FlyBC's Paragliding Site of the Day August 2019 Archive Page - from the Universe's Largest Paragliding Centre :-)

Date	Site	Forecast	Winds @ 3000' in kilometers	Lapse Rate °C/1000' Cloud Base in Meters	Comments
8-31-19	FlyBC is open after noon due to outflow winds	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 30. Humidex 32. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 1100 metres	Woodside Report - I was doing paramotor training with Bill and Andrew this morning while Tony worked with 4 new students. The new NOVA fleet is working well for Paragliding and Paramotoring too. The NOVA Prion 4 is an easy launcher and has good into wind performance for afternoon flights. The NOVA Prion 4 is also a very good paramotor wing with good speeds and very stable for afternoon PPG sorties in rough conditions (not a tip tuck or ruffle). By 2 pm Tony said the new students were all ready for Mission Heritage Park flights. Meanwhile Derek, Martin, Dennie, Linda and Karen were soaring around at 1000 metres enjoying the thermals. Martin top-landed to drive Linda's truck down as she was HGing today.
8-30-19	FlyBC is closed due to winds and showers	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy with 40% chance of rain. High 24.	200° @ 25 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - I had to leave the Skymaster in High River as the AMEs had to order some parts for the turbocharger system. Westjet got me home but we were bucking 50 knot headwinds so it was not a flying day at Woodside.
8-29-19	FlyBC is open after noon due to outflow winds	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 30. Humidex 32. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - Tony and Dennie were working with students all day at Woodside.
8-28-19	FlyBC is open after noon due to outflow winds	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 30. Humidex 32. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Travel Report - I worked with students til 1 pm, when Colleen took over while Tony was launching students at Woodside. I headed to the Chilliwack Airport and pre-flighted the T337B and headed to High River AB. Quick flight direct to CEN4 over the Rockies. Slocan Lake looked beautiful and it started getting thermic there as it was 3 pm. Near Fairmont it was still sunny with just come punchy CUs. I was averaging 204 mph on the GPS so it was a fast trip with good tailwinds at 11500 feet. As I got over the Rockies and into the Foothills it clouded over and I had to maintain 10500 to remain VFR. At High River the clouds opened up and I did one fast 360 and landed to the north in gusty winds. Total trip time was 2:14 to the pumps.
8-27-19	FlyBC is open after noon due to outflow winds	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 29. Humidex 31. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we did not fly until after 3 pm and it was quqite stable. Low hanging smog at launch height, no birds but I had a tandem to fly and good cycles so off we went and I worked the front side thermals for 15 minutes and just stayed at launch height. Martin N had launched 15 minutes before us and was working down low . . . and I mean low! Degas took off on his Ozone Delta 3 and worked some north side thermals and got quite high. Meanwhile Martin was still working down low as we headed out to the harrison Highlands area and thermalled there maintaining and sometimes climbing while I watched Martin's shadow down low close to the trees. Martin landed in Riverside and we had a nice landing at Eagle Ranch in South winds.
8-26-19	FlyBC is open after noon because of the outflow	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Clearing near noon. High 28. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 20 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we had no students but we did two tandem rounds. The tandem at 1 pm was excellent as I took Kim to 1000 metres right away while we were waiting for Gary to launch. Excellent thermals right in front of launch and out over the Harrison Highlands area. Kims Tandem Launch Folks were flying Bridal and had good flights, as did a group off Woodside for the glssoff last night.
8-25-19	FlyBC is open after noon but it looks doubtful we will be able to fly	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Clearing near noon. High 22. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 25 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we never flew today as it was too windy. The hangies flew though and had great to 1.5 hour flights. One un-named hangie crashed on landing and had to be carted off to hospital by BC Ambulance. Tip of the Day: - never do 360s close to the ground, it is too easy to build up speed and sink and you may not be able to round out before you hit the ground.
8-24-19	FlyBC is open after noon but it looks doubtful we will be able to fly	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Showers in the am, then clearing. High 21. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we did some paramotor training with Bill & Greg, and they had nice long flights. Winds were perfect for Bill's first flight and landing. Mark was flying his Scout Paramotor early on and burned up a tank of gas exploring Harrison Mills. After noon we did three tandems and the wind really picked up as I flew the last tandem with a light passenger on the Ozone SwiftMax 41 metre ship. We got some ridge soaring in and despite the cloudy skies there was some cloud suck even with no sun. I had to open the trims to push out to the Ranch and even when I was spiralling we did not go down. After 15 minutes orbitting over Duncan's farm we came into land and it was rowdy with strong southerly gusts. We had a nice soft touchdown though. The last set of tandems could not be done as the winds got too strong.
8-23-19	FlyBC is open after noon but it looks doubtful we will be able to fly	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Showers at times heavy ending this morning then cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. High 21. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - not much action here at the Ranch as the weather was not really flyable, odd August this year . . . rain and not hot and no smoke.
8-22-19	FlyBC is open after 10 am	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers this morning then a mix of sun and cloud. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 22. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 5 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we were open today with a beginner class for a Father & Son Team. Sergey & Anatoli were doing great when I left for Chilliwack to do some truck shopping. The FlyBC Shuttle Bus is getting recyceld as the cross ditches are back on Mother Woodside yet again. There was a big crowd of hopeful pilots today: Alex R, Igor T and others. There was a big black CU over Woodside around noon as they went up in Turpin's Suburban. Apparently Alex said he launched and got "hoovered" to 1200 metres immediately. Martin N and a few others were observed around 2 pm trying to top-land but I did not know of the drama unfolding as I was off 146.415 MHZ. An un-named pilot was thermalling below Alex when something went wrong (too deep in the venturi or too far back in the thermals) and his wing lost pressure and he tried to throw his reserve but it was too late or too low and they landed in the brush near 3 kms. They were able to pack up their gear and walk out to the road where John W had gone down to find them. Thanks John! The un-named pilot had some soarness in their ribs but otherwise checked out okay so they got a ride to the Chilliwack Hospital with Alex. Tip of the Day - if you are not current . . . do not fly mid-day thermals! Enjoy the morning sleddies and afternoon glass-offs and get re-acquainted with your equipment before tackling the big air. There is a shiny new 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab with high top canopy awaiting shuttle duties at Eagle Ranch and maybe even Mexico!
8-21-19	FlyBC is open but the weather did not cooperate	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Becoming cloudy this morning with 30 percent chance of showers late this morning and this afternoon. High 24. Humidex 26. UV index 4 or moderate.	200° @ 20 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - It was very rainy today so no one flew off Woodside.
8-20-19	FlyBC is back in business	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 27C. Humidex 29. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 10 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - Tony had Liam and Ricardo again today for lessons. Colleen and I took the boys to the training hill and both Reny (11) and Brandon (8) were flying down the hill like "pros". Remy was on the NOVA Prion4 XS and Brandon was on an Ozone Fazer3 10 metre. Brandon tried the NOVA Prion4 as well and was floating down the hill. Later we took them tandem and we had floaty fun flights with little lift. Brandon did not want to fly but despite his worried look, he did have fun. After our tandem flights we fed them and we headed to Chilliwack Airport for the flight back to Williams Lake. This was one of the fastest flights there in just and hour! Very windy and bumpy as we headed north at 10,500 feet. Of course this meant the flight home would take much longer and it did and there were reports of "severe turbulence" near Pemberton. My bumps were more like light chop as I stayed on the windward side of the peaks. Of course this made me a bit late on arriving back to Chilliwack and Flight Services called me as I rolled into the taxiway because I was overdue on the flight plan because the winds were much stronger than forecasted. When I got back I heard there was some drama due to some "lookie-loos" on launch that thought Nelson had gone into the Fraser River, so they called 911. Nelson was in fact in the Eagle Ranch LZ and they just mis-read where he was at last glance, and they over-reacted. The RCMP took Nelson back to the bottom of Woodside where he retrieved his truck and the RCMP met the callers and debriefed with them. All's well that ends well.
8-19-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Woodside looks wet and windy this weekend so we are on a road trip heading east, back Monday	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 27. Humidex 29. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 15 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - Tony was wrangling the students today and got three runs in for Liam and Ricardo. Ricardo is back and getting finished soon as he is at flight 15 now after 2 months hiatus. We were enjoying the kids playing in the pool and taking Brandon to the hospital when he fell on the bike requiring two stitches under his eye. He was back in the pool within a few minutes of returning home.
8-18-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Woodside looks wet and windy this weekend so we are on a road trip heading east, back Monday	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy. High 22. Humidex 25. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 25 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Williams Lake Report - I flew north to Williams Lake & back today to pickup the grandkids in the Cessna T337B. Chilliwack was clear but as I headed north over Harrison Lake the clouds were built up to 11,000 feet so I was VFR on top for most of the flight and it was very lifty so much fuel was saved. Total flight time was 75 minutes, much faster than driving and way more fun. At the pumps in Williams Lake, BC. The flight back with the boys was somewhat clearer but we still had to maintain 11,000 feet plus to be VFR.
8-17-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Woodside looks wet and windy this weekend so we are on a road trip heading east, back Monday	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon. High 22. Humidex 25. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 25 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Sun Peaks Report - we planned on going to the CanAm in WA State, but the weather looked wet and windy so we headed to Sun Peaks to check out some flying there but it was way too stormy there. Reports from the CanAm said some pilots flew but mostly it was just a camping party.
8-16-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Woodside looks wet and windy this weekend so we are on a road trip heading east, back Monday	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon. High 22. Humidex 25. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 25 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we were closed for the next few days as Colleen & I are away on vacation. It was wet and rainy as I made a trip to Vancouver for errands.
8-15-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Colleen & I are vacationing at Points East	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: A mix of sun and cloud. High 26. Humidex 29. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 20 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 1100 metres	Sun Peaks Report - today we went e-biking out to McGillvary Lake with the inlaws. Maybe it was flyable, but the winds were strong West today. On the way home on the #5 it was gusty and strong. At Woodside it was very gusty til 9 pm. No fliers spotted at Woodside.
8-14-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Colleen & I are vacationing at Points East	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: A mix of sun and cloud. High 26. Humidex 29. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 20 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 1100 metres	Sun Peaks Report - Colleen and I headed east to Sun Peaks for a reconn trip. Sun Peaks Management wants to restart paragliding as an approved activity and welcomed us with "open arms". Registration is with Guest services. You must have a current HPAC Membeship and be at least a P-2 rated pilot. Tram Tickets are $40 for two days or $100 for the summer season. You have to hike from the top of the chairlift to Top of the World Bowl, about 30 minutes and it is worth the hike! I flew in dubious conditions with cloudsuck and strong SW winds but overall the air was smooth. The forecast and cloud movements said 20 kph of SW winds. I launched in 20 kph of SE winds? Maybe it was rotor? Landing is in the main parking lot near the camping area. Camping is $15 a night and close to the lifts and action.
8-13-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Colleen & I are vacationing at Points East	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: A mix of sun and cloud. High 26. Humidex 29. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 20 kph	-3.0°C (unstable) 1100 metres	Woodside Report - we were closed for the next few days as Colleen & I are away on vacation. A few people flew but it was not very good for lift.
8-12-19	FlyBC is closed for a few days as Colleen & I are vacationing at Points East	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers this morning. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud near noon. High 24. Humidex 28. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 700 metres	Woodside Report - Norm & Bev went for a flight around 1 pm and they did not stay up as the thermals were too small and rough (too much moisture). We all went up around 3 pm: Kevin, Derek, Norm, Bev, and Blake. I launched first and the air was weird on launch with strong cycles and then cross or nothing. I climbed out to 1200 metres fast and waited and waited (it felt like spring thermals yet it was August 12th). Finally Kevin launched and joined me. Kevin was soon gone east towards Agassiz Mtn., so I followed. There were nice CU on the ridge heading east but not many climbs until Agassiz Mtn. I had no radio, no phone and no camera so not a single picture today. The views were spectacular towards Harrison Lake. We got to 1300 metres at Agassiz Mtn but no higher and when I went further east towards the powerlines and a waiting CU, I got drilled with sink and no leeside thermals. I ran towards Green Hill but got only a few beeps so I headed straight to the Crossroads Esso (and beer!). I watched Derek, Norm and Kevin hook up with Green Hill and they scratched around for 15 minutes before heading out to land. Bev flew out to the Ranch and came to retrieve us. Thanks to Bev & Thomm for driving today!
8-11-19	FlyBC is closed due to wet conditions	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: 70 percent chance of drizzle early in the morning. High 20.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 700 metres	Woodside Report - it rained all day and quite heavy at times. Good day to arrange the Barn and work on chores. It does not feel like August! A big shout-out to Simon B and Mukunda and Bill G as they flew from Revy to the Golden Trench last week, Simon's track log says 200 kms + on his Gin Explorer. Big Revy Flight
8-10-19	FlyBC is closed due to rain	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: 30 percent chance of drizzle early in the morning. Clearing late in the afternoon. High 27. Humidex 32. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 700 metres	Woodside Report - wet and rainy all day, good grief it is wet in August but better than smoke.
8-9-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school at 10 am, and flights soon as the clouds lift enough and Tony is running the show for the next few days as Colleen & I are vacationing	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Cloudy. 30 percent chance of drizzle early in the morning. Clearing late in the afternoon. High 27. Humidex 32. UV index 5 or moderate.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 700 metres	Woodside Report - Silke got her last few flights in today before heading back to the Yukon. She is heading home with a near new Ozone Atom 3 paraglider!
8-8-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school at 10 am, and flights soon thereafter and Bev is running the show for the next few days as Colleen & I are away	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 32. Humidex 37. UV index 6 or high.	200° @ 22	-3.0°C (unstable) 1200 metres	Woodside Report - Colleen and I stayed in Revy overnight and had a great day: Hot tub at 8 am, breakfast buffet at 9 am, up on the mountain at noon for some thermalling. I launched first out of 10 pilots and it was easy climbing and light winds. We flew for an hour landing at the RC Field/Splashville. Brad came to pick up up and we all packed into the T337B Skymaste and we flew to Chilliwack in 1:20. We flew over Woodside to descend into Chilliwack and no one was flying PG or HG as it was blowing +25 kph and gusty. Nice lunch at the Airport before heading to the Ranch. Reports from the Revy Crew of flights to Invermere and 200+ kms logged today! Meanwhile in Macedonia the PWC is running.
8-7-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school at 10 am, and flights soon thereafter and Bev is running the show for the next few days as Colleen & I are away	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 32. Humidex 37. UV index 6 or high.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 1200 metres	Woodside Report - Silke was the only student today with three more flights and Bev & Derek guiding her (star treatment). Colleen and I flew the T337B up to Revy to see some condos and hang out with the Revy Crew. Big flights to 3100 metres today.
8-6-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school at 10 am, and flights soon thereafter and Bev is running the show for the next few days as Colleen & I are away	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 32. Humidex 37. UV index 6 or high.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 1200 metres	Woodside Report - Dylan & Silke were flying today and Dylan logged his 25th flight. Unfortunately his 26th flight ended up in the bushes to the south of Launch (intermediate syndrome).
8-5-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school at 10 am, and flights at 11 am	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 32. Humidex 37. UV index 6 or high.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 1200 metres	Woodside Report - Colleen and I arrived back at Eagle Ranch at 12:30 pm to find the Ranch over run by pilots! Seven students, some old and some brand new! We had Bev, Tony and Jay working with the students and despite the heat everyone survived the day of kiting and flying. New student Jeremy got his first two flights today and did very well. Scott got his 25th flight today despite a new job and some bad weather in early July. Scott just has to write his P-2 exam this week and he is ready for his new career as a P-2 flight junkie. Happy recently minted P-2 and hopeful P-2 pilots debriefing with the Instructors at the Sasquatch after flying.
8-4-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school at 10 am, and flights at 2 pm as it looks like outflow til 2 pm	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 32. Humidex 37. UV index 6 or high.	200° @ 5	-3.0°C (unstable) 1200 metres	Woodside Report - Flights started at 2 pm after the outflow ceased or so Bev thought. Bev was launching advanced students and flew off after them and she did not like the air (still leeside). But they got two flights in before shutting down. Colleen and I did something completely different . . . a first year birthday party for Niece Emelia in Rayleigh, outside of Kamloops. It looks like a nice SW facing hill with a gravel road to the top awaits some flight testing there.
8-3-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school and flights at 10 am and it looks good all day	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Sunny. High 27. Humidex 31. UV index 7 or high.	200° @ 10	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - we had a great training day for the students. Tony was busy with 5 new students o the training hill with Jay W helping. Bev was hucking Tanyss, Scott & Dylan and they got between 2 and 5 flights depending on their stamina in the heat. Derek & I did a set of tandems at 1 pm with some prospective students and we got to 1000 metres with ease. And I had no vario as it was charging and I forgot to put it in my pack. We all went up in Lee's truck at 5 pm and conditions were a little gusty on launch but easy climbing to 1100 metres all over the mountain. I flew for 45 minutes struggling to adjust my harness after it was lent out to a pilot at noon who changed every strap. Tip of the Day: If you lend out your gear, setup your harness in a simulator before going on a long soaring flight! Dylan got his last flight today as Bev drove him up to soar with the big pilots (his tip today was more outside brake, and he did really well on his new Sky Fides 2).
8-2-19	FlyBC is open today for ground school only at 10 am and it looks windy all day	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: Showers with risk of thunderstorms. Gusty winds. High 20. UV index 3 or moderate.	200° @ 40	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside Report - it was a scary day with SW Winds up to 40 kph and thunderstorms forecasted, so no flying paragliders. It did calm down just before dark but too late to bother going up.
8-1-19	FlyBC is open today for lessons at 9 am and it looks flyable all day	Woodside Forecast Woodside Forecast: A mix of sun and cloud. High 28. Humidex 30. UV index 8 or very high.	200° @ 15	-3.0°C (unstable) 800 metres	Woodside WOW Report - forecast said a normal day with "SW Winds up to 15 kph". It was a perfect training day with lightwind launches early, juicy thermals after 1 pm, and glass-off conditions later in the day. The last flight had hour long flights for students and pros. Justin & Cheryl were out flying and his new Ozone Delta 3 with special logos looks great. Colours on top match the Tanzanian flag. Malcolm managed to complete his 25 flights this week and is now signed off with P-2 exam passed with 90% and a new Nova Prion4 glider to fly with.