July 29, 30: Vancouver’s Hottest Day on Record

Environment Canada recorded 33.8oC at the Vancouver airport (which is next to Georgia Strait and cooler than most of the city). The last record was set in 1960, with 33.3oC. Victoria hit 35oC, Bella Coola, up the coast, 41oC. Temperatures were 38oC outside our place at 6 PM, 28oC inside but luckily only 25oC downstairs – just cool enough to sleep. The heat has been building for the last 10 days, but it will cool down somewhat over the weekend.

Update: Record broken one day later, July 30 with 34.4oC.

Pemberton - Nahatlach Weekend, July 25/26

As the title says - we checked out Mackenzie Launch in Pemby and then made our way across the Duffy Lake Road to Boston Bar. Just before Lillooet we watched a wildfire starting across the valley. The recent heat has parched the landscape and all that is needed to set a hillside on flames is a spark or a lightening strike. While driving on into a black wall of a thunderstorm between Lillooet und Lytton the wisdom of driving into the Nahatlach Valley in such dry conditions seemed rather questionable. But the storm brought with it a good quantity of rain – literally ‘extinguishing’ our concerns.

BFAR: July 11 and 12

Lots of pilots came out for the Bridal Falls Air Races put on by the Westcoast Soaring Club. Over 40 gliders were in the air on Saturday. Best flight for me was the first one from Mt Cheam on Saturday morning. The flight around the ridge and out over the Fraser Valley was well worth the 1:45 h hike up the back side. Friends came out on Sunday and enjoyed their tandem flight (including spiral) immensely.


High traffic volume at Bridal Launch.


Flying from Mt Cheam. Mt Baker in the background.

Okanagan Flying: July 3 – 5

Over the long weekend we checked out some Okanagan flying spots around Vernon and Lumby: Coopers, Baldy (King Eddy) and Vernon Mountain. Pete went for some interesting x-country flights, while I checked out the local thermals and a clearing in the woods.