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.

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.

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.

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.

Christmas Paragliding

As the Christmas holiday descends upon us like vultures, with all its commercialism, food, family time, presents, money, and everything else that just adds pressure to the soul, its time to look upwards.  Paul and I invite a few others to join us the day before Christmas on an evening flight off Grandeur.  Jonathan (JJ) and a new pilot Clark join Paul, Roman, and I.  There is a light dusting of snow up high, but quite pleasant and warm (relatively speaking) in the valley.

The following day, Christmas Eve, Paul and I hike up high in the mountains to a perfect plateau launch that was pointed out to us by one of the old masters.  There is more snow here, but the flight is as beautiful as they come.  Plenty of altitude and smooth air over the valley below.  Now this is makes Christmas complete!

Late November Flying

I love paragliding in late Autumn / early Winter!  The air is cold, snow occasionally falls, most all pilots are now in hibernation for the winter, and what is left is pure paragliding serenity.  Sure with the cold air, flights now become much shorter, and every foot of altitude gained is required to be earned through burning legs and lungs.  Perhaps this difficulty, makes it all the more special.

Paul, Mark and I continue to hike...regardless of snow, or sun.  It is a great opportunity for us to hike and fly, not only the standard launches, but offers a great excuse to explore new launches along the Wasatch we have been eyeing now for some time.  I am thankful for great friends who are just as passionate about flying as I am.  Thankful they are always willing and excited to get out and hike, no matter if the ground is white or brown.  

On a standard routine flight off Grandeur, we all three swoop into the landing zone, all smiles.  My eight year old daughter walks up to me and says "Dad, I think you guys should be called the DEAF Crew."  Not sure what she meant, so she proceeded to explain it to me, and what it meant.  It is often said that from the mouth of babes comes wisdom, and my daughter is very creative.  What does it mean?  Well, that may just have to be saved for a later date :o)   

Earth Below Us

A weak storm has passed through, and that is just fine with me.  What little snow did drop, is now fading enough to get up to Bountiful.  Paul, Mark and I head up for a beautiful afternoon of Paragliding at The V.  The conditions are calm, the wind is light out of the southwest, and after two fabulous flights, the sun is now fading into another beautiful winter sunset.  Every time I fly, look down at the earth below, I am reminded of what a dream this is.  Even though flights are now shorter, every time my feet leave the ground, I realize it is a miracle.

Final Days of Autumn

As Autumn officially comes to a close as the first real winter storm approaches, I have to step back and take a look over the last few weeks.  It continues to be some great flying, and we seem to have transitioned from the thermal days of summer, to the hike-n-fly conditions of winter.  Paul, Matt and I have been spending a lot of time on Granduer, Roman and I ended up flying Cherry Canyon one more time, and Matt and I got a great flight off the North Side at The Point.  It is a very rare occurrence to get the entire Point to yourself, but Matt and I received that privilege...rewards to those who are not afraid to hike.  Beautiful glass of conditions and flying in the smooth cold air.


With Autumn ending, I look excitedly towards the joys of winter flying.  It seems most pilots have holed up for the winter, but for us, flying is ALWAYS good, and every season has its rewards.

Cherry Canyon

I love the colors, smells, and calming air of October.  It is such a beautiful, calm, clear day we just have to go do a longer hike-n-fly.  Matt, Mark, and I trudge our way up the steep trail to the upper launch.  The wind is pretty cross up here right now, but were used to it.  A quick lay out the gear, a few tugs on the lines and were off.  Although not a super long flight, it was great working the small thermals over the bench.  It is always great to spend time with fellow pilots, and friends who remain as passionate about this sport as I do.