A large self-launch glider like the Arcus makes unsupported multi-day soaring trips possible. I’ve flown several overnight trips, but I’ve been working toward an adventure worthy of ZWW. Summer often has great soaring conditions in the mountains.
Day 1, straight over the rocks to VernonNot many places to landThe Selkirks are really impressiveAfter every major valley crossing, I struggle to reconnect with lift. Flying east-west across the Rockies is not ideal, much easier to stay aligned with the ridges north-south.Over the Monashees. Never been this far west before. All downhill to Vernon, I contact my Aunt/uncle to pick me up at the airport. The whole flight was into a 25km/h headwind.Okanagan. Vernon is the largest airport I’ve landed at.I have a very hard time getting away from the low country around Vernon. A week from now, there is a huge fire here (Duncan Lake)Coming up on the Purcells where I screw up and get low over Jumbo pass.I could have flown back to CuNim, but why cut the fun short? Pavan and I stay at Martin’s house at Fairmont Hot Springs.
Conditions heading home seem iffy the next day. Possible thunderstorms. A huge convergence on the front range is interesting, but I chose to be on the ground, and punch through to CuNim.
Huge convergence on the front ranges. Seems unbelievable I just came through these clouds to the west
The forecast continues to be amazing, so I sleep in my own bed and reload for the next day. The “plan” over the next 4 days is to fly to Ram Falls airstrip, Jasper, back to Ram, and then CuNim. Getting off the prairies is even more brutal than three days before. Impossible without a self-launcher.
Conditions continue to be good at 5pm, so I push up the Icefields Parkway north of Saskatchewan River Crossing.
New terrain to me. Columbia icefield, and the icefields parkway headed over Sunwapta Pass.Better light looking south at Mount Athabasca. A climber died on this mountain the day that Marta and I climbed it.Mount AlbertaClouds are billowing higher to the north. Hinton has an excellent airstrip, but it’s raining in the foothillsJasper Airstrip. 9 days later, a wildfire roared through and wiped out a big chunk of the town of Jasper.Mount Robson. Very imposing mountain. After spending most of the day exploring Jasper, I decide to head for Ram Falls or Red Deer Forestry airstrip.Red Deer Forestry is a beautiful volunteer maintained airstrip downstream from Yaha Tinda. I have it to myself tonightThe next day, I head over to the Invermere valley, and spend most of the day running the ridge. Very comfortable and straight foward flying, almost as easy as wave. My mountain flying speeds are usually quite low, because I stop at every thermal to climb as high as possible, to reduce risk. On the invermere ridge, pilots can reject the weak thermals, since there is no consequence to losing 2000′.Tied down at Fairmont Hot Springs, in front of the house of a Swiss pilot called Heinz (sp?). The next day is poor, so I stay on the ground and go hiking.The next day, the clouds are immediately overdeveloping, so I head back to CuNim. A huge fire north of Fernie is making lots of smoke, too. The fires explode over the next week, this trip was timed perfectly.
Marta and Chester's Maleficent Adventures 