Paragliding Mt. Buchanan Lookout Kaslo, BC

Located at an elevation of 1907 meters with a height difference of approximately 1300 meters, this site offers a south-facing launch at the top with a nice slope. The coordinates are approximate, and vol bivouac is possible. You can drive up with a 2WD vehicle. For more information, you can contact the British Columbia Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association: [BCHPA Contact](http://www.bchpa.ca/contact-us.html). The site is situated northwest of Kaslo, overlooking the town. It is suitable for both hang gliding (HG) and paragliding (PG), with an elevation launch of 6200 feet above sea level and a landing zone (LZ) at 1700 feet above sea level. The site is informally regulated. The type of flying here includes ridge and thermal flying. The GPS coordinates for Buchanon are N 49 36 16.0 W 116 56 48.6. Insurance through HPAC or USHPA is required. The cross-country potential is good, with flights up to 24 km. The flying season is best in spring, summer, and fall, with no flying in winter. The launch is open from May to November. Buchanon offers a good south-facing launch for hang gliders, while paragliders can launch beside the outhouse. The east ramp for hang gliders has been removed. Mt Milford, further up the ridge from Buchanon, provides a much better launch for paragliders. The road to Mt Milford is very rough, requiring a high-clearance 4WD for the first 1-2 km, then it becomes more reasonable for about 4 km. The road ends at the top of the mountain, and you launch from the obvious alpine meadow below. Morning launches are great, but in the afternoon, watch for thermals coming up from the west side as it's an east/west ridge. To get to the launch, turn north off the Kaslo - New Denver highway 8 km west of Kaslo. Watch for the Lookout Sign. At 1.1 km, take the middle fork, and at 7.8 km, turn right to the Buchanon Mt summit. For Mt Milford access, follow the description for Buchanan but take the left fork on Buchanan road when the ridge and lookout tower are visible. You can fly all day, with altitude gains reaching ceilings of 10,000 to 12,000 feet on occasion. Wind lines on the lake are often the only wind indicator you will need. Cross-country flights to Meadow Creek or New Denver are possible. Landing zones in Kaslo include a small section of sandy beach southeast of town. Lose height over the lake and avoid being too high on approach. Beware of rotor from the tree line in west winds. The north quarter of the beach is best, while the south quarter is landable but rocky. The middle half is not landable due to large rocky areas. Paragliders will not be able to reach the beach LZ in significant south wind conditions. Other landing options include Kaslo Airport southwest of town at the base of True Blue Mt and a small recreational park immediately southeast of town, just past the Moyie Paddlewheel. Check out the LZ before flying to avoid rocky areas and sprained ankles. From Mt Milford, landing in Kaslo or at a community north of Shutty Bench is common. The site is in Class 'G' airspace. The radio frequency for aircraft is 123.4 MHz, and for the local club, it is 173.640 MHz. For advanced weather briefing and HAGAR notification, call 1-866-WXBRIEF (1-866-992-7433) or 1-866-GOMETEO (1-866-466-3836) for French service. This is a very scenic place to fly and holiday. Ainsworth Hot Springs, just south of Kaslo on the road to Nelson, is a must-visit. Two old mine shafts lead back into the mountain, featuring stalagmites and stalactites worth seeing. The site hosts the Kaslo Fly-In. For more details, visit the events page. Primary local contacts: - HG: Simon Mitchell, Tel. 250-352-3036 - HG: Tyson Ehlers, Tel. 250-226-7063 - HG: Jim Smith, Tel. ? - Kaslo PG: Mike Zimmerman, Tel: 250-353-7393 - Kaslo PG: Treavor Hollsworth, Tel. 250-358-7277 - PG: Jason Leus, Tel: 250-357-2490 For more information about the flying site, visit [Paragliding365](http://www.paragliding365.com).