Ocean River Skookumchuck – Oct 22/23

 

One of my favorite trips in fall is to drive up the Sunshine Coast and surf Skookumchuck Narrows, so I organized a VKC club trip, drummed up a crew and off we went. The weather looked marginal for camping and we joined everybody else at the Backeddy Resort, relaxing in cozy cabins, nice rooms and around a very social campfire, shared by a pod of pre-Halloween pumpkins.

As always the surfing was a lot of fun and many wide-eyed Skooks-newbies had there first rides on the wave. I got my share of wave time and was almost ready to pack up, but had to do this one last surf... when I flipped on the second wave. The water pulled hard enough on the paddle that it tweaked my shoulder. Trying to roll up I immediately realized that I couldn’t use my left arm – oh, not again! So I pulled the deck, popped out and up a distance away from boat and paddle. Theoretically the kayak provides extra buoyancy and I struggled to get to it. But as soon as I got hold of the grab loop, a whirlpool formed and sucked the boat under. Here goes another theory, I thought, and gave the boat a good push into the centre of the whirlpool hoping this would keep me out of it. No such luck. Soon I was getting sucked under too but was strangely calm, enjoying the green light filtering down from above. Fortunately the underwater venture took only a few seconds and when I popped up again, Pete was there to the rescue. 

The rest of the story took about half an hour. Pete and I in tow went for the Tour (that's how we call it when a paddler doesn't make the eddy and has to paddle through the run-out of the rapid with its crashing waves and whirlpools). Back on shore it took a couple of tries and some repositioning, but we successfully put the shoulder back in its place (all the while watching the 'surf lions'). Knowing how to deal with a dislocated shoulder is certainly a useful first-aid skill to have as a paddler. This and a bit of luck saved us from a trip to the hospital and another night’s stay on the Sunshine Coast. I was pretty bumped out about this injury, recalling the months it took to heal my other shoulder 5 years ago, but a few days later the shoulder felt way better and only one week later, I flew my wing already. But I guess I will have to lay off whitewater paddling for a while.

Mt Cheam Early Winter, Oct 15

First snow of the season!

After two years we finally got around to fly from Mt Cheam again, the 2112 meter high sentinel of the Fraser Valley. It’s a pleasant hike&fly (the hiking part took me just under 2 hours). But the shuttle logistics make some serious planning necessary. I managed to spark the interest of two German paddling friends to join us for the hike. Since a 4WD vehicle is needed to access the trail head they would get to ride up with us and then drive the car down (Danke, Caro und Arndt!).

I had expected intense fall colors with red blueberry bushes and yellow alders (or is it ash?), but most of the flank of Mt Cheam was already covered in ankle-deep snow. It still made for a nice hike and beautiful flight launching from the snow, skirting the bowl with tiny Spoon Lake below, over the ridge to the Fraser Valley and down to our usual landing at Bridal Falls.

Not a single beep on the vario. Better get ready for winter flying…



Summit of Mt Cheam and Harrison Lake behind the ridge

Hedley, Oct 8-10

Is it a sign of advancing age and increasing grumpiness that I joined the ranks of those complaining about the weather this year? But really, summer this year lasted barely five weeks, from August to early September. There have been proposals to rename the months before August to Mayary, Juneary and Juleary (in analogy to January and February).

We can’t complain too much as we were lucky with the weather on our Alsek trip earlier this year (where it usually rains and storms on most days and snow is a possibility even in mid summer) and we had the most gorgeous weather in Chamonix. But it doesn’t make it any easier to cope with the grey and rainy weather when we got back to the Wetcoast.

So with yet another rainy forecast looming, we decided to drive away from the rain and see what areas to the east had to offer for Thanksgiving weekend.



The destination was Hedley in the Similkameen valley, a small town surrounded by steep rock faces. One of the attractions are the old gold mines perched on the cliffs high above town.

In early summer we come here for paddling a friendly stretch of Similkameen River (or the more exciting Similkameen Canyon and Ashnola). We leave the summer flying in the narrow and hot valley for braver pilots and return with our wings in fall.

This year we flew from a different launch to cross directly over the small town and old mining buildings. Still, even fall flying can be pretty exciting, especially coming back down to earth in the strong valley winds. I got caught off guard when I launched with a different, smaller wing and didn’t adjust my take-off speed. Much more sink than with my paraglider and a ‘secondary’ touch-down and contact between the slope and my knee… ouch! (Should have know, so shortly after writing the advanced exam… lift equals area of wing, speed squared, air density etc). Despite the excitement, everyone was fine, happy with the flights, and enjoyed the camp fire at night (and the Russian folk songs I hadn’t heard, leave alone sung in 25 years).

Chamonix, Sept 4-16

What amazing awe-inspiring scenery!

Like an all-imposing giant of rock and ice Mont Blanc dominates the views from almost everywhere. Although I have seen (and climbed) higher peaks, I have never been anywhere near such a massive mountain.

We lucked out with the weather, flew many different sites, tried new wings, did some short hikes and got even some via-ferrata climbing in. Didn't remember how much fun this was... have to do more of it next time we come to Europe – lots of exposure for excellent adrenalin jolts in a relatively save environment.

From Chamonix Sept

Since it’s posted already on our local flying forum, I will just recycle what I wrote there:

Fall flying in Chamonix is just like fall flying here. Mostly stable conditions make for scratch sessions and more or less extended sled rides. Valley winds can get strong in the afternoon. We even got a display of a solid Föhn-gust. Fortunately only a traction kite was up in the LZ and the kite-flyer got dragged all across it without damage.

But sled rides in Chamonix are of a different dimension. The views are gorgeous. Massive Mt Blanc and the needles of the many aiguilles dominate the scenery. Launching on a glacier, floating over crevasses seconds after getting airborne, searching rock cliffs for thermals, floating over the town with its many tourists and flower-decorated houses. Access to launches is fast and easy with gondolas and lifts (but some close in fall). Multi-day passes are well worth the money, especially in stable conditions. Pete did 6 flights in one day, probably half the costs of our 8-day pass. During our first week we stayed at the Flyers Lodge (http://www.flyers-lodge.com) in Domancy just outside the Chamonix valley, with Dennis and Gillian, who gave us lots of great tips on flying in the area.

We flew Planpraz (2000 m) across the valley from Mt Blanc on several days. On the final day Pete managed to climb to 2800 m and fly over the Brevent to Plaine Joux. From Plan de l'Aiguille (2200 m, mid station of the Aiguille du Midi gondola) we cruised over Bosson Glacier. To fly the Aiguille du Midi (3800m) you must cross an ice arête. It had a distinct knife-edge appearance and was topped by a stream of short-roped scramblers, posed perfectly to take everybody else out and down a 1000 meter slope should one slip. We gave it a pass. We flew from Les Grands Montets (3200 m) instead, where the launch is on a flat glacier a pleasant stroll from the gondola station (but watch for the crevasses), and where we got surprised by a massive rockfall from the Dru just around the corner (according to the news the mountain shed 12000 m3 of rock). Outside the Chamonix Valley we flew from Plaine Joux and Annecy (gorgeous limestone ridges and cliffs). Annecy Montmin launch is the most deluxe one I have ever set foot on with artificial lawn and terraced area for spectators (fortunately nothing too spectacular to see for them). And I have never seen so many people kite in the LZ as there (maybe 30?).

From Chamonix Sept

To mix things up we ventured on a couple of via ferratas. A via ferrata is a climbing route with cables, metal steps and ladders, making it possible to move through exposed and steep terrain at a fast pace (compared to belayed rock-climbing). Instead of ropes and assorted other climbing gear, only a climbing harness with a short rope and two carabineers (special via-ferrata set-up) is needed. I especially ‘liked’ the Nepalese bridge on La Curella which spans a 30 meter gap with just 3 cables, one to walk on and two higher ones to hold on to. Way more exciting than any paragliding I have done (and ever want to do).

From Chamonix Sept

Chamonix is definitely worth a visit (or several), but better in spring or early summer if one is looking for good flying conditions (and easy Aiguille du Midi access).

(Driving back to Germany on the Autobahn was definitely not a ‘Fahrvergnügen’)