. Pretty strong thermals there and I really got to know my Gin! Back on the road to Austria for visiting an Acro-competition in Zell am See, shaked hands with Felix Rodriguez and went further to Lienz. Last year Martina told me Lienz was a great place to fly, so I did and it IS a great place to fly! Met Bruno Girstmair and flew 1600meters height difference in, unfortunately, very stable air (see picture with inversion). 
Wouter's inversion in Lienz - photo by Wouter After that back on the road, driving and flying my way through Austria and Swiss. Now I`m relaxing with friends in southern France and will be volunteer in the Redbull Vertigo next week. More update`s will follow... - Fly Safe! wouter
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Woodside Report - low clouds all day, so I headed to Nanaimo on a float plane at 500 feet returning mid-afternoon. | Norm's Golden Report - got the new Gin Rebel and flew 100 kms on my first flight landing near Invermere. It flies sweet!
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Woodside Report - Julie arrived early and bagged an early flight launching nicely in good cycles from the SW. A bit of turbulence already setting up at 11 am, so she didn't miss much leaving early as the later flights were still pretty windy and technical. |
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Woodside Mayhem Report - after Wiley's adventure yesterday, I was hoping today would be less stressful,
but around 3:00 pm we arrived at launch and assessed the conditions as being too strong for
Julie and then heard Claudio exclaiming "Glider in the TREES, under reserve!"
Alex saw the event unfold, as Phil (a visiting pilot from Edmonton, not a student of ours) stall-spun his Sky Fides and heli-ed 4-5 revolutions out of control near the bottom clearcut. When he finally went hands-up the glider surged out of control and he chucked his reserve. | He ended up snagged in a tall tree, about 80 feet off the ground hanging only by the reserve as the wing missed the tree. He had a sling and we got him tied to the trunk first thing. Oh, and he had no radio but we could get to him from a spur road at 1.5 kms and walk right to the tree to yell advice. 
Phil's tree at 1.5 kms at Woodside; reserve at top of tree, Phil in harness is between the top and the wing hanging down - photo by Nataliya Not confident he had climbing skills, and his rope was under the seat and inaccessible, so we called Search and Rescue. They arrived in 20 minutes from Agassiz and started the process of getting the area secure and prepping for the arborist to climb up to Phil. No one wanted to fly after the tree landing; so Colleen, Annette, Gary and Elle hiked down close to where we were working as SAR took over. Later, Phil showed up with a big scrape over his neck where the reserve bridle scraped him, but otherwise okay. His wing was down but the reserve is still at 100+ feet. Chloe Report - we had a late night visit from Chloe who stayed over for her first sleepover ever. 
Chloe getting a bath in the laundry sink while I did the SiteoftheDay - photo by JPR
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Woodside Report - we had a good day of flying, 2 tandems and some student flights until 3:30
pm when it got too thermic for novices. Wiley was doing a good job thermalling staying
up for 40 minutes over the new construction zone, but he allowed himself to drift back too far,
and he hit the lee-side of the thermal north on the ridge and his wing collapsed and cravatted
and he was spiralling to the ground with a riser twist! I was flying tandem and saw the event
(spidey sense or something because I was flying the other direction when I thought where is Wiley,
turned my head and saw the action and turned downwind to guide him back to level flight).
He was low when he recovered but managed to get back to the Ranch. | Thanks to Thomm for driving all day. Cheam Report - Kevin and Al hiked up Cheam and flew off doing an out and return to Elk in some pretty strong climbs (+7 m/s). They landed at Bridal in pretty strong winds as we arrived to try to fly. Later we saw Claudio and Elle flying as we left to head back to Woodside. Golden Report - Norm called to see where his new Rebel was, and to say he had flown 123 kms down range on the first day of the Willi. 3:20 for flight duration, pretty fast averaging 40 kph.
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Woodside Report - Colleen and I arrived around 4:00 pm, no one around and nice CUs and not too much wind?? Where the heck is everyone> We worked until 6:00 pm and decided a test flighton the new Mojo2's (small and medium) was due. Colleen flew first and got high to the north in the new Oxygen harness and Small Mojo2, and top-landed so I could fly the Mojo2 Medium with the Oxygen harness. I flew for a while and also top-landed as Colleen was talking to Corey, our neighbour from School Road. Corey had some friends along and offered to drive our truck down, so off Colleen and I flew together, get up to 840 meters in super smooth glass-off lift. I landed in the Parking Lot to escape the Mosquitoes, Colleen not so lucky. Blood transfusion later that night for her! | Norm's Rebel arrived and there is a line-up to try it tomorrow, but I will probably just send it on the Bus to the Interior!
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Woodside Trike Report - At last a half decent day to fly a motor. If you show up early that is. Launched around 9:30 (maiden flight) and started to climb out. Good speed facing any direction. Quite thermic in the first 700 ft, then better to 3000vft. Looked down as Ranch was being hayed. Smooth flying with brakes released. When I was landing around 11 the trees in the field were bending hard. I caught some juicy thermals on landing but my puffy wheels made landing soft. By noon as I was leaving the field to head back I wouldn't even contemplate ground handling in the field - Kirill. | 
Kirill's view over Harrison Mills 
Kirill's view over Harrison Mills 
Kirill's view over Harrison Mills
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Bridal Report - Thomm reported the conditions were good, except his back was wrecked from gardening this week so he had to land to take meds. | Whistler Report - we were up picking up a hot tub but arrived too late to take the lift up Blackcomb for a flight, besides it was howling windy from the Howe Sound all the way there. Pity more pilots can't fly there, beautiful site, nice launch, great climbs, small LZs. Crystal Sands Warning - I thought I should drop you a line & remind you that River's End Estates (Crystal Sands Resort) on Mara Lake does not permit Paragliders to land on our property. In the past there seems to be some misunderstanding as to where our property ends so I am attaching a site map for your perusal - there is also a white marker that marks the western boundary of our property in the nature reserve & then the property line runs due east back to the hwy from there. I would also advise you that the entire marshy area that forms the northern part of our property & the property to the north all of which is a Fisheries Sensitive area & is not to be disturbed in anyway (DFO regulations). 
Crystal Sands Property Map on the south end of Mara Lake, BC In the past we have had Paragliders land in this area which is a part of our property & then expect to exit to the south by way of our property - this is not acceptable & will be treated as a trespass in the future. When we have asked these errant gliders not to trespass our owners have often been greeted with obscene & inappropriate comments - we therefore are expecting you to police your customers to prevent this. We have many small children in our resort who could quite easily be injured by gliders using our resort for emergency landings so we would ask that flight plans do not pass over us & thereby eliminate this potential danger to our young ones & to avoid property damage. Thank you for respecting our right to privacy. Carl Knowles ps: FlyBC hasn't landed students or pilots on Crystal Sands since 1997, so I suspect it was some other school involved in a clinic? As far as not flying over their property, they can not enforce this, nor can they say you can't land on the foreshore according to marine property rights. They can make you walk all the way along the shore to the Provincial Park to exit the lake, however.
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Woodside Report - Miguel and I went up around 2:00 pm, where a HGer was setting up when we left the Ranch. When we arrived his driver as heading down but we couldn't see him so I assumed he had landed. There was a shadow crossing over launch but it was a Bald Eagle climbing high above launch, so it was soarable. | Miguel suited up and clipped in his new Rush and was soon in the air and I guided him into a nice thermal and he was soon at 900+ meters in the same thermal as the Eagle (who had left the area). Miguel flew for about 35 minutes and then headed over to Harvest for his first mini-XC flight as we were headed to Bridal for a 4:00 pm meeting with Derek and Martina. 
Miguel's new Rush as he heads to Harvest at 900 meters - by JPR Bridal was good and Miguel logged another 1:45 before heading out to land as I tried out the new Mojo2 and Oxygen Harness combo (everything fits in a small backpack, great for fooling lifties at ski resorts!). Good soaring conditions even later as I top-landed when Rob arrived to go flying at 6:00 pm. Derek and Klaus were flying around Upper Launch and Derek top-landed to watch Klaus try. Rob launched and made it to Elk and back to Launch. View this youtube video to 3:15 into the movie to see Norm's Zoom in action, but keep watching for "how to not topland at Bridal at 3:51! Miguel had lost his cell at Woodside so we went back to check for it at launch but it was gone, so he flew one last 40 minute fligt into the Ranch, not a bad day for starting at 2:00 pm. |
FlyBC Paragliding Past Site of the Day Reports
June 2007 Site of the Day archives - more crappy weather on the weekends. Some awesome flights between showers as Norm and Thomm flew to Mission on the last day of the month.
May 2007 Site of the Day archives - flyable every weekday, but the Fraser Valley XC Comp got crappy weather on the weekends, although it was student flyable.
April 2007 Site of the Day archives - good flights are starting. Some complete triangles from Woodside to Bridal and back, some "musical triangles" from others.
March 2007 Site of the Day archives - fifth month of crappy weather on the Coast. We went to Santa Barbara for some flights, and to dry out. Some good days were also recorded locally.
Febuary 2007 Site of the Day archives - fourth month of crappy weather on the Coast. So we stayed in Mexico.
January 2007 Site of the Day archives - third month of crappy weather on the Coast. So we went to Mexico to fly Colima, Tapalpa, and San Marcos, while Brad and gang headed to Tenacingo, Mexico.
December 2006 Site of the Day archives - more ugly weather on the Coast. Severe winds damaged trees and property so not much flying happened. Some good flight reports from local PGers travelling world-wide.
November 2006 Site of the Day archives - the wettest November on record. We flew a few good flights but mostly we were rained out.
October 2006 Site of the Day archives - lots of good days with 3-4 hours airtime. The Women's Fly-In was on again in Chelan with about 18 Canucks, and a good day Saturday with 85 registered pilots.
September 2006 Site of the Day archives - still soarable in the Fraser Valley, little or no rain. Colleen is back flying! Some mayhem in the valley.
August 2006 Site of the Day archives - a great flying month everywhere, we had a super successful SIV clinic at Mara Lake with everyone SAT-ing and heli-ing.
July 2006 Site of the Day archives - road trip to Lumby, then on the 8th Colleen spun in below Gloria cancelling her summer plans (but she is recuperating well).
June 2006 Site of the Day archives - the Valley dried out, and we flew most days and every weekend.
May 2006 Site of the Day archives - more rain that ever imagined in the Fraser Valley. Very few soaring flights and even less XC.
April 2006 Site of the Day archives - the Easter Bunny was "run over" on Kilby Road, plus the train wreck on April 1.
March 2006 Site of the Day archives - a new pilot was born, Chloe. We also flew a few days between showers, some long flights up to 4 hours. A few Out & Return Flights to Deroche and Bear.
February 2006 Site of the Day archives - another wet month with some soarable days (2).
January 2006 Site of the Day archives - some flying on Elk and Woodside, smart pilots headed South for great Mexican or Chilean flying.
December 2005 Site of the Day archives - some flying on Elk and Woodside, smart pilots headed South.
November 2005 Site of the Day archives - rain, snow and not much flying.
October 2005 Site of the Day archives - Women's Fly In in Chelan yielded two soarable days before the snows hit.
September 2005 Site of the Day archives - dry most of the month. Some great 4 hour flights at Woodside getting to cloudbase most days. Three crash-landings in the same clearcut by pilots scratching too low, but no injuries.
August 2005 Site of the Day archives - road trips to the Interior gave us an opportunity to rag out some gliders at FlyBC SIV 2005 (Part II). Also a great road trip to Savona.
July 2005 Site of the Day archives - good flying all month, no rain but some windy days shut us down. The Willi started in Golden with a few good days, but one tragedy as Charles Warren perished in a crash near Harrogate.
June 2005 Site of the Day archives - too much rain, but good days to fly between showers.
May 2005 Site of the Day archives - our Instructor/Tandem seminar yielded some good flying. Our May 2005 SIV Clinic had a good turnout, with many wet wings/pilots! Many nice flights at Woodside and Bridal, with some long "out & returns" at Bridal.
April 2005 Site of the Day archives - some great soaring at Woodside and Bridal. Sad news from the US Hanggliding Nationals as Chris Muller crashes at goal.
March 2005 Site of the Day archives - we had to head out of town to Savona a few weekends due to wet weather on the Coast. Wetter than normal according to Environment Canada.
February 2005 Site of the Day archives - some good soaring despite early time of year. Flights as long as 3 hours at Woodside, some good flights at Whidbey Island for first timers, too!
January 2005 Site of the Day archives road trips to Mexico, not much flying locally due to strong north winds and rain. Record rain kept Eagle Ranch quite wet for kiting.
December 2004 Site of the Day archives a dry month with some good soaring including a fantastic day on Dec. 11 where we thermalled for 2+ hours!
November 2004 Site of the Day archives more record rain. We installed a fireplace in the barn to keep pilots warm between winter flights.
October 2004 Site of the Day archives more record rain, but sweet soaring between showers. Many new students signed up and making quick progress. We missed the Women's Fly In for the first time in 9 years, and there was some interesting flying on the Sunday!
September 2004 Site of the Day archives rainiest September on record for the first 3 weeks, made flying difficult. But Alan and others logged some pretty nice flights later in the month. Lots of student tandems for both Colleen and Jim.
August 2004 Site of the Day archives Great Maneuver/SIV/ACRO course at Mara. Jack got wet! Some great soaring at Woodside. Norm made it 68 km from Mara to King Eddie, Derek made it from Lumby to Enderby the opposite direction for 67 kms. We also did our BC roadtrip from Ashcroft to New Denver, and flew everyday.
July 2004 Site of the Day archives the Willi was on at Golden. We missed the mayhem due to work and school commitments but Norm did a great job representing the West Coast.
June 2004 Site of the Day archives Canadian Nationals came off with many great rounds. Pemberton-Whistler Championships were blown out most days so we headed to Cornwall.
May 2004 Site of the Day archives great flying at Woodside and Bridal. We held a very successful SIV Course at Mara Lake, and hope to run another one in August if they keep the forests open.
April 2004 Site of the Day archives good flying in the Valley. The Fraser Valley Cross Country PG Series was successssful.
March 2004 Site of the Day archives Nicole won in Brazil, otherwise the month sucked for flying time.
February 2004 Site of the Day archives some local flights extended to an hour with vigourous scratching above the trees. Good paramotor month.
January 2004 Site of the Day archives Mexican road trip yielded 20 hours of flight and a wet Canadian January kept most local pilots on the ground.
December 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew a few times but it got really cold at the end of the month as we prepared for a gala New Year's Party for 40 of our close personal friends and neighbours.
November 2003 Site of the Day archives windy and wet with the odd good soaring day, not many pilots out these days.
October 2003 Site of the Day archives Women's Fly In was great fun, some good soaring days mid-month, most of the students are signed off.
September 2003 Site of the Day archives good conditions until the last days of the month when it got stable. Most days were flyable at Woodside or Bridal.
August 2003 Site of the Day archives Forest closures made the end of the month a non-flying period unless you headed to Blanchard. FlyBC SIV 2003 was a great success with 9 stunt pilots and no deployments or crashes.
July 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most days early at Woodside until it got windy, then over to Bridal. Good Golden flying reports from the "Willi".
June 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most weekdays at Bridal, Woodside worked most weekends. Bridal Air Races had one great day with only two tree landings!
May 2003 Site of the Day archives not a great weather month on the coast, especially on the weekends but a few pilots managed to get some great airtime at Bridal. The Nationals were held in Lumby and it didn't rain!
April 2003 Site of the Day archives rain for 28 of 30 April days, but we managed to get a few flights in between showers. Even the golfers were complaining!
March 2003 Site of the Day archives some high spring flights in early March, but not a great weather month. Still no HPAC Insurance!
February 2003 Site of the Day archives some nice long spring flights in late February. HPAC Insurance expired on Feb 14, so many pilots stayed home instead of getting USHGA coverage.
January 2003 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month in BC so we bailed and headed to Tapalpa Mexico for three weeks. Norm and Lucille had a great XC flight the first day we arrived.
December 2002 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month.
November 2002 Site of the Day archives not a great flying month, lots of rain in the beginning and then super stable and inverted for the balance of the month. Even the Savona Road Trip wasn't that great. Looking forward to Mexico!
October 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable some days, great fun at the Women's Fly In 2002 in Chelan. Allan logged 15 hours and only flew a few days. Most of the students are ready for signoff soon to get ready for Mexico trips!
September 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable most everyday! Some scary incidents at Woodside. Fun flying at Ashcroft.
August 2002 Site of the Day archives More spring-like days with super lapse rates, great fun up-country at Revelstoke and Mara, with some good XCs for all.
July 2002 Site of the Day archives Some spring-like days with super lapse rates, but still rather wet at times.
June 2002 Site of the Day archives another rainy and windy month with great lapse rates, some great flights at Bridal with some getting above Cheam Peak. The Club Cup was nearly rained out but they got one valid task in on Sunday June 30.
May 2002 Site of the Day archives an extremely rainy month with the more spring mayhem, another reserve deployment at Lil Nick and a pilot crashed at the top of Deroche Mountain, uninjured but with a ripped glider and long hike down the mountain. Colleen placed 5th place at the Canadian PG Nationals in rainy Lumby!
April 2002 Site of the Day archives a rainy month with the usual spring mayhem, one reserve deployment at Woodside and a pilot hit a parked car at Bridal LZ, fracturing his leg.
March 2002 Site of the Day archives a few great days days with lots of snow and rain mixed in.
February 2002 Site of the Day archives two epic days already (4.5 hours and 2.5 hours!).
January 2002 Site of the Day archives Mexico vacation shots, some local flying but it was wet on the coast.
December 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, wettest December on record, some good days sprinkled thru the month.
November 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, had some good days at Woodside +2 hours, lots of rain later in the month.
October 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, but great flying at Chelan at the Women's Fly In.
September 2001 Site of the Day archives starting to get pretty stable, more sled rides forecast for October.
Aug 2001 Site of the Day archives Mara, Bridal, till some great flights locally
July 2001 Site of the Day archives Road Trip Month, Golden, Mara, points east!
June 2001 Site of the Day archives Great Month, 3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower! Some getting up to 6 hours in a single flight!
May 2001 Site of the Day archives Unstable Month, 2-3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower!
April 2001 Site of the Day archives Rainy Month, not as much airtime for some pilots
March 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring has Sprung!
February 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring is in the Air!
January 2001 Site of the Day archives - Mexico Flying Trip
December 2000 Site of the Day archives
November 2000 Site of the Day archives (great month for airtime!)
October 2000 Site of the Day archives
September 2000 Site of the Day archives
July - August 2000 Site of the Day archives
June 2000 Site of the Day archives
March - May 2000 Site of the Day archives
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