Lonely Skies

Beautiful skies just before launch

There is a certain level of peace and solitude to be found in the snowy mountains of winter. There is just something special about the calm and quiet air that I find refreshing. It lacks the anticipated bubbling energy and excitement that so often causes my palms to sweat and heart to race come early spring. Productive thermal activity is greatly diminished in the cold snowy air, which brings a relaxing change. December has been quite stormy, which has brought strong winds and a bounty of snow, with beautiful skies and still plenty of great days to fly...so long as you are willing to brave the elements.

Self portrait-knee deep in snow

This month I have found myself flying mostly alone in the solitude of winter. Sure there has been a few days here and there flying amongst friends, but mostly my companions have been the mule deer that populate the Wasatch foothills. As the snow keeps falling, and covering each of our tracks, we have been taking turns setting the trails. Sometimes the deer break trail for me, and when it is fresh, I find it my duty to break it for them. Although generally silent, their presence has kept me company.

Racing to beat the snow

Flying through different winter storm cycles provides opportunities to experience different textures of air, to learn, experiment, and redefine your boundaries and limits as a pilot. However, one must always exercise good judgement and know your own limits and skill level. I have had some interesting flights this month that have provided new knowledge to draw upon. I have experienced 30 mph catabatic winds rush in with no warning from a calm upslope breeze. Such winds threw my glider off the mountain and down into a canyon (glad I wasn't hooked in). I have experienced unique thermal flights in the middle of snow storms. It is always interesting to be going up, while the snow falls down. I have had many mid-day and afternoon flights in the snow covered canyons and foothills. At the request of a good friend I even ventured to the Point of the Mountain for a north side thermal flight (haven't been there since May). No crowds, students, instructors, tandems or spectators...just a couple friends, soaring high above the bench for an hour or so in the freezing cold air. A rare treat indeed!

Shallow wing over before landing

As I look back on the month it has been a refreshing and peaceful change. The mountains now covered in white continue to provide wonderful views, calm air, and beautiful skies. They have offered a lot more quiet solitude than normal, but I find I am never quite alone...I still have the deer to keep me company.

Gliding in the smooth moonlight

Take to the Sky

I sit here in the calm glow of the computer screen, a few brief minutes to myself reflecting on a busy holiday filled flying weekend. November is nearing an end. We still have a few days left, but the completion of our national holiday of Thanksgiving seems to be a fitting end of the month...to me at least. As I sit here evaluating my life I have many things to be thankful for. A truly wonderful life: amazing wife, kids, faith, good health, and wonderful friends. I am thankful for the ability to live in a country that had enough foresight (then at least) to create a day to stop and count ones blessings. One thing I am thankful for, for which this blog focuses on is the miracle of free-flight. Thankful for those pioneers who have gone before to not only prove it was possible, but to perfect it in such a way that someone like me can actually soar with the birds; no motors, no metal, and no machine...just fabric and string.
I am thankful for the ability to dream, and then to act. I remember the first time my feet left the ground just above the training hill. It was only for seconds really, but a life changing moment. I think every paraglider pilot remembers their first time, and it was probably that instant that solidified the pursuit of their dream.
I now have years of flying under my belt, hundreds of flights, and hundreds of hours in the sky. I have not been to the training hill in a very long time, yet the feeling of that first flight never quite fades. I know many pilots get tired of the quick, short flights of winter, and thus hang up the gear for a season. They ask "Is it really worth all that effort of hiking up for only 5 minutes in the sky?" To me, the time and effort required to hike up a mountain is but a small price to pay, even if my feet were only a few seconds above the ground. To me every moment in the sky is still a miracle, a dream come true, and one I hope to never lose enthusiasm for.
Until one experiences this miracle of free-flight it is difficult to express how magical it truly is. I try with words to describe it, but fail in such a task. The short videos I make are an attempt to convey that joy, exhilaration, and pure magic of the sport. Perhaps even share a small piece of my passion along the way. If one has ever had such a dream, maybe now is time for you to take to the sky.

This short video is a compilation of me and my close friends captured along the Wasatch mountains during several short flights throughout the month of November. It does not showcase the flights of the last few days, such as flying the meadows of Lone Peak on Thanksgiving morning, Friday evening flights on the upper north faces of Grandeur, or the Saturday flights over the city of Bountiful. Those will have to continue to live inside my memory.

Turning of the Tide

A week or so ago the Wasatch Mountains were hit with the first measurable snow of the year. This is usually a turning of the tide in paragliding when most pilots pack up their wings and pull out the ski gear in a mad rush for the hills of white. At the conclusion of the storm I too found myself heading up familiar hills, but not with hopes of gliding through fields of snow....but to continue floating over them. I have lived here in the Wasatch my whole life and have been skiing/snowboarding for 35 years. I have experienced every kind of powder turn, and to me nothing can compare to cutting through the winter sky in a paraglider. So I always look forward to winter flying. For me, there is no such thing as a beginning or end to the flying season, which many people find rather odd. For me, it is always time to fly the mountains. Sure the air texture and temperatures change with each season, but the pure miracle and exhilaration of flight never does.

Early Winter Evening Flight

I was lucky enough to capture a handful of thrilling days and rare treats in the wake of this last winter storm. Catching a few rare thermal days in the mountains. One special day flying up, over, and around Grandeur Peak and the surrounding canyons and mountains, all covered in white. Another flying up and around the Lone Peak area for a solid hour and a half in the early winter thermic air. Beautiful evening flights at sunset from high up in the mountains. Rare treats indeed!

View from my driveway...after the storm.

I think the last 72 hours have been the real turning of the tide. For winter has surely come. At my house, tucked up to the mountains, we have received over 24" of fluffy Utah snow. I have shoveled my driveway more times that I did all of last year. I too look forward to 'recreational' and relaxing ski days ahead with my kids, but I still look forward to carving the smooth, cold air of winter. This is a wonderful season for flying, and with the turning of the tide I look forward to keeping my feet off the ground as much as I can...after all my feet start hurting when they have been on the ground too long.

Winter Thermal Flying around Grandeur Peak

The storm has ended, the sky is clearing and my feet are starting to hurt again.... :o)

Maui Dreams

When most people think of traveling to the Hawaiian Islands they think of days spent on the beach, basking in the warm sun, tan bodies, expensive meals, and just melting into the sand. However to us, our ideal version is...well....a little bit different. It seems now when we travel we do so in an effort to look upward, instead of outward. Where the great beyond is no longer the horizon, but the wind and clouds swirling in skies above. So descending onto the island of Maui, with my wife by my side, and a paraglider on my back we are ready to experience the island in our own way!
My good friend Clark and his wife put together this trip, and we feel lucky to have been invited to experience Maui with two of the nicest people on the planet.

After a great morning of flying through the warm, thick air and greenery of Maui it was all smiles, but we knew why we were really here. The ultimate goal of this trip is to fly from the summit of Haleakala Volcano (10,023 ft) all the way to the Pacific Ocean (0 ft), some 15 miles away. After unsuccessfully hooking up with a local pilot, and seeing a small weather window now closing, it was clear things were not going our way. It is often in times like these it is imperative that you do not give up hope. As a matter of plain good luck, we happened to bump into two of our pilot friends from Salt Lake City who were on the island and also willing to give it a go. Several phone calls later, talking and consulting with local pilots, we were armed with the information needed to make this happen.

Surveying the conditions from the summit of Haleakala

We wake at 4:00 a.m. to black skies. Radar images illuminating from the glow of our smart phones provides us vital data as we bump down the road towards the volcano. As dawn begins to break the sky is shrouded in high altitude clouds. Winds aloft are strong, but at least heading the right direction. We continue driving knowing that our weather window is getting smaller and smaller with each passing minute. Once at the summit, we hike to the designated launch site, stand on the hillside, faces smacked with a disheartening 20+ mph wind. Okay, we have done this before...it is not fun, but possible. After all that is why we are here. We lay out our wings in the steady winds now blowing across the sharp lava covered hill. I am used to this type of strong crosswind right?.....right! A deep breath...inhale nerves, exhale confidence. A quick tug of the lines and the glider shoots upward. A rapid control line input onto the left side of the wing pulls it straight. I turn, my feet leave the ground, and then I am up...going up. I fly out front waiting for the others to launch, but eventually I turn towards the ocean trying to eek out every bit of altitude I can. As I make my way from the volcano and across the valley, I am reminded how magical this sport is. To be flying over and thru the clouds, with no motors, no machine, just fabric is literally a dream. After several instrument checks on bearing, glide ratio, and ground speed, I emerge from the clouds at the edge of the ocean with 1200 vertical feet to spare. I play over the water, then glide thru the palm trees and into the beach side park of Kihei. VICTORY!

Jeff and Allison after another morning of successful flying.

With our goal reached, we spend the remainder of our island days diving, swimming, surfing, driving, hiking, enjoying the culture, eating shaved ice, and of course flying almost every day from the upper benches of the volcano.  
We came to Maui with the goal to fly from the tip of a Volcano to the Ocean, and I feel blessed to have been granted success in that goal. Although the flight only lasted about 45 minutes, in the smoothest, and calmest air I have ever felt, it will go down in history as one of the coolest, and most surreal flights I have ever had. You mean you didn't sit on the beach, read a book, and have Barbie spritz you with tanning oil? Nope. We did eat lots of Cheetos though.

Overlook from the lower "Ferns" Volcano Launch

Special thanks to our wives for driving us all over the island. Thanks to the local pilots for pioneering, and establishing these wonderful sites. Thanks to Proflyght Paragliding for letting us come, fly, and film on their mountain. Maui is truly an inspirational place to fly a paraglider.
Cheetos anyone?

Autumn Equinox - The End of Summer

With the Autumn Equinox now officially past, it definitively signals the end of Summer and a transition point into Autumn.  Here along Utah's Wasatch Mountains temperatures remain hot as summer, yet the colors of Autumn are beginning to glow in full glory along the foothills.


I find these solar phenomenons great opportunities to pause, look backwards on events past, and forward with anticipation on adventures soon to be.  As I reflect on just the last few weeks of paragliding around my home, it continues to be an honor flying with such great friends.  As members of the DEAF Crew we continue to point our eyes towards the mountains, and have been flying most every flyable day.  From Randolph to Strawberry Reservoir, and everything in between, we have been flying our way across the mountains, soaking up the beauty this world has to offer.

It is always hard watching the sun shift south, for we know the thermals are beginning to turn off.  I know most pilots tend to put the gear in the closet, pull out the skis, and wait again for warmer days to spring up.  For us, although sad to see the thermals go, our smiles seem to get a bit bigger (I know mine does).  For the cold days of autumn and winter lie ahead, which offers some of the most fantastic and rewarding mountain flying of the year.  Yes, I bid summer farewell (and what a summer it has been), but I smile looking forward to some of the best days that shortly lay ahead.

What's the Point?

As I look into the rearview mirror, reflecting on the last week, what an exceptional week it has been! The flying has been incredible, the views breathtaking, and the friends as memorable as always.  Three of the last four days have been spent flying 'The B', my home site, and one I fly almost every flyable day in the summer months. The leaves are starting to change, but even under the threat of autumn, the heat remains way above bearable.  With colder air up high, great flying conditions is a bit of an understatement.

Synopsis:

• First flight up and out to Granite in the weakest conditions I have ever felt here.  It took a very long time (like over an hour) to work what little lift was available in order to get up and out, and required me to call upon every little secret and skill I have learned from flying this place over the last two years.  As the sun was setting and the glass off happened, it made for a beautiful peaceful experience.

• Second flight up and out to The Point in a little more windy conditions.  Paul and I were the only ones to get up to the Hounds Tooth quickly.  Paul turned south early, I waited awhile for the others (JJ) to gain altitude. Once they arrived we turned and went south.  Bell's Canyon was less than enjoyable as the air was like being tossed around in a washing machine (lee side thermal flying is often like that).  Made it over Lone Peak and then headed out to the Point.  It was SUPER windy....like zero penetration in to the wind, so instead of 'Benching Up' on the North Side, and getting sucked over the mountain (i've had enough lee side flying for one day) I decided to fly back and land at the Draper pool...the right choice!

• Third flight, the worst launch I have ever had at The B....but perhaps one of the smoothest flights ever.  No wind at all today, which means the lift was 'up' so long as you knew where to look.  I found a great climb up to 11,000 feet over the Hounds Tooth, and with nobody else in sight, except for the small gliders well below, I decided to head south and wait for the others in Bell's Canyon.  Clark made it to Little Cottonwood (his first time), Gary to the Point, Paul went north to Grandeur, and I had so much fun up in Bell's Canyon then out to Lone Peak, then doubled back to land in Hidden Valley (makes the retrieve for my wife so much easier).

On the last flight there were a slew of pilots at launch, all talking about wanting to fly to 'The Point' today.  This is a pretty common conversation here as it seems every time there are other pilots, that is what they want to talk about.  I have been wondering lately why that is?  Sure, I have flown from here to The Point many times, its fun, but not that epic (at least after Lone Peak).  Is reaching The Point, or some far destination the sole reason why they are flying that day?  To me, although a nice goal, I think it more important to enjoy the journey.  We fly over some of the most scenic portions of the Wasatch Mountains, granite walls, spires, canyons, etc. If we are so focused on just the goal, wanting nothing more than glory awaiting us at the destination, and don't stop to revel in the fact our feet are dangling over spectacular views, then...."what's the point?"

Strawberry Tranquility

It is already August, and with summer vanishing before our eyes my family and I decide to do a short, spur of the moment camping trip to Strawberry.  Having flown this site before, it is a great opportunity to get some flying.  Paul and his small family join us as well.

Paul and Jeff in the evening sky over Strawberry

The wind is howling, making flying not really a possibility, but patience often pays off in this sport if you are willing to just wait.  Around 7:30 it starts to calm a bit, so we all hike out to the ridge.  Paul and I launch in to the prevailing winds and are rewarded with a nice evening flight in the golden air above the lake.

Jeff flying through the setting sun

As I land back up on the ridge, and start folding up my wing a small elk herd exits the cover of the adjacent aspen trees.  Quietly calling to one another as they make their way across the ridge and into the trees beyond.  The sun has set and I continue to fold amidst the purples of dusk.  Below, the coyotes begin howling.  As I walk back to camp in the dark, I am reminded of how awesome this world is, and how lucky I am to get to hang out here for awhile.

Paragliding the Western Alps

Just as summer starts morphing into a great pattern of warm lifting air, it is time to bid Utah farewell and turn my sights towards another set of mountains...a bit further east. I know most people would rather watch the video than read the boring travelog, so by all means...



It is impossible to summarize almost a month of paragliding in the Western Alps into just a few paragraphs.  But, I am going to ry.  Before this becomes too much of a travelog I ought to let you know a bit about me and my thoughts on travel.  

In general, I am not real keen on experiencing new cultures, new people, or trying new food.  Well to be honest, I am not particularly fond of the human race as a whole either.  I generally do not like the city environment, bustling people, and eating ranks in my book as one of the least desirable activities one could ever do.  Yeah, I know I am not normal.  I find most happiness in the middle of the wilderness where only grizzly bears and wolves keep me company...so a trip to 'Europe' has never been too high on my list of desirable travel destinations.  That being said my eight days in Germany earlier this year was a fantastic experience for me (probably because no big cities were involved).  It was this great experience that has opened my eyes to a greater world that exists away from the standard European cities, and thus caused me to gladly accept this opportunity to visit rural France.  Now on to the travelog:

Armed with a brand new wing from Skywalk Paragliders (now an official team pilot), GoPro cameras, airline tickets, passport and, oh yeah, my family, it is off to France for a month of flying in the French and Swiss Alps.  This was not really a planned trip when I was putting together my year, but I am thankful for this unique opportunity.  Me and my family have been invited to spend the summer with Gary and Paul at their home in a small village in the French Alps.  With extremely high hopes for flying we board the plane on a direct flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Paris, France.  Several hours later we find ourselves pulling into the small farming village of Les Cotes de Corps, near the town of Corps, France.

Top of the launch above the house...we fly towards the lake.

Corps is a small town (which is great), but in France that means there is nowhere really to eat, or available food (not even a grocery store).  The bread store is rarely open and it sells....well, only bread.  Lucky for me right?  Well after several days of just bread, it starts to become an issue as hunger starts to set in.  Les Cotes de Corps is a beautiful spot in the world.  Nestled in the hills, surrounded by mountains and glacial lakes.  The home in which we are staying was built in the early1700’s, yeah thats right, it was built before the USA was even a country.  Pretty awesome!

The paragliding here is off the charts beautiful, and pretty darn good when the sun is shining.  We have flown all through the mountains around our place in all kinds of conditions.  Morning, mid-day, evening, really late evening; foggy, windy, really windy, catabatic, thermic, convergence, you name it!  It has been awesome!!!  The best flight I have ever had in my life to date was off a mountain just around the corner in a town called Mens.  A drive up launch, a groomed (like rubber) launch site, and 3000 feet to play with.  Paul and I hook into some small lift and are able to work it back up into the mountains.  It ends us being a several hour flight as Paul and I fly across the entire range, back and forth.  At each canyon we lock into thermals that take us back up into the clouds.  There is just something magical about flying through the clouds, over high alpine meadows, above european groomed farm fields.  Just magical.

Flying the range over Mens, France

Allison, the kids and I went off on our own spur trip to Italy, Switzerland, Chamonix, and then linked back up with the others in Annecy.  The flying was spectacular through Interlaken, high above the glaciers in Chamonix, and over the lakes and cliffs of Annecy.  Just too many memories or flights to list here.

Setting up to fly in Chamonix, France

If you plan on visiting rural france (outside Paris) there are a few lessons learned through this trip that might be of interest to you.

1. We were told that everybody in France speaks English...no they do not!  “Oh they do, they just don’t like to.”  That is a false statement as well.  Maybe in Paris that's true, but everywhere else in France NOBODY speaks english.  So you better brush up on the basics.  I am not kidding, learn some basics so you can eat, buy gas, or even buy an ice cream (yeah, we didn’t get that right the first time either).
2. When paragliding, speak english, as it is sometimes a benefit to not speak French.  Especially when you don’t have a european paragliding license, or when another pilot tries to step in front of you.
3. There is no order to a line in France (bakery line, ski lift line, launch line, etc.) Fight for your place up front, otherwise it will get taken from you...learned that one the hard way.
4. Paragliding through Europe and in the French Alps is something every devout paraglider pilot must do.

Flying through the French Alps

In the end, this has been a fabulous experience for not only me, but my wife and kids.  It has been great to expose my kids to a bigger world out there, to appreciate what they have, and never forget how good american sour cream tastes. Oh who am I kidding, I ate a whole tub myself when I got home too.  I look forward to going back someday....perhaps someday soon.  I am ever grateful for my faithful paragliding buddies Gary and Paul; and my wife Allison for driving us all over the country side making sure we made it home safe.  Also very grateful to Gary and Paul’s family members for letting us tag along, and letting me pull them away from family time and into the mountains to fly basically every second of the day.  

Till next time...

Summer's On the Way

Every season is unique, and although the calm days of winter are ending, they are being rapidly replaced with the energetic and dynamic days of summer.  It has been so hot lately, it feels like we have leap frogged over spring and right into summer.  With the warming air I continue to fly virtually every flyable day.  It seems every month we continue as a group to log dozens of mountain flights.  The shorter flights of early spring are now being replaced by flights where both duration and altitudes continue to increase in the thermic air.  I have been flying many of our standard hike-n-fly sites, as well as the majority of the sites along the Wasatch.  I have also been spending more time at home flying The B is which is a welcomed change.

Wasatch Free Flight

In an effort to give back to the sport I love so much, I have created the "Wasatch Free Flight Group." A place where new pilots can learn about new paragliding sites away from The Point of the Mountain.

Wasatch Free Flight

I have put this together in hopes of connecting newer pilots with 'mentor' type pilots familiar with flying different mountain sites. I hope you all find this site useful and are willing to become a part of it. In order for this to work, we need pilots (P3+) who are willing to become mentors at their home sites! I think/hope it will help us all become better, safer pilots, and help grow this amazing sport in a positive direction. If nothing else, it may just be a resource to check the weather.....something I get asked about a lot. Please share this with ALL your other pilot friends.

April in Review

As I sift through the memories, flights, photographs, and videos of the last month I have to just giggle a bit.  Spring appears to be falling upon us, but still the cold air of winter lingers.  The month has taken us across the state from beautiful flights above the cliffs of Randolph down to great thermal flights off the Provo Y... and everything in between.  It was nice to get in the air above my home at The B again, and to be honest, not so bad getting a good hike-n-fly off the North Side at Point of the Mountain.  I haven't flown there in months, and you forget how smooth the air is there.  So much so, that you almost do not even need to think.  Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view. It has been a fantastic month, and I look forward to another fabulous season in the sky.



As many of you know, I rarely fly at the Point of the Mountain as my sights are often set on the surrounding mountains, and beyond.  I am finding in my conversations with budding pilots, that everyone is just plain nervous about flying sites away from The Point of the Mountain, away from their instructors care, and therefore many are just falling away from the sport.  I feel there has got to be a way to help pilots develop, help the public understand what we do.  Perhaps through education and exposure we can overcome some of the challenges that face us here in Utah.  Issues like wilderness boundaries, insurance, and general understanding of what paragliding is...I will have to think on that.

Local Ramblings of the DEAF Crew

Winter continues to be kept at bay, which is bad for snow, water, and life in the valley, but it continues to be oh so good for flying.  As the weeks pass we continue to find ourselves rambling around our Wasatch Mountains, enjoying the calm winter skies, and believe it or not, cashing in a few light thermal and short cross country days as well.  We continue to frequent our local sites from Bountiful down to Lone Peak.  We hike, fly, and smile as we feel a hint of warm air returning.  However, with the returning of warmer air, I will miss the calm, cold air flights of winter.  Some of the most memorable, and inspiring flights of the year are found in the icy skies of winter.  Gliding off the upper plateaus of Lone Peak in knee deep snow and out into the orange sunset; or flying off The V, above the polluted inversion layer as the valley darkens below.  These are the memories that last, and ones that never seem to fade.

The DEAF Crew continues to solidify as we add a new member to the group.  Clark, a new pilot who has been flying with us the last few months, and one whose enthusiasm earns him the right to be a part of this unique crew.  It is great to be a part of a group of highly dedicated pilots that do not fit the...well....typical paraglider pilot mold.  I am proud to be a member of such a group, and one who collectively, and individually emulates a pure passion for flying.

A Skywalk Adventure

I stare out into the blackness of night, unable to sleep, but knowing the day is passing by. Every few seconds a red light flashes illuminating the wing from darkness.  Today will be shorter by eight hours, which means if I don't sleep now I am going to be worthless. I try to get in a few hours but, 2 or 3 restless hours is hardly enough. I stare out in the pre-dawn sky and see London passing by, glowing gold in the darkness of dawn.  I realize I am actually over Europe and will soon be landing. As I cruise through the air, my thoughts race forward to the events that may lie ahead. Right now they are still unknown, but I meet them mentally with some fear and trepidation. I have never been off this continent....Hawaii doesn't count. Never been to a foreign culture....again, Canada doesn't count. But if life is about living, gaining knowledge and having new experiences...then perhaps I am on the right track.

As I look back on my life... I think I am learning to live in the moment, learning to enjoy the journey a bit more than I have in the past. Since I have learned to paraglide, learned to fly, a skill and hobby that consumes much of my energy, I have opened myself up to a new world of experiences, friends, and now memories. It is this developing love of flying that is the reason for the trip. I am on my way to Grassau, Germany for a 5 day conference with Skywalk Paragliders. They have been kind enough to invite me out to their corporate headquarters for a week. I am traveling with my friend, mentor and original instructor Jonathan Jeffries as he is one of only two Skywalk representatives for the USA.

At this point I will spare you from my boring travelog.  I know nobody wants to know what I had for dinner, or what time I went to bed...after all this blog is about paragliding right??  So on to the flying.


A day later and after spending hours in solitude walking the surrounding forest and small village several miles away, just soaking up Germany it is time to get in the air.  After wandering through Skywalk's inventory racks, piled with wings, Jonathan, Tetsu (Japan), Ian (UK), and myself grab some flying gear and head for the mountains of Austria. Absolutely amazing! As we drive through the alps and pass small villages I can't believe how beautiful each is all nestled in small pristine valleys.

Once in Austria we arrive at Kossen Mountain, hike to the resort, buy a gondola ticket and fall inline with the skiers. So strange to be able to walk right next to the skiers, with your paragliding stuff, and not get strange looks. We get off, hike a few hundred feet and find ourselves at a beautifully groomed launch site. So foreign, but so awesome.  A quick layout of my glider for the day (black and white Chili 2) a few tugs on the A-lines, the wing lifts, turn, run and watch the snow fall below me. I stare up into the Wilder Kaiser mountains. Not much lift anywhere, but flying several thousand feet high above the valley floor and among the snow covered Austrian Alps is a memory not soon to be forgotten. As we all get in the air, it is awesome to look around and see just a bunch of Skywalk paragliders in the air. Everybody having a good time playing in the smooth winter air! A safe landing in the huge designated LZ right next to the ski school area. We quickly pack up our wings and head up for another. Like little kids in a candy store, we just can't get to the top fast enough. Once at the top we again get all set up and all launch into the air together. There is a little more lift and we are able to stay in the air a bit longer, goofing off and having just a great time. After this, it seemed everyone was kinda done, so I went up by myself for just one more. After all that is why I am here...to fly. Another awesome flight. The afternoon is getting later, and just so amazing flying around in these mountains. In Utah, our mountains are so spectacular, but being in Austria is just an amazing experience with the small villages, the beautiful vistas, and the acceptance of the sport.

Above the Village of Grassau, Germany

Through several days of Skywalk training it is clear this group is a melting pot of cultures.  Pilots from various countries all over the world.  People from Romania, Japan, UK, Turkey, Korea, Israel, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Columbia, Australia, etc. JJ and I are the only ones from North America.  After several days together learning, testing, and getting to know Skywalk Paragliders it is clear this is a fabulous company, filled with great people, brilliant engineers, and talented test pilots.  What a wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with so many great people.  I have learned that regardless of languages and cultures, we all share the same passion for flying, and it is wonderful.

As my eyes reluctantly turn home I reflect on a fantastic and memorable adventure. Meeting great new friends, flying in the Austrian alps, and continuing in this fantastic road that paragliding has set me on. At the close of the trip I am enthusiastic for Skywalk, and honored to be considered as the only Skywalk team pilot in the United States. I am not sure what that means right now, but I am thankful for their support and their faith in me as a pilot.  As I look back on my tenure as a pilot it is amazing how far this sport has taken me, and helped to define my life. I am learning that perhaps throwing out the goals that society so regularly demands is perhaps the best approach to learning to live in the moment. It continues to amaze me how much freedom and happiness I have found in flying and I want to share that with others. I think I walk out of Germany with renewed confidence and a deeper passion for this wonderful sport.

Southern California Retreat

With winter upon us, we have been talking about doing a quick trip to Southern California again; this time as a collective group.  No time like the present so we make arrangements and off we go.  We defined the meeting place to be a large bushy, desert field near Lake Elsinore, California.  Paul, JoFo, and I fly into Long Beach, pick up Gary and arrive at our destination just a few minutes before JJ and Matt arrive.  Let the games begin.  We all pile in and drive to the top of the mountain to a small launch site just off the main road.  The locals are...well, interesting to say the least.  Paul, Gary, Matt and I quickly find our way into the thermic air.  We fly two more times and spend over 7 hours in the air today.  Awesome ridge soaring mixed with light thermals soaring high above Lake Elsinore.  It felt so good to be in the air for longer than five to ten minutes.  So much so, my stomach muscles are sore from sitting in the harness.



Wanting to take advantage of the time, we drive the several hours necessary up to Santa Barbara to experience some different scenery.  Crammed into a smoke, cockroach, infested Motel 6 (not my favorite environment), the night passes.  Come morning I can't wait to get some fresh air.  By 10:00 a.m. we are high in the desert mountains, teamed with Fly Above All Paragliding, launching off Alternator Peak.  Paul, Gary, Matt and I head into the unfamiliar skies, cravats and all.  There are no landing zones nearby, just miles of trees, so getting out the cravats was vital, and successfully achieved.  With high pressure upon us, it was perhaps one of the more turbulent thermal flights in my career as a pilot.  Nevertheless, we are able to work the difficult lift and get high above the mountains surrounding the Santa Barbara Valley despite getting thrown around in the unsettled air.  JoFo and JJ finally launch into the sky and join us.  We land by early afternoon, and come evening we are all still looking for some airtime.  We rush over to a beach with a small 500 foot cliff above it.  Again, Paul, Gary, Matt and I have to make our feet leave the ground just one more time.  Silly we know, but hey, that is just how we roll.  Forward launching off a plateau in zero wind, off a cliff, out over the ocean and into the sunset is a great way to end another day of flying.  The flight literally lasts only 60 seconds, but the best 60 seconds of the day, and down on the beach....everyone is pure smiles!

Come morning we decide to launch Alternator Peak one more time.  The sky is cloudy today and no thermals at all.  A butter smooth flight extending several miles out into the valley.  In a ditch effort to fly somewhere new we drive a few hours to Saboba.  It is nearing evening and the winds are dead...almost catabatic.  Matt and I decide it is worth the risk.  Little did we know that getting a ride on the ATV would prove to be the most dangerous.  We cling on for dear life as our driver cruises us along the edge of shear drops.  Matt and I launch in slight catabatic conditions, but are able to get off safely.  Again, a super fun, short flight at sunset.  Another great and memorable day in the sky.

We spend the next day sitting on the grass of Torrey Pines just killing time until our flight brings us back home.  Thankful to Gary's hospitality in letting us spend the night and feed us dinner.  As I sit here on the plane and stare out into the dark skies I reflect on what a great adventure this has been.  Great friends and great flying.  It was awesome getting to know Matt a little better and with his enthusiasm, and his willingness to always fly has definitely solidified his place in the DEAF Crew.  As I stare out the window a lyric reflects in my mind "I need freedom now.  And I need to know how...to live my life as its meant to be....."  It feels like for the first time in years I am living my life as it is meant to be....and it feels wonderful!

New Year's Day - 2012

I think it is basic human nature to start the new year off with a renewed sense of dedication.  It is a time of reflection on lives past, and hopes for the future.  A chance for re commitment to living the life you want, and to become the person you know you can become.  As I personally look backwards on my life, I realize I am pretty blessed and lucky.  I have a great family, career, faith, and wonderful friends to share  the most exhilarating dream of my life...the dream of flight.

Living on the knife edge of the present, my friends and I take advantage of this wonderful New Year's day to share it together in the sky.  We converge on West Mountain, Utah on a perfectly calm, sunny, and cold day. There is little snow, but cold enough to freeze the lake below.  We take several flights off both sides of the mountain, in super smooth air.  The last flight out to the west was met with some stronger winds and turbulence, but the views beautiful.

As the morning ends and afternoon approaches, Paul and I have just not yet had enough flying for one day, so we leave the group behind and head to Provo.  A perfectly sunny evening for a sled run off The Y and down into Provo.  The flight is smooth and a wonderful way to cap the day.

This short video was captured from a single day of flying with my fellow members of the DEAF Crew, and other pilots.  Armed with 3 new cameras and a new sponsorship from GoPro it was a great opportunity to try out the brand new HD Hero2.  I think the cameras have wonderful picture quality and it was fun to experiment with them today.

As I now look forward to the coming year, I am hopeful and excited to see where the sky will take me next.  Thankful for every single time my feet leave the ground.  Just leaving the ground is a miracle, and puts a smile on my face no matter how long or how short the flight is...I am just stoked I am flying. Often when I am in the air I have to pause and remind myself of how many people only get to dream about doing this, and here I am.  How lucky, and how thankful for such a great life.