Linus & Cornwall - Sept 22/23

After seemingly endless weeks of sunshine the weather didn’t cooperate with our plans for a heli&fly trip in the Tantalus Range near Squamish.

On to plan B which was exploring the Downton area on the Duffy Lake Road. We had done one trip up to Statimcet quite a few years ago. Great area with 4WD access to 1700 meters. There was a recent trip report on Clubtread of some fabulous ridge scrambling (Soprano-Contralto-Schroeder-Linus-Statimcet) and we decided to check it out.

Again, Downton didn't disappoint. We made our way up to the col between Schroeder and Linus and ridge-scrambled over huge blocks to the top of Linus. Along the way was some mild exposure and a fun knife-edge ridge, which seemed a bit too pointy for a-cheval (in mountaineering terms to cross a ridge straddling it like a horse). Fantastic views of small alpine lakes behind every ridge, and of Lost Creek Valley, Birkenhead, Cayoosh, Joffre and Matier.

Relaxed scrambling on Linus ridge

Part of me wanted to stay for more exploring the next day, but we had made plans to meet with friends near Ashcroft. So off we drove through Lillooet, Pavilion and Marble Canyon with its freshwater corals or stromatolites (must check them out sometime). Then we turned onto graveled Hat Creek Road, a nice short-cut along a valley with scenic ranches. After a few turns the road was getting smaller, bumpier and looking somewhat unused. But just after we turned on our GPS for confirmation, we met up with our friends on the spur road up to Cornwall viewpoint. Together we watched the beautiful sunset from the old fire look-out (elevation 2036 meter) over a couple of beer and Andrei's special chocolate-brandy mix.

On top of the world at Cornwall

Next morning we relaxed in the sun with sage-brush and coffee smells, did some peak-spotting (Jesmond near the Fraser Canyon and Pyramid at the Nahatlach, both places we had visited before) and watched a bear browsing on the slope across from our launching spot. Despite a few cycles starting to come in, the flight down to Ashcroft Manor was a sled ride. But a long, scenic and very enjoyable sled-ride (1600 meters elevation difference).

Cheam Flight - September 15

Our friend Andrei suggested that it was high time for a hike&fly from Mt Cheam again. But other friends wanted to hike Cheam and offered us a ride up the day before the planned paragliding fly-off, so we jumped the gun for a double mission. Wind wasn't right when we arrived so we paused for some parawaiting and resting in the meadow of red blueberry leaves. After an hour or two conditions improved. Pete launched first and got hovered off. I followed prepared for gusty conditions and launched my Swift without any surprises. Not much lift at 2000 meter, but I could extend the flight to 1.5 h in the lift near lower Bridal Launch.

Parawaiting in blueberries

Pete is off with Mt Baker in the back

Cultus Lake

Alpine Week - Last Week August

Compared to last year's Chamonix visit for two weeks, six days to explore the Austrian Alps didn’t feel quite adequate (and a day and a half of rain didn’t help either). But we had some nice flights and found lots of other things to explore.

We didn’t haul our wings to Europe in vain. On our way down south Pete and I flew for the first time in Germany, from Brauneck launch south of Munich. My favorite site was Bischling south of Salzburg, where I had a sweet flight crossing a couple of times from launch to the limestone towers on the other valley side. It was neat to fly so close to the jagged cliffs. Emberger Alm at Greifenburg in Austria's Kärnten region didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While Pete and Alex had a good XC flight on our first day, I sank out after crossing to the next ridge.

Unfortunately the weather turned bad and we had just one day of flying there before the rain arrived. We spent the next several wet days hiking (Obertilliach), via-ferrata-ing (very cool next to waterfalls in the tight canyon of the Pirkacher Klamm), exploring lakes, visiting Roman excavations (Aguntum Lienz), the Blue Sky home base in Sillian (hosts of our Dolomiti tour two years ago), garnet mines in Villach and, when the downpour started in earnest, several Konditoreien (Alex’ favorite rain time activity). Other interesting sights (Auerhuehner) and signs (Schwammerln sammeln verboten!)

On our last day in Europe we got in the air again at the Jenner near Berchtesgaden, above the super scenic Königssee with Watzmann Mountain towering behind. Family stories go that my grandmother visited here as a young woman and always fondly remembered the stunning mountain scenery. When I first heard about this there was little chance for me to ever see these sights. Leave alone fly over it with a fabric wing. But time changes ... almost everything.