FlyBC "Site of the Day June 2009 Archive Page"
"If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day." - John A. Wheeler
Aloft @ 3000' NOAA Sounding CYXX | Rate /1000' | Forecast calc using SOAR8.XLW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| (unstable) |
Woodside Report - Steve and Rex were out today and we were on launch by 11 am, nice soaring for both of them landing at the Ranch. Kevin was out to help me do 2 tandems with Jean and Linda from Harrison Hot Springs. After we let the students check the air for us, Kevin launched and was soaring after some "thermal hunting" as I got ready. We launched (Jean and I) into a strong cycle and we were soon climbing above launch. The thermal was easy to track and were were soon through 850 meters and the air was very clear. Nice CUs forming on Sasquatch and beyond. Ever mindful of the wind warning for early afternoon, I watched the Harrison Bay for lines. We flew for about 30 minutes over launch and then headed out high, and tried a different approach upwind and along the railway tracks south of the Barn and we were climbing over the forest there. We could have soared that area for another 30 minutes as we climbed steadily. But I saw the wind was picking up at the Ranch so I went back to the Maple Tree and set up the normal approach landing in the circle with a gusty tailwind, but on our feet! We all went back up for one last flight, Kevin taking his new Ozone Mantra M3 out for the first flight. Good launch cycles but as he climbed out fast, it was apparent it would be a bit strong for student flights so we drove down so the guys could kite in the Eagle Ranch LZ. Wouter arrived to repair his wing after he flew into the trees at Bridal a few days ago after suffering an assymetric collapse. I sewed up the wing tip where it caught on a tree just below the stump. It looked good as new when completed and we thought we could get one good flight in before it completely blew out and we raced up to find 40+ kph gusts at launch and no hope to fly so down to the Sasquatch for lunch. We met Al and Rob at the Sasquatch Inn and heard about the flight off the new TopGun Launch at 1100 meters. Al made it to Hwy 7 where he "got his ass handed to him" very strong and gusty" and he suffered a 70% collapse over some trees the pendelum'ed him pretty hard. Another good flight out of Stave Lake area for sure. Popping my M3 Cherry - I had my first flight on my M3 today after doing a tandem for FlyBC. Wind on launch was perfect for reversing and true to reports the glider didn't quite come up all the way on the first try but with a slightly more agressive pull came up very nicely on attempt #2. As I took my three steps down the hill, I could feel the softness in the wingtips but no tucks. The air was "spicey" as the forecast winds began to kick in (approximately 1:30 pm). The thermals were quite strong: 5.6 m/s but again the reports were accurate. The glider cut into the thermals and once banked up just stayed in the core very nicely. The M3 is definitely more talkative than the M3. My harness was pretty twitchy in the gusty air but I've always liked talky gliders. Turning felt similar to the M2, perhaps just slightly less agile but this difference seemed to disappear by the end of the hour long flight. I topped out at just over 1300 m and boated around, trying out the speed bar and noticing how the sink rate didn't change much. Alan reported some wind gusts starting to develop in the Bridal area so I began the flight out to the ranch into wind, arriving over Eagle Ranch with 900 meters to play with - awesome glide! The M3 felt very solid doing wing overs and gentle spirals, no tendency to spin at all. I flew out over the Fraser River and lost some altitude before setting up. The air was very buoyant in places and I cored sink just to get down. The final approach was quite a roller coaster ride and I did get dumped the last five feet. One of Jim's students was trying to kite in the field and he said there were some strong gusts coming through. My timing was just right - I drove Jim and Wouter up so they could enjoy some of this air but alas it was already blown out on top. My first flight was rocknroll but already I'm confident that Ozone has another winner! - Kevin
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - Joe, Steve D, and John S flew one exciting flight around 11 am, strong lift took them all above launch with a few turns and the landings were a bit bumpy but good practice. | Rob S and I met at Bridal at 5 pm and it was still blowing hard, so a bit of kiting the XT16 and R09 before heading home.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - new students Jay, Steven and Kirsten got there first flights before it blew out around 2 pm. Some experienced pilots braved the wind and landed at the Ranch with a few bumps. | We kited until 4:30 pm, then on to Bridal but it was still pretty breezy for new students. Colleen and Annette flew a nice flight before reporting it too strong for student landings at 7 pm, so back to Woodside for a "glass-off flight". Cynthia, Wouter, Wiley, Colleen and John flew and it took forever to get out to the Ranch landing just before dark. It wasn't prudent to send off the newbies, so we tried kiting at launch for a while. John's quote: "This flight is amazing!" 
The view last night as it "glassed-off" - photo by Cynthia
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - Wow! A busy day at the Ranch today. 10 tandems to complete and 5 new students for a Beginner Paragliding Course. | Our first trip up the mountain was slowed down by some Mounties that nabbed Ken F for having passengers in the back of his pickup. All our passengers were secured in the Blue Van, but Ken got a $310 ticket which the folks all shared for $25 each. Don't drive on Hwy 7 with passengers in your box. They are watching. 
Scofflaws nabbed at Mount Woodside - photo by JPR Thanks to Colleen, Kelly, Peter G, Jeremy, Veronica we were able to complete most of the tandems and the students were ready to solo by 1 pm. Unfortunately, the winds kicked in at 3 pm, effectively shutting us down til dark. Despite the good Upper Level wind forecast, the sea breezes came all the way to our area and even Bridal was blown out at times. 
Tandem pilots and passengers at Mount Woodside - photo by JPR Mike was not deterred and continued kiting in the Eagle Ranch LZ while we waited for the winds to die down, but it never let up until 10 pm, and we were having dinner and drinks by then. 
Mike kiting the Paratoys 30 glider for sale on the Used Page - photo by JPR Conversations with Al and Rob confirmed another successful Shotgun flight as he landed at Deroche after a 40 km flight, landing in the strong westerlies. Bridal reports came back with Thomm soaring for 2 hours and coming straight down into the Driving Range where the air was smoother. Some other pilots were going backwards off launch!
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - as forecast, the winds were westerly at 9-10 knots until the sun came out and it got very strong at launch, shutting down student and experienced pilot flights til around 7 pm. | When it was gusty at launch, I pulled out the new Ozone XT16 speed glider and it was very easy to kite despite the gusts. Balls not big enough to test the glide out however in turbulent conditions. But before the high winds we had two cycles of student flights and Mike from Jasper logged his first tandem and solo flights after two days of extensive kiting (and he looked great with perfect posture and brake inputs). Steve from Chilliwack was out and flew two flights solo in the am before it blew out. Later after the winds died down, the flights were magical as it "glassed off" and Mike was rewarded with a very high flight coming over the Ranch at launch altitude and about 40 minutes of soaring.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a wild weather day but great for ground-handling for Mike, who is now ready to solo. We had an audience watching us today . . . a coyote north of the windsock kept coming out to watch us during our 2 hour kiting session, not even afraid of the bright rustling fabric. And me with no camera! | The launch was clear by noon, but it looked too windy as the clouds "scudded by". What really kept us grounded was the flight behaviour of the eagles and vultures thermalling over Eagle Ranch. They were being buffeted badly and had a tough time keeping centered even in level flight, in what appeared to be calm air? I think I finally discovered what causes the nasty thermal at the north junction of the west corn field and Eagle Ranch, after watching the trees yesterday. It was gusty while Mike was kiting and the wind in Eagle Ranch was predominately SE. The wind in the corn field west of us had predominately SW winds and the point where they converge is at the NW corner of Eagle Ranch at the treeline. I have been coming in at that point on thermic days and have thermalled out back to Launch at times due to this convergence but we always called it a "nasty thermal". It may be a thermal but it looks like the converging winds trigger the effect. So on a windy day, avoid that corner. 
Path of suspected converging winds, coming through the two gaps on the Fraser River during strong South winds - photo by JPR By 5 pm, Mike had to leave for home and the winds settled down enough for a flight but no one was out so in to Agassiz for dinner at Jack's with Derek and Martina.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a bad call from the weatherman this morning. I updated this page and by 9 am, it was raining lightly and it turned monsoon-like by noon. At least I got some ground school sessions done and Unimog work done to prep for the weekend. | The infamous arm pinching braces on the Mog are now welded solidly and a new glider storage rack is installed to allow access from the rear of the vehicle. Room for 2 instructors and 8 pilots to ride in style.
|
| (unstable)
Burnaby Mountain Report - new student Mike from Jasper met me at Burnaby Mountain for his first kiting sessions as he had to be in Langley by 3:30 pm, and I was heading to Grouse Mountain for the GMF Meeting, so a perfect mid-point for both of us. | Perfect conditions for Mike with reversible condtions and his feet were in the air most of the time just starting from the rocks down to the 3 big trees on the medium Buzz. After 1:30 he was pretty "tuned-up" and entertaining the spectators. He did a good 20 inflations (forward and reverse) without a "duff"! Grouse Report - I met Alex W and Natalyia at the Guest Services to secure a new pass as Nicole, Veronica and Greg arrived. We all headed up thinking we were getting a sledder as it was clouded over but we saw Alistair launch and maintain as we took up the new low-speed chair called the Scenic Chair which borders launch proper. Jaro and the First Flight Gang were up looking for tandem passengers as we disembarked the chairlift. 
The view from the Scenic Chair at the top where we launch from, a bit narrow but everyone launched beautifully as Advanced Pilots should - photo by JPR One by one everyone was laid out and off and everyone stayed up, and I was last off in our group after Veronica launched. Light reversible cycles and lift immediately in the gulley past the chair lift (which is on the right of takeoff and one must cross over it to fly away). We were all maintaining at 1200 meters and occassionally someone would break though in a nice core and be a few meters higher but mostly it was "gaggle-flying" around the cliffs near the restaurant. 
A few pilots in the gaggle today - from left: Alastair, Nicole, Veronica and Alex W - photo by JPR I tried the ridge up to Crown Mtn. a few times but just lost altitude so back to the gaggle. After an hour of this I headed over to the bail-out cliffs and climbed over the Cut scoping out the top-landing options there, but there are too many chairlifts and towers to contend with. I saw Greg heading out near the Dam, and I followed him thinking "acro show". But he just did a few loops. At 980 meters over the LZ one could maintain and climb in light thermals. I watched Greg, Veronica and Herminio land and they all took forever to get down even doing stunts and with Herminio flying a small acro wing. As I entered the circuit, I was also floating around but perfect landing conditions brought me into third base! A few pilots went long in the corners but avoided fence-rash. At the meeting we figured about 15 pilots flew and all stayed up for an hour plus in nice smooth lift, with zero winds to contend with in the air. Very atypical of Grouse flying mid-day. Nice to get back here for a day like this! - Jim Bridal Report - Kevin reported 3:30 flying to Elk and back several times on the borrowed Mantra M2. Very nice conditions here too! Alan D logged 4+ hours after hiking up. Martina and Derek flew after 6 pm and managed over an hour each too. Woodside Report - Bev lost her "chicken feathers" and flew off Woodside today and reported a few bumps in the Ranch but a smooth touchdown, welcome back! Elk Report - Adventure Man Ken Hurley and Intrepid Mtn. man John Leblanc grace Mt Elk for the annual soltice evening flight. The boys landed at Slesse Park and Brad landed in the Fraser Valley side to watch the sun set and near the Jolly Miller pub to order wings and beer for the team. Good safe flights by all and everyone flying FlyBC supplied Ozone Geo IIs ! - Brad 
Ken getting ready on Elk Launch - photo by Brad Wow, busy day around BC! - Jim
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - it was wet and windy here most of the day, clearing later but we were in Vancouver for business meetings with high level executives at some Tour Companies. |
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - despite our best efforts and a clear sky at the start of the day we got washed out. Cynthia wrote her novice exam and stayed around for the marking and review and she now has to complete a few more flights before she is signed off. |
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - Cynthia (on her new Rush II), Colleen, and Kelly launched around 11 am and climbed out quickly to 900 meters and then Cynthia decided Harvest looked inviting as she missed the XC action last Sunday. | I drove down and picked up the grandkids and headed to pick them up at Harvest and then went for lunch at Limbert Farms. Great ambiance out on the patio and great food. Rex arrived late and was out kiting his new Rush for an hour while we ate and then all of us went back for another flight while Jason & Crystal got hitched. Busiest day at the Ranch for many years as 250 people descended on us til 7 pm. Congratulations to both of them! Some of the guest went tandem paragliding with Brad, Greg and Veronica and had nice soaring flights and it got too windy for students so they took a break and watched videos and kited until 6 pm, when we went up for one last flight. Very buoyant and nice glass-off as Cynthia, Rex and Derek flew off and climbed out all the way to the Ranch . . . better lift out front than on the ridges. Another perfect day in Harrison Mills! Cynthia's Woodside Report - Wing -> I've just got my new Ozone Rush 2-M and it is amazing how stable and "fast" it is. I definitely love it ! It's so different compared with other wings I have tried. It likes to fly in thermals and all kinds of rough air. I say I became a mom, I've got a new baby :o)))))))) . I am so happy with this wing. Flights -> The first flight today was my first "XC" to Harvest. I climbed to around 900 m fighting with a thermal and then headed up to Harvest flying almost over the river bank guided by Jim and Colleen in a brilliant and professional way. It was amazing having such a perfect scenery surrounding me all the time. I didn't exactly make it to the Harvest field but I landed very smoothly and safetly in a field just accross Harvest Market. When I was around 200 ft , the wing just wanted to fly and kept me in a kind of "zero" no up , no down. When I finally was descending and on my final at 3 to 5 ft over my "runway" the wing just wanted to glide !!!!!!. At the end of that, I just touched like putting my feet in a mountain of cotton. Fly BC -> I have to say that Jim and Colleen are guiding me with tremendous professionalism and safety. They both know exactly what they need to do to make the student flights safe. They made me feel more confident with my flights and now with my wing. They are extremely open to my needs and they always have a good answer for my questions. Thank you Jim , Thank you Colleen for all this confidence, which is very important to keep myself on the air - Cynthia, a student with 14 flights so far :o)
|
| (stable)
Woodside Report - today we operated a tandem day for Correctional Services Canada for their Sports Day 10 tandems were booked, 2 rescheduled yesterday due to other commitments and 8 showed up. The first 3 spent an hour on launch with our heads in the clouds, but had to leave to take care of family commitments and the last 5 had glorious flights. The second set of tandems had us soaring just below cloudbase. Many happy CSC folks today and some are wanting to come back for lessons. | Rex was also out and flew 2 nice flights and was happy to stand down on the last flight as the conditions were thermic and windy.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - very few pilots out these days, but those coming out are having great flights at Woodside. Steve D logged 4 flights landing at the Ranch and Bill Best's field in great conditions. Later we were joined by Ken F and the last flight they were going to fly to Harvest Market and Ken got up and away before it got too strong for Steve. | Thanks to Alan D for driving as I flew 2 tandems for some Florida kids and parents. Nice soarable conditions at 11:30 am for both flights. It was dark all day at Bridal, while Woodside was bathed in sun after 3 pm. Nice day overall at Woodside for students and experienced pilots alike so we didn't waste time heading to Bridal.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a few light showers and low cloudbase kept me in the barn servicing the FlyBC Fleet. Around 2 pm the sky opened up and CUs looked wild! No significant winds, but I was covered in motor oil and dirt so I kept working. No pilots at Woodside or Bridal later in the day either. |
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a great day for Steve D as he logged 4 solo flights on his new Ozone Rush and we did a car tour towards Harvest and Limbert later in the day to show him his escape routes for windy days. Onni and Magali were out from Pemby and she "skied out" above launch in the cloudy but buoyant air. A few rough patches of air for Steve kept the day interesting especially at Bill Best's field when it was getting thermic. | Equally good at Bridal as Alan D logged 3 hours under cloudy skies launching at noon.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a windy forecast never bodes well for our area, but doesn't preclude a few flights. | Steve D was out kiting his new Rush in the LZ and I felt the forecast wasn't great for him as he has been away for three weeks. Later Norm came by and we tried a new "over the back" route as the winds were pretty strong, 17 knot gusts at Chilliwack. The new route is to Limbert Mountain Farms, on the south side of Cemetary Hill. We were concerned about the venturi between Cemetary and Hopyard Hills but we had a nice soaring flight on the South Knoll before heading out and the downwind run was about 50 kph so not too windy. 
The Limbert Farm hayfield LZ is the brown field to the right of Cemetary Hill with the white marshmallow bales - photo by JPR I soared Cemetary Hill for a few minutes scoping out the wind before heading through the gap formed by Cemetary and Hopyard Hills and there was a vulture swooping the grass looking for mice as I came over. Not much wind at all here, and the landing was uneventful right next to the Greenhouses. 
The Limbert Farm Hayfield LZ from above - photo by JPR The young lady that runs the Tea Room came out and waved and brought me out a lemonade. I packed up as Norm approached from over the top of Cemetary Hill. We walked in after finding a dry spot to cross the stream, and talked to the owner and they run a very nice Restaurant from 12-4 pm on weekends. Organic food grown on the farm and fresh too. They call is ``Slow Food``. A new destination for the windy days! Bridal Report - Kevin made it to cloudbase and almost Upper Bridal, Al and Matt had nice flights with multiple top-landings for Matt to hurl! Quit looking at the wing and keep your eyes on the horizon.
|
| (unstable)
Valley Report - we flew Woodside for 2 great soaring flights starting at noon when the clouds lifted until it got too windy around 2 pm, so we took a break for lunch. Evan, Cynthia, Heiko, Dan, Kelly all flew and had nice flights. | Other experienced pilots went up after we bailed and had to go to Harvest Market where it was still very windy. We headed to Bridal at 4 pm, and kited until 6 pm, when it appeared to have mellowed out so Derek, Alex R, Martina and Colleen and Ryan launched and were soaring the "Knob". 
Alex, Martina and Colleen all on Ozone Addict II's - photo by Cynthia Evan launched and had a great soaring flight but reports of turbulent landing had the rest of the students stand down. 
Evan launching his Atis II at Bridal Lower Launch - photo by Cynthia Saturday, June 13 meteo update - This past Saturday a bunch of us were wondering about the black monster situated on the south side of the Fraser Valley for most of the day. Fortunately, the "s%&t" never hit the fan - in our area. A friend of mine was camping at Chilliwack Lake on Saturday when all hell broke loose at about noon. They had thunder, lightening, hail, strong winds and two hours of torrential rain that caused washouts, mudslides and a flash flood, temporarily cutting of the road. So it was out there, just twenty km from us. Those who had their "spidey sense" tingling were on the money! - Kevin
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a very busy day at Eagle Ranch even with so many pilots heading to Lumby. | We had 5 tandems booked and they went off flawlessly and professionally with perfect takeoffs and landings and good airtime for the ladies. The students all did well today with Evan from TO who has a USHPA P2 from Santa Barbara only flown a training hill and 50 motor flights getting his first 2 high flights including one to Harvest for his first XC. Cynthia logged her longest flight soaring the evening glassoff while I drove down. Her new Rush II should be here soon so she is putting up with our Advance Epsilon for now. It was getting pretty crowded on the last flights as there were 10 gliders all soaring at 800 meters in the smooth lift before most headed to Harvest, except Rob S and Cynthia the last launchers. Jeremy and Jason on tandem landed at Bill Best's (a bit choppy there) and Michael landed at Wentworth's after eyeing up the Harrison River for some time! Lumby Report - we went up to Coopers and there was a storm front coming in, so hung out there and watched a few launches a lot of them down wind, one with a big tangle and off into the tree's to the left of launch, then another unnamed pilot was heading to the lz but ended up in the trees. Norm and I took off and went up Vernon (Becker) mountain, and Norm took a flight, very smooth and he soared around me and the kids, ( they came up on their dirt bikes). I was taking pictures of Norm and he came over launch low and you could see that huge grin on his face, now that was priceless. After I retrieved him, we went over to the school for more kiting paractice for me, no wind at all, notta none. I layed out my Buzz and thought I would try a forward, wow I had her up and flying it was awesome I did 2 of those perfect before melting and quit. I will say that Buzz loves to fly, since there was no wind at all and it just hung up there when I stopped then I had to move and brake to get her to fall back. Beautiful wing, and Jim Mansell apparently says he is waiting for my next Buzz haha. Anyway wish you were here - Norm and Bev Wouter's Report - Since today I can call myself officially a tandem pilot. It must be the best mail I had in my mailbox since some time! My certification now includes the highest rating for (cross) flying, deputy instructor for both mountain and towflying, and tandem pilot. The last step would be a full instructor rating, but that can wait. Back at our local farmerfield, with excellent thermic conditions, we had a beautiful towing day and I was finally able to show some of my non-flying friends why I've been such a worthless friend the past few years. It was great fun! And I got to play around with my 6907 a bit, which is fast and agile like crazy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkY1m86wbgM This will probably be my last update from the netherlands til I arrive June 27 back in Canada .. see you soon, wouter
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - Shane was out hiking Woodside today, 2 "hike & fly" flights for variety. Martina and Gary K had a nice early morning flight to dust off their feathers from working all week . | No students today so I headed up Shotgun with Al, Jeremy and Gary K to try our luck. Al and Jeremy hiked to Upper Shotgun and waited 2 hours for launch cycles, while we had perfect cycles to launch but no energy to stay up as the CUs forming over Sylvester Valley were shading our area. Even the vultures were having trouble maintaining despite multiple tries. Jeremy launched first and hooked one small punchy thermal above us, but could not hold it and decided to top-land on the road by the truck (a first for Shotgun). He landed smoothly. He hiked in to lower Shotgun to try again as Al launched and headed straight out, and didn't get more than a few bumps. Jeremy launched again and they were both headed to LZ 2. We drove down. Denied another chance to go XC from this beautiful site due to clouds. 
Al and Jeremy on the way to LZ 2 - photo by JPR Lumby Report - Well today was another good day, I couldn't get those chicken feathers plucked, so many people there. So Norm launched at Coopers, around 1 pm, he went up and up and up. He went up about 3000 metres, and was very high, he radioed me while I was at Randy's saying he would be going to Vernon, and I replied " Don't you ever land at an LZ?" haha so he said he would land at Randy's after he bled off a lot of height. He says that it is great flying in nice conditions and not the winds that have been happening at Woodside. And now really loves his wing. Because he was so high every one wanted him to spiral, and so I depressed the radio button and everyone yelled spiral spiral spiral, he disappointed us all and came back with I am not "an acro guy". All in all another great day for all pilots flying high and completeing their tasks - Bev
|
| (unstable)
Valley Report - Alex was the only student out this morning and had a great day adding 5 flights to his paragliding log book.
Derek and Alex were flying Woodside early and both had soaring flights around noon, with the LZ starting to get rowdy by 1:00 pm. | The forecast was changed to `windy this afternoon in eastern Fraser Valley`, so we headed to Bridal and Derek offered to drive so we could do a tandem, When we arrived at launch it was so sweet, another plan was hatched. Alex was to launch and I would fly after him on Derek`s Addict II and spiral into the LZ to guide him. Alex had a flawless reverse launch and was soon soaring the Knob. I launched right after him and entered into a SAT away from the hill and fed that into a great spiral dive, and with all my effort I was soon in the LZ watching him soar around in nice conditions. He followed the directions perfectly to head out over the Club House to check the winds, and then ``figure-8ed`` back to the treeline and landed right next to me in the mowed grass. As we packed up and waited for Derek the winds did pick up but not too badly, so off to lunch in Agassiz for an hour. Rex met us back at the Ranch as did Shane, and we soon had a truckload heading up Woodside for 2 more flights for the guys and everyone was in the circle on the last flight. Nice precision! Good day, solid performances from everyone! If anyone you know is looking to learn to paraglide, send them our way for ``one on one`` personalized training and we can have them certified in 10-12 flying days with the combination of the reliability of Woodside and Bridal and our full time commitment to training. Lumby Report - We are here in Vernon, and Norm flew off of Coopers. Went up as always, I was doing a one on one with my daughter. So tomorrow will be my day. Norm flew from Coopers to King Eddy, against the wind so he did well - Bev
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - Alex (a friend of Greg H and another commercial pilot) came out for his first training day and by noon was ready to forward and reverse launch with ease. Unfortunately, conditions dictated that a tandem was appropriate as it got strong at launch and in the air. | Quite gusty at launch, but Norm pulled off a perfect launch before us and after a few false starts and some overshooting due to the gusts we were off and soaring on the tandem. Some nice climbs in the strong lift, otherwise S turning to not get blown back into the sink. When we launched Harrison Bay was flat but as we flew it got choppier. I watched Norm heading out as it was "work time" for him and he had decent glide and penetration. We always had Harvest Market as an option as we were high. Tom C launched after us and had some nice climbs in the north bowl, and he stayed as we headed out after Norm. Amazingly, we caught and passed Norm around the Maple Tree with 1/2 trims, which is the neutral position on the Magnum 41. We initially had 30 kph on GPS, but as we got near the ground we slowed to 8 kph. Norm registered lower as he backed into the freshly mowed Eagle Ranch LZ and a thermic hell but after some shaking and shuddering he was on the ground. Now our turn, I misjudged the height over the Maple Tree and was coming in pretty low over the fence and was lined up for the circle perfectly but that thermal cracked off and took us up and away as we went on long final ending up at the training hill area. We watched Tom trying in vain to make the Ranch and he was so close but even on full bar he wasn`t penetrating and he almost got in but he got preoccupied with a collapse and a safe landing so he made Bert $20 richer. We decided Bridal looked better so off to lunch and a regroup at Bridal LZ. Bridal Report - we arrived to gusty conditions in the LZ, but good for kiting. Alex was impressive as he kited in the driving range area. Rafe was flying with Andrew as we arrived and despite nice "knob soaring" from our viewpoint he headed down and landed as Andrew top-landed. Neither liked the air and it was getting dark near the Butterfly as it OD'ed. The kiting winds got lamer and lamer so we packed up and I decided it was not prudent to fly here, as the darkness now extended over us and was growing. Back to Woodside as the winds had died to 280 degrees at 3 knots at Chilliwack. When we went through Agassiz, a cell dumped heavy rain and some hail and the winds gusted from the NE at 25-35 kph, glad we are in a dry Van and not on launch or in the air. Once we crossed over Woodside Mountain, we came into a blue hole with no wind. The telescope showed nice launch conditions so we went up Woodside and launched 3 pilots before Alex's first solo. Perfect 15 kph launching winds and no wind in the air and smooth conditions throughout his extended sled ride made for a full day. Upper Shotgun Report - Alex R, Rob and Al hiked up 200 meters above Shotgun and did some launch prep work and ended up with a nice area to setup and launch. Alex launched first and was 200 meters over launch at approximately 900 meters maintaining nicely. Al was to follow as I lost their call, but I did warn them of the 17 knot gusts at Chilliwack that we encountered on the tandem. Later I heard Al launched and sunk out, Alex made it to Hwy 7 and all was well. 
Alex Raymont launches Upper Shotgun on his Ozone Addict II - photo by RGS
|
| (unstable)
Bridal Report - no pilots came to fly Woodside today, I guess cause it looked overcast. I did get a call from Shotgun as Al waited for cycles, and finally headed to Woodside to check the air here, also lame and blowing down lightly. More projects completed today and then free to fly Bridal at 6 pm. | Derek, Martina, Rick, and I headed up in the FlyBC Van and watched Andrei launch the ancient Edel wing he bought off eBay and he was soaring. Richard T was out and had a nice soaring flight and got to meet John LeBlanc (these two are solo climbers and have done many hikes locally, but never together). Then Derek, Martina, Rick and I were soon in the air. Derek went first and I soon saw his shadow disappear as he climbed the saddle. Martina was soaring near the "Toe" and maintaining when Rick launched and was soon climbing further out and they were both above launch. That meant one of us could top-land! So I got ready. Good launchs from all including me and I was maintaining on the Knob, but not climbing out enough to go anywhere yet, so I tried the Toe, nothing. Further west in the gulley, a small thermal drifted me around but not up. Further west I was climbing slightly but kicking trees. So back to launch, but much lower than my start. This went on for 30 minutes and when I caught enough of a thermal to get in I top-landed and packed up. By the time I got down in the Van, Rick and Martina were packing and Derek just landing. Nice air, just an hour late, but Derek got to Upper Launch and 1500 meters.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - the day started out with a small contingent that wanted to get some flights in at 10:30 am. Steven, James and a new student Jeremy came out from North Vancouver, Shane arrived just as the shuttle was leaving. Cycles were light when we left the Ranch, but by the time we arrived at launch it was reversible conditions. Dennis was already in the air on his Niviuk Deathship and just above launch. | Derek kept insisting that he drive but I insisted that he fly, as each of the guys launched and climbed higher. I took Jeremy for his first tandem flight and we climbed out immediately in a strong core in front of launch, and continued to cloudbase following three Bald Eagles. Cloudbase was indeed 1200 meters and the lift was +4.5 m/s but perhaps not enough to run to Agassiz Mountain for an XC run. Instead we waited for Derek to join us as we hovered at 'base. Shane, Steven and James were each finding their own thermals while Dennis landed at Riverside?? Derek launched and did a few top-landing passes, but wasn't getting up. I looked down and saw his wing had a tangle on the left side causing some depression on the C's at the outer tip. He flew for a bit and then headed out to the Ranch. We had been up for 30 minutes and it was time for Jeremy to fly, so he took over and flew us to the Ranch. Nice buoyant conditions over Duncan`s and the Maple Tree. A bit bumpier in the Eagle Ranch LZ as the hay crop was just removed and the field is pretty brown, but a good stand-up landing for us. Derek`s tangle was gone as he flared. We collected the students and headed back up to retrieve the Van. Dennis was waiting on the road to get back up and told us that he lost his wallet in-flight as his cockpit zipper was open. We looked around launch but the squirrels are $200 richer today. The guys relaunched and flew to Harvest this time as Jeremy and I drove down. Bridal Report - we arrived at Bridal at 5 pm, too soon apparently as I got to launch first. Rob had mentioned that it looked windy in the trees to the left. He and Derek were weed-whacking as I launched and went straight up and back for 50 meters before heading left. Good climbs near launch but not pleasant. The bowl was equally nasty, as I headed west, it got even worse. I turned back to launch and was just at launch height and thought about top-landing to wait but it was too wild. I flew out and was going up everywhere as I was getting whacked by wind blown thermals. This flight is "over" as I was convinced it was getting windier like the forecast predicted, so I got on the Big Ear`s and flew west to get upwind. The trees in the LZ were looking pretty silvered. I kept the ear`s in until I landed just short of the mowed grass and it wasn`t that windy at ground level. A group of fliers arrived after I landed and launched and had better luck as it calmed down and Derek reported being at 1550 meters around 6:30 pm. Shane launched before Derek and got 1:15 and enjoyed his first flight as a signed off pilot. A flight at Bridal last week with Brett Hazlett looked like nicer conditions!
|
| (stable)
Woodside Report - I thought I had made a bad call after telling Phil and Jeremy to stay home earlier, as it was light winds in Chilliwack til noon, but as forecast by 12:30 pm it was howling out here. | Two intrepid ATOS pilots were out ridge soaring the 2 CUs over Woodside but didn't break away. We saw their landings from the Rnach and it looked "spicy" at the HG field. Rick, Rob, Shane and Norm came out despite the forecast and Shane wrote his Novice Exam to kill time. The rest of us did a few projects around the place (gravel around barn spread, planting boxes in Colleen's garden completed, a ton of rocks removed from the driveway and various dangerous spots, thanks guys!). And we waited and it got worse, so we thought Bridal by 5 pm would work. Bridal was strong and you could see silvered trees all the way up to the Saddle, so off to the Wildcat Grill. Derek and Martina came over to fly but agreed that it was too windy and ate. Chilliwack Airport Windtalker was a valuable tool today, 122.975 mhz on some ham radios or 604-792-1003 on cell/landline.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - we had to wait some time before heading to launch: light rain and low cloudbase until noon. But for those that hung in there, they were rewarded with fabulous flights. | Heiko, Cynthia, Shane, Andrew and new student Carlos all got to fly today. Carlos had his first tandem and loved it as we soared around with Norm. Three flights for the students with strong launch cycles and excellent launches (once pilots relaxed). Derek and Martina showed up late after being at Yarrow Days and she got to try her new Addict II. Flights were averaging 45-60 minutes for the students who climbed as high as 'base several times. Everyone made the Ranch which had some turbulence at times due to haying operations and some strong south winds in Harrison Mills, but no complaints. 
Cynthia on her way out to the Ranch on the Advance Epsilon 3 with Martina closer in to launch on her new Addict II - photo by JPR I got to test fly Mark F's Gin Zoom Race L which is on our used page , and it flew brilliantly. Hardly even dirty on the white leading edge, lines look clean and new too. I flew for 60 minutes as the last launcher around 6 pm, and did one top-landing pass to get Rob's FJ but bailed due to spectators on launch and then the lift was gone. Super day, super people, super hungry as we headed to the Sasquatch for dinner after 8 pm. Just another shitty day in Annecy - Here is a link to a short video I took from a mountain I hiked up to in the Col de la Forclauz area near Talloires - SLEDuardo Rilkoff 
Ed Rilkoff standing on launch - photo by Mrs. Rilkoff
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - I convinced Derek and Jack to come over to fly with nearly signed off students, Dan & Heiko. They claim I always say "It is Good!" and today I was right! | We headed up the mountain after noon after Heiko and Dan wrote their Novice Exams, and we had pleasant cycles and CUs were forming on Sasquatch Mountain. Heiko launched first and climbed out, as did the rest. When I drove down, Dan was at 900 meters and Jack was just launching and by the time I got down Jack was way high above launch. Good landing conditions inspite of the rotating tractors raking and baling Eagle Ranch. Wouter noticed from Holland that the field looked like a Golf Course. Norm launched after Jack landed and was near 1200 meters before heading to Harvest Market to race to work as Bev drove down. We headed to Bridal for flight #2, but saw Alan launch and land at the bottom immediately. Too weird and windy at launch and he times it right as it got very strong all afternoon til dark at both sites. Martina was out kiting her new Addict II and looked very happy!
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - we did go up Woodside around noon but even Dennis wouldn't fly as it was hard leeside winds. So back to the Ranch to kite and chat. Later Rick showed up so we had a wind technician! Back up around 2 pm and cycles were reversible and the wind on the Bay manageable. Rick was soon soaring followed by Shane. Shane made it but Rick came up short of the Ranch having left too low. $20 to Bert. | Back up to try again, stronger cycles and not good for Rex for sure but Rick and Shane were up for another flight. Decent launches and ridge and thermal soaring got both above launch, but alas Rick held on too long again and was soon swamp-bound for another $20 to Bert. Bert could retire on outlandings at this rate! Shane barely made the Ranch as he hit sink and headwinds but he was rewarded with a bubble in the end. Bridal Report - Off to Bridal around 4:00 pm, missing the new shuttle service. Rob and Robin were waiting at the bottom as Rex, Shane and I arrived. This was to be Shane's 2nd Bridal flight as he approaches flight #22 and Rex's 2nd tandem flight after a beautiful soaring tandem flight at Woodside last weekend, and some awesome kiting at the Eagle Ranch Training Hill this morning (16 perfect inflations forward and reverse without a problem!). The XL7 took us up in air-conditioned style with not a scrape and Shane was soon in the air and above launch, followed by Rob and soon Robin. We were last to go and we were soon soaring with Shane. I was staying close to the Knob because I thought we might have to top-land to save a retrieve and when I went to the "Toe" I only got sink or zeros. We had a nice flight but got too low to save ourselves and just enjoyed the air as Rex took over the controls and flew the approach into the swamp. Fortunately, top-landing god Alan got in to drive the XL-7 down. Just after we landed, the Knob was quite crowded as everyone sunk out at roughly the same time after being at 1900 meters earlier (Derek, Alan, Brett H and others). Woodside Report - we back headed to Woodside and conditions were perfect for Rex and Shane and Rex did his first reverse launch and was soon above launch! Light winds gave him plenty of height for turn practice and some 360s before a perfect touchdown. He earned this nice flight after working hard all day in the heat. Revelstoke Report - I now only need 4 more tandems with rated pilots and I will send you the flight log, and get signed off. Sherri and I had a good tandem after my solo flight, and Jeff and Dave got up to 4000 m. and headed north to Martha Creek. I hope the flying is as good when you're here in July! - Cheers, Alan
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - Derek came over to be our "wind technician" and flew the first flight off Woodside around 11 am. Leeside cycles but he went in a steady up cycle but may have been at the end of the cycle as he was sinking fast . . . until he got near the bailout when it got ugly! 45 degree pitches and lots of loose fabric as he got gyrated in the NE wind and ratty thermals. Once clear of the ridge and over Harrison Mills he was climbing and pentrating with 10 kph heading north but he decided to head to the Ranch to land. Oddly, we watched him do a perfect upwind approach NW of the LZ until just over the cornfield when he reversed directions and landed to the east at Stonehenge. The Ranch always amazes me with east winds in the field despite the prevailing winds. and as you all know east wind at the LZ is always smooth and good. | We bailed after his adventure and headed to Bridal. Bridal Report - we arrived at the bottom at 3 pm, and Alan volunteered to drive for us. Strong east had some "chimps" from an un-named school kiting in the driving range, so Lewis and I joined them until it got light and we headed up. Derek, Tom Chromy, Dennis, Alan, Lewis and I headed up in the Big Blue Van now "logo 'ed up" to advertise the Universe's Largest Paragliding School :-) We arrived to light east at lanch and Derek and Dennis launched first and were climbing in the bowl. Lewis and I got the tandem ready as this would have been his first solo flight and we were missing our LZ coach Colleen (who has to work for a living). We waited at the high launch spot for some time, baking in the heat, but we got a nice clean cycle that had us off in a few steps and above launch immediately. The best lift was by the "toe" west of launch and we were patient there for 10 minutes gaining slightly as Tom Chromy launched his new Addict II and went east hoping for lift but only found sink as he followed the other school's tandem that way. We were hovering by the "toe" when a boomer cracked off and we were soon at the saddle climbing fast, as we saw Dennis and Derek east of Archibald struggling. Dennis came back to launch and had the same fate as Tom hitting sink. I got bold and headed downwind to Gloria from saddle height and we hit sink below Upper Launch at about -4 m./s sustained. Yikes, this is how to lose altitude fast. we were also downwind of the launch now and it took a long time in sink to return there. We got there pretty low and didn't get up again so I let Lewis fly the approach to the Swamp LZ (still east there). Flight stats: +5.8 m/s lift, - 5.5 m/s sink, 45 minutes. Derek was now above Archibald as Dennis was hovering over the golf course enjoying the bubbles over the road. We joined Dennis and it felt like we could stay up all day there. No one else had launched during our 45 minute flight as there were no cycles so it was just Dennis and us in the approach and Derek up high. As I setup over the driving range, the sind started to switch South so I flew along the road and then it switched to west so we did a swooping turn into the cone, with perfect execution except Lewis forgot to run so he folded up on landing. No damage, and we were out of Dennis' way for his landing. As we packed up Nikolai launched and soon many pilots were in the air as we drove to Woodside to try to capture a glass-off" flight and Lewis' first solo. When we arrived at the Ranch pilots reports were coming in: Derek at 2160 meters, Robin close to Derek, and Rob was even climbing when I checked the Chilliwack ATIS before we headed up. Yikes! It was reporting 260 at gusts to 29 knots! This went on for 10 minutes or more. We knew the strong winds were coming as Langley and Abby were reporting gusty conditions. Not to scare anyone, but I relayed the wind reports and pilots were soon scattering to safer LZs. Robin landed at Harvest Market in 30+ kph winds, Derek said it was quieter in the Agassiz Rec Center (lee of Cemetary Hill), and Rob made it to the Swamp LZ on his R09 despite being low at the Bridal Falls. Then the wind subsided. Woodside Report #2 - Tom Chromy, John L, Lewis and I were the sole pilots at launch. Nice cycles and some wind lines on the water, but Chilliwack was reporting 260 at 10 knots, and CYXX was 210 at 5 knots. Tom launched first and was thrermalling nicely, until he got a bit low and hit Rob's "400 meter wall of wind" as he described later on the phone. There was no wind on the ground and at 700 meters but there was a nasty layer of strong SW wind at 400 meters. Unfortunately, Tom had his radio turned down and I was trying to guide him to smoother air but he didn't hear me so he continued through the trash all the way to Riverside. He landed fine and John L launched and when he hit the trash I guided him downwind/crsosswind to the highway and past the ridge where he then could penetrate to the Ranch. Still too "spicy" for Lewis' first flight so we headed down to retrieve the guys for another attemt. This flight went better for Tom and John and reports of smooth air had Lewis clipped in and ready for his first solo flight and he pulled off a nice reverse launch and was soon above launch. He practiced lots of S turns on the way out and spme speed control and had a perfect aircraft approach and landing right near the circle (his 80 hours in a Cessna seems to have paid off!). Everyone had to run home as it was now after 8 pm, so I got to start chores until dark. Great day despite the east winds - Jim
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - we waited until 11 am for Shane and Lewis to arrive and watched videos until we drove to the launch. | We watched carefully at launch for signs of leeside activity but got pretty constant up air for 15 minutes. No birds around or other pilots. Steve clipped into the Ozone Mojo 3 and we raido checked and got a great 3 minute cycle and he launched and maintained altitude all the way to the construction site. There everything changed and he saw soon 300 meters above launch and climbing fast without turning. I had him start a 360 to ensure he didn't fall out of that core! Steve managed the glider well and he was soon around 1200 meters and it looked rough and strong so I had him fly back to launch hoping to find some stable air, but that didn't work so I flew him back the the Valley. Out in the Valley he hit the north wind and he had to face the Harrison River and I had him fly straight for the cooler air from the river but he was still at 1250 meters estimated. Everywhere he went was up, no sink to be found. Bring on the big ears! Steve was quickly briefed on why there are split A's and instructed on the correct amount of outer A to pull down and he was finally descending slowly into the Valley. I headed him over to Bill Best's field as it works well in NE winds away from the rotor of Woodside and he held the ears until flaring. His comment "That really smoothed things out when I did Big Ears!". Derek retrieved Steve on the way to the Ranch and when I drove down conditions in the valley had changed to strong NE wind which must have created the leeside thermals that took Steve skyward so fast. He did a great job managing the wing and I think we have a solid pilot coming up in the ranks. Norm and Derek came up to Woodside for a flight, but didn't like the sound of the freight trains thru the trees so we drove to Bridal after lunch. Bridal Report - Shane, Derek, Steve and I headed up Bridal in the Dodge Shuttle and Derek was soon in the air climbing. Alan had been struggling as we assessed the LZ but was now at 1300 meters on Archibald. Light east on launch with occasional cycles up and Shane was soon off for his first Bridal flight. Smooth air with light lift. Steve followed him off and they had extended sledders and great landings near the cone. I drove down and came back with the guys in Kevin's rig which I volunteered to drive down. This flight was a longer wait for a cycle but better lift and the guys did well again and we were finished at 6:15 pm. Derek 2160 meters and Alan 2400 meters at times and they did a fly-by Upper Launch and were still in the air when I drove to Vancouver for dinner. Good day in the Valley with varied air.
|
| (unstable)
Woodside Report - a very windy outflow day meant no flying even later, but Shane made good use of the Eagle Ranch LZ for kiting practice. | Jason finished the bathroom painting and installed the laminate floor, leaving me the plumbing final touches and by 10 pm we had a working bathroom with hot & cold running water. Shower to follow in a few weeks, but everything is tested and operational. The gravel was delivered between the two barns to eliminate the muddy areas, but a bit of hand shovel work is required close to the barns that the harrow can't reach if you are really bored and want to contribute some time today??? Derek, Alan and I met Abe to deliver a culvert for the proposed Riverside LZ Road in from the new road behind the Koffee Kettle. Costs were forwarded to the WCSC Directors and tey appear very reasonable to have a 2 wheel drive road to the LZ. This is an important safety feature as we currently would have problems getting an ambulance down to Riverside if needed. For details call Natalyia. |
FlyBC Paragliding Past Site of the Day Reports
April 2009 Site of the Day archives - we escaped the local weather by flying in New Zealand for 3 weeks. We will be heading back soon!
March 2009 Site of the Day archives - we were flying locally in snow, relying on Derek's sleds and chains on the 'Mog to get up Woodside.
February 2009 Site of the Day archives - the Worlds PG Championships in Mexico was hard work for the Canucks, the tasks and speeds were unreal.
January 2009 Site of the Day archives - Manzanillo, Mexico was a BLAST, many new sites flown and we have a new tour Destination for 2010.
December 2008 Site of the Day archives - the annual FlyBC Christmas Party was a cold success with Head over Heels entertaining us all night. And we left early for Manzanillo, Mexico on Dec 28th.
November 2008 Site of the Day archives - some soaring between rain storms, and it was pretty dry in Agassiz.
October 2008 Site of the Day archives - we went ot the Women's Fly In on Chelan for the annual Halloween Costume Fly-In, great conditions there to offset the wet month on the West Coast. Steve Fosset's crash site was found in Nevada after a year of searching.
September 2008 Site of the Day archives - great student conditions at Woodside and Bridal all month, with 10 students getting signed off this month, a record.
August 2008 Site of the Day archives - our second SIV Course of the 2008 season went well at Sale Mountain near Revelstoke (except for a few water landings and minor injuries). Wet all month at Woodside except the weekends.
July 2008 Site of the Day archives - our first SIV Course of the 2008 season went well at Sale Mountain near Revelstoke.
June 2008 Site of the Day archives - a few good soaring days at Bridal, lots of new students this month.
May 2008 Site of the Day archives - the cost of gas is keeping pilots at home and the weather isn't helping either. One good XC in May for me, leaving Woodside with Norm and Martin H and ending up at Elk at 1600 meters before landing by Hopyard Hill. 3 hours and 85 kms later by the GPS.
April 2008 Site of the Day archives - worst weather in years but we flew every day we could.
March 2008 Site of the Day archives - more snow and still hiking to launch at Woodside! But some major airtime for the locals committed to coming out to fly.
February 2008 Site of the Day archives - more snow in BC than I can remember in 25 years of living here. We are still hiking to launch at Woodside!
January 2008 Site of the Day archives - worst weather in years so we went to Mexico and logged many hours of airtime, while it snowed heavily in BC.
December 2007 Site of the Day archives - worst weather in years so we went to Mexico on Dec 29th for three weeks.
November 2007 Site of the Day archives - Colleen and I went to California to fly the new Falcon A-16 Advanced Ultralight prototype and it flew very well. Some good soaring days at Woodside, some folks were still trying to fly Bridal but that is a waste of time this late in the season.
October 2007 Site of the Day archives - mid-air at Woodside caused Martin H some paraglider damage, some great soarable days. The Women's Fly In was a success with the Canuck Team taking top spot for the theme of "Celebrities in Rehab".
September 2007 Site of the Day archives - we re-discovered and flew 'Horsefly' Launch for the first time, some mayhem at Woodside due to tree-suck, lots of good soaring in afternoon glassoffs, a great Indian Summer until late in the month when the rains came early. Derek, Martina, Robin and Diane went to Europe. Kirill went to Australia for a paramotor Fly-In.
August 2007 Site of the Day archives - fun two weeks at Mara Lake, followed by steady flying at Woodside and Bridal, making up for the dismal spring and summer.
July 2007 Site of the Day archives - good flights at Bridal, some mayhem at Woodside from visiting pilots.
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
| FlyBC Home | APCO Glider FAQ | Paragliding History |
|
Box 79, Harrison Mills, BC Canada V0M 1L0 Mobile: 604-618-5467 E-Mail: FlyBC E-Mail |