I watched in amazement as he ran off the hillside and smoothly flew down to the valley floor. The next day, I sold my bike, bought my first glider, and adopted flying as a new sport for exploring the mountains.
My two close friends and I bought wings together and took classes at a local paragliding school. The first steps off the cliff into the breeze is a surreal weightless feeling.
Our learning process wasn't without incidents and some very close calls prompted us to dedicate more effort to learning techniques, meteorology, and flying more often in easier conditions. I wanted to be safer through knowledge and experience. Risk to reward ratio became a major driver behind all flying missions.
Mountains vary a ton in weather and conditions so paragliders come in various sizes to accommodate different styles of flying. We quickly learned it was good to have a quiver to enjoy different weather conditions.
A wing for mountain cruising and long distance
And a wing for high-speed descents and high speed wind.
As experienced kayakers, we could visualize air flow like a river, helping us progress quickly. We soon began tackling big mountain hike and fly goals in our backyards.
I started carrying a wing in my car trunk wherever I went, flying at official sites (where I could find them) and plenty of unofficial ones too. One of the coolest things about paragliding is hiking up a mountain and flying back down to your car.
Going to the ocean? Bring the wing. Great way to explore the beach.
(Thanks for the Commentary Eli 😂)
I even used my mini wing to tow myself to the top of some epic backcountry skiing.
There is something beautiful about traveling with a small extra backpack that lets you fly around and see new locations from above. It's a call to hit the road and go exploring with any free time.
If you're interested in paragliding, here are some tips to hopefully help you avoid mistakes I made:
• Take lessons
• Buy a wing matching your experience level
• Fly with better pilots who can advise you
• Always fly with a GPS beacon
• Always carry a parachute & first aid kit with tourniquet
• Fly in late afternoons for dampened, easier conditions
- Know that is is totally ok to pack your wing up and walk away from a flight aka take your ego out of it.
Paragliding is an incredible sport/hobby that offers unique perspectives and pairs well with hiking and skiing in large mountains or beach life. Keep present that safety and proper training are crucial to enjoying your time in the air. Happy flying!
#Nostr #photography #paragliding #mountains #outdoor #hiking #flying