Saddle Rock, September 5-7

The rainy season has begun just in time for the last long weekend of summer – Labour Day. We decided to run away from the rain and spend the weekend east of the Cascades. Conditions were not promising for flying but at least it would be mostly dry. In the end, 3 days of parawaiting yielded 4 hrs of ridge soaring in rather strong winds at Saddle/Silos in central WA. While parawaiting we kept ourselves busy with climbing at Frenchmen Coulee. But it was time for only 2 climbs before we got rained off. Very windy so tents were getting blown around in the gusts.

Other weekend adventures: most amazing views of clouds, rainbows, overwhelming scent of sage brush after the rain, waking up on top of Saddle Mt when tents almost blew over, watching pelicans soar in +50 km/h winds and being buzzed by an owl interested in our lonely tent (after it finally calmed down). Despite low air time - a great weekend in the empty WA desert.

From Saddle Mt, WA

From Saddle Mt, WA

Surf and Fly, August 29/30

Sweet weekend!

Saturday was one of the 'you should have been here days' at Skooks. No kayakers on the ferry and nobody at the dock got me wondering if I had misread the tide table. In Egmont we met a Montana paddler looking for company on his first visit to Skooks. In the end we were 5 boaters - it was a tough job to entertain the endless stream of tourists (several thanked us for the show). Among the 'tourists' was a PG pilot friend. Small world!



Alpine start on Sunday for another hike&fly from Mt Cheam. Lots of tasty blueberries slowed us down. At launch we waited for an hour for the thermals to build and overpower the light easterly crosswind. All got off without a hitch to a nice smooth flight down to Bridal Falls LZ. Although there were no thermals for soaring like for my first flight from Cheam it was just amazing to glide high above the ridge and out over the Fraser Valley way below.


Alpine start


Landing zone is 2000 meters below - just east (below) the highway exit.


Pete fluffing his wing

Black Mt Fly-In, WA, August 15/16

Black Mt is the first big ridge on the right driving east into the Fraser Valley. Must be a pretty amazing site if its on, but it wasn't to be. Saturday we did a sleddy from a lower launch just below cloudbase. It didn't clear and we gave up waiting and drove over to Blanchard. Best launch conditions ever - smooth west wind - nice, slow inflation - lift off; but it was too late and only Andrew managed to stay up. Sunday we tried Black Mt upper launch, but wind was blowing over the back. Watched some interesting launches before driving back down and on to Bridal Falls. After all the driving and waiting I had almost an hour air time - shows again how nice and dependable our 'house berg' is.

Check back for pictures soon.

BC Day in and on the Clearwater (August 1-3)

Being on the water is the only way for me to doing something active in this heat. And being on the Clearwater with its nice big water drops and endless surf waves is a lot of fun too. Added bonus – the alpine flower tour at Trophy Meadows. It was a pleasant surprise that the bloom was at its peak – even after the recent heat wave.