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| Mount Woodside
in Harrison Mills on the east side of Harrison Bay is a favourite
spot with hanggliders and paragliders in the valley. The flying
season extends from late February to early November. Mount Woodside
summit is located 8 miles (13 km) west of Agassiz on the north side
of Hwy 7 east of the Kilby Provincial
Park turnoff, accessed via the Mount Woodside FSR, which
is passable for two-wheel-drive vehicles. Even if you aren't planning
to launch yourself from one of the ramps, the views from here are
some of the best in the valley.
Bridal Falls is a world famous hang gliding and paragliding
site that is not only flyable but also soarable just about every
fair weather day in the summer. There are multiple landing zones
and two well-groomed launches: an upper and a lower, both of which
require access by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The Lower Launch is
only 20 minutes from Highway 1. It is well groomed and is WNW facing
at 2,500' (750 m) ASL and is mainly used by paragliders. This launch
is not recommended for new pilots due to cross winds normally experienced.
Swirling winds at this site make it difficult to launch safely.
Be cautious and please contact local pilots before flying. Nonetheless,
it is possible to launch from here, bench up to the Upper Launch
at 5,000', top land, launch again, top land on lower launch and
drive down. A very unique site. Views of the Coast Mountains and
the beautiful Fraser Valley with its quilted pastures and snow capped
mountains glowing in the fading light of the setting sun are breathtaking.
Bridal
Falls is suitable for both hanggliders and paragliders, and is flyable
on almost every day during the summer. The flying season runs from
early June to mid September.
Bridal Falls is located between Chilliwack and Hope at the east
end of the Fraser Valley, 60 miles/100 km east of Vancouver (90
minutes). To access the Bridal Falls flying site, travel east on
Chilliwack Lake Road from Vedder Crossing due south of Sardis. Turn
north up the Chipmunk Creek road, left over Chipmunk Creek and then
take the first west fork. Near the summit, take the right fork and
then turn south at the ridge top to the launch site.
Sumas Mountain provides good ridge flying in winter and early
spring in easterly outflow conditions, suitable for both hanggliders
and paragliders. Sumas Mountain is located in the central Fraser
Valley, 9 miles (15 km) northeast of Abbotsford. Access is by two-wheel-drive
vehicle is via North Parallel Road, Lower Sumas Mountain Road, and
then by Batt Road to the summit.
Hope Airport at the east end of the Fraser Valley, is home
to the Vancouver Soaring Association. The club flies out of this
small municipal airport to take advantage of the favourable winds
that funnel through the Fraser Valley from the west and come sweeping
up the sheer ridges of nearby Mounts Hope and Ogilvie. These winds
also bring a freshness to the air that you can almost taste. As
seen from the quiet soaring of a glider, the geography of the region
is dramatically - and graphically - laid out below. To reach the
airport, take the Hope-Flood exit from Hwy 1, just west of Hope.
Town Information
Clubs and Associations
Vancouver
Soaring Association
West Coast
Soaring Club |
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