CaucaViejo (Jericó-2)

Feb 8th, 2015

The morning was beginning to take on a rhythm and flow; beginning with yoga, then breakfast, then up the hill. 

Today, we arrived with the cloud base at launch, around 1800m. The house where we are staying is close enough to glide to in air with no sink. It's on the river at 500m, about 7 miles away. 

Once the clouds parted and the sun had a chance to heat the valley below, we launched. Lucho went first, and I was seconds behind, followed by Julie Williams - from Seattle. I chased him on his Enzo with my Delta 2. He promised not to use his bar, so I could actually keep up, but was unable to match his glide. Eventually, we turned away from the ridge and found lift on the flats. We worked our way up to 2000m and with that, Lucho went north and I followed. Julie wasn't thrilled with the lumpy air and headed back to CaucaViejo to land at the soccer field near the house.

Lucho's line didn't seem to be working, so I connected back to the ridge where 10 or 12 of our other pilots were making it work. I connected to a finger a bit low (1300m) and had to work very weak lift to join the gaggle, but eventually did. I saw Ike there. We were mixed up with bunch of French pilots, and figuring out who was who this early in the trip proved a challenge. We spent 30 minutes enjoying sustaining, disorganized lift until we heard Lucho report that the surface winds had turned south in the valley and were 12-14 km/hr and increasing.

I was the first to take a line away from the gaggle to land. Some others who were not with the gaggle had landed already. Pavlo and Julie landed safely in the soccer field near the house we were renting, followed by Linda and then Sofia, who didn't quite make the field, but landed safely. Then I very nearly kicked the top of a tree on the perimeter of the field, but was spared after pushing on half bar in the sink (while out of the harness) and then getting a pop just prior. I landed at mid field, relieved. 

Some landed in farmers' fields. Some landed along the river. Ike was way high out over the river - 2000m. He could have made some distance, but with everyone landing due to increasing winds, he spiraled down to a long, open field along the river where Kari & Kent landed. 

Everyone had very steep glides with the head wind. One of the pilots misjudged the glide and got too far behind the farmer's field he was trying to land in. The area short was a steep ravine. He appeared to cut and run too low to make it to the next suitable field down wind. He may have found some rotor as he descended into the upslope on the other side of the ravine. 

He had multiple fractures, but luckily there was no head or back injury. It took about four hours to extract him and get him to a local ambulance and clinic. From there, he was transported to a hospital in Medellin. He's pretty broken up, but expected to recover. Paul & Sofia went with him and should return the next day. Our stay at CaucaViejo will be extended one day.

CaucaViejo (Jericó-1) - X

Feb 7th, 2015

Cauca is the name of the wide and winding river that creates the famed Valle del Cauca to the south with its extensive agriculture. To the north, closer to Medellin, the river meanders through foothills and creates narrower valleys. Still, the result is a beautiful countryside. Our new accommodation is Cauca Viejo (Cauca Old) which is a replica of a turn-of-the-century Colombian pueblo (village), the Cauca Valley's period of colonization.

It is an extensive compound with new buildings that recreate a period from over 100 years ago. It's gated and free from all commercialism. Mostly, it is used by Colombian families on long weekends from the city. It's quaint and quiet, lying along the Cauca River and surrounded by beautiful countryside.  Did I mention the paragliding off the surrounding mountainous terrain? Perhaps not. 

One of the local sites here is called Jericó, belonging to its town by the same name. This very old settlement is picturesque. There is a cable car that ascends from near the edge of town to a point just above the launch It's centro square is teeming with restaurants, bars, outdoor tables and shops. Vans and buses are forbidden, as the town is protected from shameless tourism.

We arrived to launch just as weather 15 km to the east began thundering. Although it was drifting away from us, we waited to confirm. In that time, it began to blow down and then weather behind us ended the day with rain. No one flew. 

We shopped for supplies and retreated to our hacienda, where Lucho prepared us a wonderful pasta meal and told us stories about his amazing country.  And the aguardiente flowed.

Tomorrow, we are determined to fly. 

Medellin (San Felix) --> CaucaViejo

Feb 6th, 2015

Medellin served as a much needed stop-over for rest. But for Lucho, the night on the town lasted well into the morning with beer and local friends. He got his rest the next night.

After checking out of our first night's hotel, we started the day at Medellin's main mall where we charged up our Colombian SIM cards with two-week's worth of voice, text & data. The carrier of choice was Moviestar. Coverage lacked in the north where we are beginning our tour (Claro best here), but was the clear winner in the south, at Valle del Cauca. 

This was a high, overcast day. The first planned flying site was Sopotran. But, since that drive took us north and away from our next accommodation, AND since thermic conditions were minimal, we decided to fly the town hill, San Felix.

The site is along a narrow, winding road high above the city, to the west. There are several restaurants/bars that cater to the PG scene here. The launches are on grassy, steep hillsides and use of the site required 5,000 COP (Colombian Peseo - about $2.50). We (almost) all had fun 15-20 minute sledders. Two decided not to launch in the very light conditions. Some birds were showing some lift, but even these skilled masters were occasionally flapping.

After a few beers found at a corner shop near the LZ, the retrieve van and Lucho's pickup truck scooped us up for the five-hour drive to out follow-on destination. 

Along the way, the van's left rear wheel began making noise on the turns. Ike, with his years of trucking experience, urged the driver to pull over. He found three of the six lug nuts loose enough to turn with his fingers. Using an old trucker trick, he had the driver drive the inner tire of the dually up into some boards that he found, thereby lifting the outboard tire off the ground. A a number of turns with a lug wrench and we were back on our way. Thanks, Ike!

We pulled in to our new accommodation just prior to midnight. The place is called Cauca Viejo. More tomorrow on this amazing location. 

Check back later for descriptive links and photos. Bandwidth at the time of posting is marginal. 

Medellin: The Gathering

Feb 5th, 2015

After a day in Bogotá, we took the one-hour flight to Medellin. Happily, elevation went from 8,000' to just under 5,000'. Don & I connected with Kari and Kent after collecting bags. A few hours later, after connecting with our booked taxi, we got to the La Plaza Rosa. Some in the group aren't arriving until the evening, so it's a good day to rest, organize and catch up with old friends and new.

Our hotel in Medellin was meant to start us off and gather the group. It's a vibrant city, and even a Thursday nite displayed the amazing night life it is famous for. A meeting at the hotel covered basic information and set a laid-back tone. Tomorrow, we set off for San Felix launch followed by a long and winding drive to a country house near Jerico.

Here is the group:

Mike Branger

Kari Castle

Robin Cushman
Jack Dennett
Kent Hudson

Piet Human

Don Ikenberry

Lucho Jimenez

Chris Kirk

Linda McClary

Pavlo Rudakevych

JK Smith

Julie Spiegler

Paul Webber

Sofia Puerto Webber

Guides:
Simon Hoyos-Mesa (Coordinator)
Lucho Himenez (Flying & Tour Guide)
Jaime (Gordo) Gardeazabal (Flying Guide)
Martin Mesa (Flying Guide)

Drivers:

John (Medellin-Cali)
??? (Sopo)

Getting There and Going Where?

Feb 3rd, 2015

Ike & I left Honolulu on the early morning flight on Tuesday, two days before the official start of the tour. We decided to go to LAX, then Houston, and finally the red-eye 
to Bogotà (BOG). Of course, Ike had enough seniority through his better half to secure a first-class sleeper on the red-eye while I was shuffled off to a non-reclining exit row. There are no complaints from me, though. It was an outstanding value. 

We went early to synch with the time zone and also to give ourselves a few backup options, since we flew standby. The tour actually begins at Medellin, an hour WNW on a paid-for ticket (United only goes to BOG.). We hoped to use that ticket a day early... for free. Of course, why would any airline accommodate their customers when they can charge them? We ended up getting a cheap room with a shuttle service to the airport. Medellin will come mañana.

Here is the list of PG sites. From Medellin (Antioquia) , we work our way south over 2 weeks to Cali (Valle del Cauca) and then fly commercially to Bogotà to hit one last PG site and wrap up the tour. (At least I think that Cali-Bogotà will be a commercial flight.) 

---Medellín---

    San Felix

    Jericó

    Damasco

    Ansermanuevo

    Roldanillo

    Piedechinche

---Cali--->Bogotá

    Sopó

Here is a screen shot from Google Earth. We intend to bring each stop to life as we explore, familiarize and fly it for all it's got.

If anyone followed the 2015 FAI PG World's at Rolda last month, there was some great flying in Columbia. We are thrilled to try our skills in that same air. 

On the last post, when assigning USHPA's Calendar of Events, I noticed the Eagle Paragliding pros begin four weeks of guided Rolda trips this week. I'll be looking forward to dropping by their hotel and saying "hola" to Rob & Brad. Hopefully, we might even share a flight.

We plan to stay in fincas and immerse ourselves in the culture through our Colombian friends' insight and experience. Language skills will be a stumbling block for some of us, but we will overcome.

The Tour & Its Organizers

Last year (2014), I went to Roldanillo, Colombia for three weeks. I timed it with the 2014 FAI PG Pre-Worlds. My plan was to fly as a wind dummy. While getting the orientation briefing, some last-minute slots opened up and now I was IN the comp. Sure, I was outclassed, but what a fun time with so many great pilots from all over the world. It was a perfect way to be introduced to the amazing flying in Colombia's Valle del Cauca. 

What did I miss by being tied up in "competition mode"? Missing out on all the other great flying sites and many of the cultural aspect of this beautiful country. This tour just happened to fall on the exact dates I had for vacation and it seemed to deliver much of what the first trip bypassed. I jumped on it.

This 2015 Colombian Paragliding Tour is being put together by Sofia Puerta Webber, who lives in San Diego, flies Torre Pines and teaches yoga.  Her husband, Paul Webber, is also on the trip. Lucho Jimenez  brings the expertise of a local competition pilot and tour guide operator. His company, Air Nomads, organizes all the big competitions in Colombia and he somehow makes time to fly in them as well. Finally, the inclusion of Kari Castle as cross-country coach and tandem pilot made this a must-do event. "World champion" doesn't just happen, and the knowledge to gain is worth all the expense alone. Imagine riding along on a tandem flight, being shown first hand how an experienced pilot's series of decisions can lead to goal. 

<Editor's note: Kari did not bring her tandem wing. I guess we will have to chase her in her never-yet- flown Delta 2.>

With these pilots forging the way ahead, all the pieces will be in place for a great tour.

Technically, the tour name was "2015 Colombia Top Pilots Paragliding Tour". The new name is sans the word "Top". I'm not sure if this was done to allow my inclusion, but in any case, the pressure is off.

Blog set up

Welcome to the Oahu Monkeys' take on the 2015 Colombia Paragliding Tour. This is JK Smith, and along with Don Ikenberry, we are joining a group of about 15 pilots from the US to Colombia for two weeks. This blog is just a way for us to share the experience. We are in the preparation phase now and set off in about a week. Mas pronto (more soon), as I figure out the Blogger format.