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What's new around the Vancouver Flying scene. | Date | Site | Forecast | Precip. | Winds Aloft 3000 ft. | Comments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 30 | Blanchard WA | cloudy | 30% POP | 250° at 5 knots | Bridal Report - I headed out to Bridal with an intention to take a student tandem, but arrived to high overcast and pilots just barely maintaining after flying from Upper Launch. Every now and again the sun would peak thru and pilots could get above launch, with Bev doing the best. We finally launched at 4:30 pm and managed to get 0:56 getting 300 meters above launch and sinking way down as it got shaded, then back up when the sun came out. About 10 pilots flew and had decent flights despite the clouds - Jim
| August 29
| Bridal
| Sunny!
| 0% POP
| light and variable, good lapse rate
| Calgary Report - I was on a WestJet 737 going into Calgary when the pilot reported that Calgary Air Traffic Control had a complete radar failure and we were placed in a hold over the foothills. The pilot throttled back and started a right turn when I felt the plane enter a large thermal that was letting us maintain altitude for more than five minutes at flight idle power settings. All the way into Calgary there was a beautiful cloud street with lots of bumps. The plane left Calgary for Edmonton, and all the way north there was a well defined cloud street with a 15000 foot cloudbase. | Bridal Report- Well flew bridal again today a bit lifty from yesterdays left overs. I managed 2 flights the first one got scratched because I couldn't get in the seat and I hated hanging so I went and landed and then went back up later with Norm to catch a 2nd flight just sledded around for awhile and enjoyed the scenery, All in all it was good. Kelly, and a few others also flew and had some flight time - Bev August 28
| Bridal
| cloudy with sunny breaks in the PM
| 0% POP
| light and variable
| Woodside Report - Rob S and Allan D flew Woodside and got several hours of airtime with Allan toplanding to retrieve his truck. Rob reported nice landing conditions in the proposed new LZ. I flew a tandem and got 45 minutes landing in the Best field to ease the hike out for my passenger - Jim | Bridal Report - pilots started launching at 3:00 off Lower and were still coming off by 6:30 pm. Great lift +4 m/s, some cloud suck behind launch, Upper launch was socked in all day so pilots didn't get high. There were about 20 wings flying in total. I had 1:49 on my tandem landing because my passenger got cold, Bev have 2:06, lots of top-landings to retrieve cars. A great Bridal day! - Jim August 27
| Bridal/Grouse
| clear
| 0% POP
| light and variable
| Bridal Report - Bev flew twice off Upper Launch and got extended sledders. Welcome new PG Novice, Jack Carlson, to the area who also did his first two flights at Upper since being signed off this weekend (Jack flies an A320 when he isn't flying his APCO Fiesta). | ps: Bev lost her cockpit and vario on Monday either in the LZ or at Upper launch at Bridal - call her at 604-869-2273 if found. Grouse Report - Russ "First Flight" Fretenburg flew a tandem early in the day, then the SE winds were too strong so he cancelled the balance of the day. August 26
| Bridal
| clear
| 0% POP
| light and variable, with northwesterlies lower
| Bridal Report - a great day from the start. Colleen and I shuttled a group of 8 student pilots up to Upper Launch and we started flying at 12:30 pm. A bit of lift but no turbulence so the students flew all day long, 'til 6:00 pm. Some had three flights with extended airtimes. There were many flights off Lower Launch also, with Norm and Nicole with 2 hour flights. | Cheam Report - we overheard Ian Robertson and Brad Henry at Cheam and then watched Brad climb out to 500 meters above Cheam (estimated), and heading south to Lady Peak. Sounded like they had the right idea flying Cheam, all the lift was higher up. August 25
| Blanchard WA
| clear
| 0% POP
| light and variable, with westerlies lower
| Blanchard Report - we flew students until 1:30 pm when it became too windy from the NW. Whitecaps on the ocean and trees bending over with an experienced PGer parked over the LZ - Jim
| Grouse Report - Russ and I did 2 tandems in the am, then in the pm it turned N/E and had to cancel the rest of the day - Glen T August 24
| Whidbey Island
| some showers
| 40% POP
| 200° at 12 knots
| Bridal Report - many pilots waited for the sun to come out as it was quite overdeveloped. Colleen flew for 30 minutes getting just above launch. | Woodside Report - more of the same, lots of waiting around for the sun to come out. Sledders for all! Whidbey Report - there was a window around noon to fly at Ebey's Landing but I think it is still closed by the Rangers. No pireps. August 23
| Whidbey Island
| some showers
| 40% POP
| 200° at 20 knots
| Whidbey Report - some rain showers came through, but otherwise soarable conditions
| August 21-22
| Stay Home
| RAIN
| 100% POP
| 190° at 20 knots
| It rained for two days!
| August 20
| Bridal
| Sunny
| 20% POP
| Light and Variable
| Woodside Report - Colleen reports that many pilots flew Woodside in strong conditions that had pilots flying straight up in many thermals. Lots of big ear action and speed bars required to stay forward of the LZ. I believe Allan D got 2.5 hours. No other times to report - Jim
| August 19
| Grouse Mountain
| Sunny
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Grouse Report - Colleen phoned me the mayhem report today. One tree landing by a visiting pilot in the trees west of the LZ, fire department got her out. One outlanding in the watershed, by a local pilot. Many hard landings in the LZ, one HGer overshot the field and hit the fence. Typical Grouse conditions! That is why we class it as an advanced site! - Jim
| Bridal Report - Alan had the longest flight (about 4 hours) Max altitude >1500m, Cloud suck of 4m/s, Kevin A, Klaus W, and Norm L toplanded, and Kevin and Klaus relaunched after trading gliders - Rob S. August 18
| Grouse Mountain
| Sunny
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Lil Nick Report - Little Nick was flyable though winds were 13G17 in Chilliwack. Mark
Fraser managed to get to 1100m and over 2hours. Alan and I did a bit
less. We all landed in the Deroche LZ since the regular field was
planted with corn - Rob S.
| August 17
| Woodside
| Sunny
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Woodside Report - I flew Woodside today and had a nice soaring flight for awhile in rather windy conditions, I had a perfect landing in the test lz, no problems, did get
some lift off of the field, but stayed relaxed and did quite well.
Others also flew today getting good soaring flights, Jeremy Val, Mark Fraser, Allan Dickey, Dion V, Duncan T, Dions student, Rob S, and Norm. All
had great flights and great landings. Anyway talk with you soon. Thanks again for adjusting my brakes it is working great!!! - Bev
| August 16
| Woodside
| Sunny
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Bridal Report - Kelly reports that no one was flying so she drove on.
| August 15
| Whidbey Island
| Sunny, highs to 28°C, less smog on the coast and should be soarable until late afternoon.
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Bridal Report - Brent and I hiked and flew Bridal today. I got almost 100m over launch and
then was flushed out. Fair amount of lift combined with sink. Wind was fine
on launch, but was weird in the LZ. It wasn't too stable - I am sure some of
the skypigs could have milked an hour or two out of the skycows today. Nice
hike though. About 80 minutes up (hiking), and 20 minutes down (flying) - Adam. | Dallas Report - I bribed my brother to come down and watch my kids, and got an hour of flying at Dallas, jumped the point and "ridge soared" the appartment buildings on Dallas Road. Some people are nuts -- my brother actually got bored watching me. God I love this sport. One more hour in my log book. 2 more flights. Big grin on my face - Bruce McG August 14
| Bridal Falls
| Sunny, highs to 28°C
| 0% POP
| 290° at 8 knots
| Grouse Report - ultra stable, no bumps at all. Time to break out the GameBoy - Justin K.
| August 13
| Bridal Falls
| Sunny, highs to 28°C
| 0% POP
| 290° at 8 knots
| Grouse Report - Rob P and Glen T were out doing tandems from 9:30 am at Grouse. Lift found by the Cut but not at the cliffs, getting too stable. I can't believe I am saying this . . . . but we need RAIN!
| August 12
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Lake Report - lots of pilots at launch, one HGer from Edmonton crashed off launch but survived with a broken downtube and some scrapes. Very exciting! | Students are logging 3-4 flights per day and progressing very well. August 11
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Lake Report - three greaat flights for the students, no real XC potential for experts.
| August 10
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Lake Report - we had some new pilots join us for a three day course so we headed to King Eddy for the morning, arriving back for evening flights at Mara. Still incredibly stable, we need rain. | Revelstoke XC Report - Peter McClaren of Golden, flew from Revelstoke to Golden by paraglider! He launched at about 1:30 pm from Mt Mackenzie and landed at the LZ in Nicholson. This is the first time to the best of my knowledge that the Selkirks and Purcells have ever been crossed by paraglider. Way to go Peter - reported by Alan Polster August 9
| Idaho Peak (new Denver)
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Idaho Peak Report - we drove to the parking area and Norm, Colleen, Jeremy and I hiked in to the Peak. | Launch is at 7480 feet! Colleen launched first and climbed smartly to 10,000 feet in a few turns. We all had great flights and landed in the campground later as Bev drove down. Grouse Report - Something is wrong!! It was a very beeeutifull day there today. Where were the rest of the hungry pilots?? Two hours of some of the best air I have seen in a while,some skinny ones some fat ones but they were everywhere!! cant wipe the s**t eatin grin off my face!! Thomas McE. August 8
| Idaho Peak (new Denver)
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Idaho Peak Report - we arrived at the Campground to 30 knot winds that lasted until just before dark so we didn't bother heading up.
| August 7
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Report - more mini out and returns. | Suburban Report - ouch! Noisy rear end, we had to tow it in from the LZ! It will only cost $1200 to rebuild. Send donations to the Suburban Repair Fund c/o FlyBC! August 6
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Report - more mini out and returns. No legendary flights. Getting stable.
| August 5
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Report - up to Mara Launch again, this time with Enderby as the goal field. Colleen, Noel, Dave, Jeremy and I flew all getting good altitude along the way. I got a bit spooked by some big sink and headed out to land near the Foodliner and Colleen ended up in the regular LZ. | Back up to launch to try again, Colleen and I flew under Norm as he scratched his way along the road. We got high fast this time and lost sight of Norm heading south. I couldn't keep up with Colleen as she was higher and zooming down range on the Simba and I was flying a Fiesta. I arrived over Enderby and heard Bev retrieving Colleen from the gap. I landed in the soceer field arriving over town with 1500 meters. We lost Norm somewhere with a dead radio but Colleen saw him cross the Enderby Gap. Norm ultimately made it to Vernon (near the waterslides) for a 50 km flight on his Fiesta! Go Norm! August 4
| Mara Lake
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| Light and Variable
| Mara Report - I flew one flight off the Sicamous Ramp landing in town, then we headed to Mara Launch. | Colleen and I discussed heading north to Sicamous (13 kms) and Emil said "no way! no landing areas on route!" We calculated that one would need 2500 meters to go safely and when Colleen hit 2500 meters she was gone north. She arrived over Sicamous with 1400 meters and took 30 minutes to land in the Baseball Park. August 3
| Golden BC
| so so weather, highs to 24°C
| 0% POP
| 290° at 5 knots
| Golden Report - so so flights, weather turned bad a few times so we are packing for Mara Lake.
| August 2
| Golden BC
| Sunny, highs to 27°C
| 0% POP
| 270° at 9 knots
| Golden Report - two great flights after waiting for hours on launch. Colleen and I were the "Simba Couple" thermalling together to 3300 meters before heading south. Big head winds that direction so I did an out and return to Moberly Peak landing at the Nicholson LZ.
| August 1
| Golden BC
| Sunny, highs to 30°C
| 0% POP
| 290° at 9 knots
| Golden Report - small XCs but nothing notable, just great flying with everyone.
| |
July 2001 Site of the Day archives Road Trip Month, Golden, Mara, points east!
