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Description
Anarchist is a well-regarded paragliding and hang gliding site located in the South Okanagan Valley, near Osoyoos, BC, Canada. The launch is situated at an elevation of 4200 feet above sea level, with a landing zone at 910 feet above sea level. The site is southwest-oriented but performs well in light northwest crosswinds.
The launch area is a small, grassy slope over a rock bluff, requiring a short, steep hike of about 150 feet up a 40° incline. The site is suitable for both paragliding (PG) and hang gliding (HG), with excellent potential for cross-country (XC) flights. The best times to fly are in the afternoon and evening, with particularly spectacular evening glass-offs.
Before flying, pilots must sign a waiver at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and prove they hold current HPAC insurance. Due to the sensitivity of the site, it is crucial to contact the local club for a briefing and to sign the waiver. The site is managed by the South Okanagan Air Raiders (SOAR).
The primary launch direction is southwest, and the site is known for its thermal, ridge, and glass-off flying conditions. The 'House' Thermal is located to the left of the launch in the bowl near the vehicle parking area. Pilots should be cautious of the big sink area to the east and avoid flying over the USA border without following proper protocol.
Landing zones (LZ) are sensitive and have been secured and lost repeatedly over the years. Pilots can land on the hay field just before the switchback on Hwy 6 heading east out of Osoyoos or on the Osoyoos Beach at the south end of the lake during off-season periods. An alternate LZ for XC flights is the Oliver Airport, where pilots must stay on the west side of the runway below 2000 feet and land on the grass strip south of the airport office.
Access to the launch site requires a rugged 2WD vehicle. From Osoyoos, head east on Hwy 3, turn north onto Long Joe Road, drive 2.4 km, then take the first left turn heading north for 0.6 km. A short hike uphill leads to the launch area.
For more information, visit the local club's website: [Fly OK](http://www.flyok.ca) and [SOAR](http://www.members.shaw.ca/soffa/).
Weather updates can be checked via the Anarchist Summit Webcam: [DriveBC](http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/64.html).
For further details on airspace and regulations, refer to [SkyVector](http://skyvector.com/).
Primary contacts for the site include:
- Peter Ehlers: 250-496-5927, Cell: 250-462-0794, pedro158@REMOVE.THISyahoo.com
- Peter Rasmussen: 250-485-4044, Cell: 250-462-4270, pecosurf@REMOVE.THIShotmail.com
- Sean Dougherty: 250-497-6003, Cell: 250-286-0753, sean.dougherty@REMOVE.THISnrc.ca
For more information on the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, visit: [Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre](http://www.nkmipdesert.com).
For additional paragliding and hang gliding resources in British Columbia, visit: [BCHPA](http://www.bchpa.ca/contact-us.html).
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