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South facing launch. Grassy wide area. Good XC potential.
The launch is located at an elevation of 1030 meters (3380 feet) above sea level, with the landing zone situated at 460 meters (1510 feet) ASL, providing a vertical drop of 570 meters (1870 feet). The site faces south and offers excellent opportunities for both ridge soaring and thermal cross-country (XC) flights.
The landing zone is a large field conveniently located at Noble Road just past Dees General store in Birch Island.
The take-off area can accommodate up to four gliders at once, featuring a smooth, grassy slope within a wide cut block, making setup and launch easy and safe.
Directions to Launch:
From the landing zone, drive back to Highway 5. Head north towards Jasper for 4 km, then turn left onto a gravel road (McCorvy Lakes FSR). Follow the main gravel road for 6.5 km, ignoring any smaller junctions along the way. At the 6.5 km mark, look for flagging tape marking the entrance on your left. Turn left onto a narrow, level road and continue for 1 km. The take-off area will be on your right. Please park along the roadside and avoid parking directly on the launch.
Times to Fly:
8.00 AM till 11.00 AM = gentle morning conditions for short (15 – 30 min) flights.
11.00 AM till 4.00 PM = Thermal flying conditions. On certain days it gets to strong @ TO between 1.00 and 4.00 PM!
4.00 PM till 7.00 PM = Thermal / glass off conditions.
Soaring Information
Para gliders and Hang gliders welcome.
A great site for long thermal/soaring flights above/along the 12 km long ridge between Clearwater and Vavenby.
Very favourable for hang gliders as well with a steep TO and humongous landing field.
Often the ceiling sits around + 3000 m in May, June, July and August with lots of pilots flying 30 km triangles or local XC. The potential is to fly big XC if you follow the hwy 5 North towards Blue River (90 km) or Valemount (165 km) or head South towards Barrier (55km) or keep going all the way to Kamloops (107 km).
The local house thermal sits just right from TO above the small cut-blocks.
Hazards :
Strong TO conditions between 1.00 and 4.00 PM on certain days!!!
ALWAYS make a good wind assessment at TO. If you experience moments of tailwind @ TO, it’s a sign of 90 deg valley winds! Be aware that the thermals still coming up straight at times but the real issue is the valley winds creating turbulence form the high trees either from the right (West) or left (East) during TO!!!
Be aware that there is a local helicopter company as well as recreational sport aircraft's who, on a regular base, fly through the valley!!!
Some flying routes have been opened in the last few years.
The Kamloops – Barriere route (52 km) flown by Terry Butcher PG in Summer 2014.
The Barriere – Clearwater route (55 km) as well as the Clearwater – Blue River route (92 km) flown by Scott Watwood PG in May 2017.
El Nido to Barriere route (65 km) on a HG by John Theoret in July 2018.
Eric Gesinger PG and Mark Parminter PG took it to 4040m and flew North to Avola (55km) in July 2018 while Mario Sachsenweger PG and Willy Rens PG teamed up and kept it going towards Blue River (61km) in Aug 2019.
Mark Tulloch holds the local HG triangle record of 66km (July 2018) while Willy Rens holds the local PG triangle record of 45 km (June 2018).
2WD accessible near main highway.
Directions to LZ :
The LZ is on Noble Road 1828 past Dee’s General store in Birch Island. From the info center in Clearwater take the HWY 5 North (direction Jasper) for 12 Km – 8 min. Take a right @ Birch Island Lost Creek Road and follow the road (500m) down to ‘Dee’s General store”. Look for happy people.
Insurance required. Open to all free flyers with HPAC insurance!
xskyparagliding@gmail.com
海拔 1208米
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