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...