Sunday drive

[Paul_H]

Today is my daughter Mary's 4th birthday and Carla's parents are out from Calgary so I took her dad and my two youngest up the logging road where I'm working right now. It is about 20 minutes from our house and it looks over our valley  and is a popular spot for paragliders.
I took a whole bunch of pics of some launching and some landing.The McKenzie basin is rocky and Southwest facing and we're told that they can ride the thermals all day.We watched for a couple of hours and if the kids hadn't been played out,Carla's dad would still be there.












Here is one coming in for a landing.He stopped for a bit then took off again and they eventually land down in the valley

[sawguy21]

I'll stand and watch too, thank you very much. :D Thanks for the pics, that is incredibly beautiful country (when its not socked in)

[pigman]

Great pics Paul . 8)  I always wanted to  do the paraglide thing. I also wanted to get older and I didn't think I could do both. ;)
Bob the coward

[woodbowl]

Paul, I've got a big ole' lump in my throat ....... right there.  :'(

Those are some really nice pics and they bring back memories of my hanggliding days. I've never been paragliding, but I've always wanted to.

If you get the chance to go, please do it. There's nothing like light flying. These folks are having the time of their life.

I've had people ask me ......... what  ??  are you on a death wish or something? I just smiled and said, ..... life wish is more like it.   ;)

  ..............................  Bob, your not a coward, those are just gentle butterflies to introduce you to pure freedom.  ;D

[Paul_H]

I hear ya Bob  :D










For awhile it was like Carpenter Ants dropping out of the sky right beside us.

Woodbowl,

Watching them today has got me wishing so we'll see what develops.They are taking off from a gentle slope off an old landing in a logging slash.Yesterday on of the guy's had to pull the emergency chute...

[woodbowl]

Yesterday on of the guy's had to pull the emergency chute...

What was the story on that? Did he get caught in a draft or have a malfunction?

[Paul_H]

I heard something about trying a new wing and it collapsed and he was trying to get it right but had to pull the chute with not much time to spare.My understanding of it was the guy was experienced and maybe a bit of a hotdogger so he may have been pushing the limits.
Those men and women have their own language for what they do.I grew up with one of the regulars there and I've asked him about it before but I think it would be a good day to drive him up and drop him off.I think it would be a great way to learn the ropes.

[woodbowl]

Be sure to keep us up to date on the fun you plan to have.  ;)

[Paul_H]

Olen,
I"m going to take it one day at a time  ;)





Lucy and I had the urge to attack this one with our pitch forks

and finally,

[Norm]

Those two girls are growing like weeds Paul.

Looks like a great way to spend the afternoon.

[Roxie]

Wow!  Pigman and I will watch the girls while you go flying.   :D

What a beautiful area to live!! 

[Furby]

DanG it Paul! >:(
You are just TRYING to get me to come up there aren't ya?
Every time I turn around you post something else trying to lure me up there..... thought you didn't fish?
Coulda fooled me! :D

[sawguy21]

Paul wants to see the whites of your eyes when you come down THE HILL into Mt Currie with that super B. :D :D

[Furby]

 :D :D :D ;D
I'm stupid enough to do it AND enjoy it! ;D

[UNCLEBUCK]

Boy that looks peaceful !  If I lived by there I would do it for sure but my sink rate would be excessively high , yes my L/D ratio be extremely negative  :D


I'll just push Furby off the hill and listen to him scream all the way down 

[SwampDonkey]

Looks like a great time, great scenery also.

It's ok to watch others do it, but I'm like pigman, and I wasn't ment to fly.  Skin and bone against rock hurts. :D :D