Elk Mountain - One of My Favourites

   I started flying Elk Mountain on my fourth or fifth flight in 1989. My first flights were down to the closest field which was east of Ryder Lake. In those days, the gliders had a poor glide ratio (they couldn't fly very far) so the first time we flew out to the Fraser Valley it was a big deal, landing near Annis and Prairie Central Roads.
 
Since then Elk has become the favourite hike and fly for a group of people I call the "People of the Elk". One of these guys, Eddy loved the area so much that he bought nine acres on Elk View Road and built first a little bavarian cabin and later a large bavarian house to retire to.

Eddy's First Cabin

These days, the Elk People frequently meet at Eddy's, do the hike and fly and land in his field and enjoy a beverage together.
   
We do this twelve months a year even when the top is snow-covered. Paragliders can fly from snowy places. It just can't be socked in with clouds, precipitating or too windy. The hike is always a great workout with twenty to thirty pounds of gear.

Carl"gift-wrapped" in his wing by a dust devil

    Sometimes, even in winter, a beautiful southerly breeze hits the mountain allowing pilots to soar above Elk and fly the ridge all the way to Mt. Thurston and back ...for hours!
    Here is a video I made of a friend and I flying from Elk all the way out to Prest Road. Gliding out to a landing without going up is called a "sled ride" and this is one of the most beautiful sled rides I know of.
https://vimeo.com/112989360

    If you are hiking on Elk on a nice day, particularly in the mid morning, you are almost certain to see one of the "People of the Elk".