Flying XC in BC - June 20-26

 

This year we had not many options for places to fly with all the fires, the smoke and the wind. The more adventurous did a sporty down-wind flight from Pemberton to Gold Bridge and yes, as we knew already, Carpenter Lake gets a bit exciting when its windy (see Nick Neymen’s blog on this https://sharemyjoys.wordpress.com/2018/11/12/vol-biv-hitch-in-canada). The smoke beat us to Clearwater. Much better flying near Williams Lake (no smoke here) lead to a plan to come back when the weather would be less prone to over development. Looks like a great area for flatland thermals! We spent the last two days close to home (for us) and flew Benny and Bridal.

Grouse Airtime - June 27

 

Several heat records broken today. Highest ever Canadian temperature recorded in Lytton 150km from here. Not that much cooler even at 1980m (air space - took some work to avoid it) but a nice breeze. Smog over the town.

 

Record Temperatures and Flood Risk - June 24 - 29

 

Three days in a row the Canadian heat record was broken in the town of Lytton with 46, 47 and 49C.
Apparently this is also a record for any place north of 50 degree latitude worldwide. Disaster strikes on the 4^th day when most of the town burns down and inhabitants have only minutes to get out. Terrible to see this happen to a place we often visited on our Thompson paddle trips.

Meanwhile some Pemberton residents are evacuated because of flood risk. The unusual high temperatures cause much accelerated snow melt.

 https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/01/news/fire-destroys-homes-buildings-lytton-bc-residents-missing

We had our own private record and measured 40oC at our place in South Burnaby - don't think it has ever been that hot in the almost almost 20 years we live here.

Howe Sound to North Vancouver – June 17

 

Third time lucky, fourth time even better! It took 3 tries to get above the peaks along Howe Sound. This was the fourth time but with a much longer approach hike. Long and hot hike from Crystal Rd, over 3 hours and a much longer steep section! Great flying over Deeks peak, Brunswick, Harvey, close up to the West Lion and then over to Black Mt. Not much of a climb there (less than 200m) but enough for the long glide over the plateau to the landing at the Capilano River. Good thing several others were ahead so I was pretty sure the glide would work.