Paragliding Lavington 'Point' Launch, BC

Located in the Okanagan Valley in South Central British Columbia, Canada, this paragliding site offers a dynamic flying experience, especially in early spring. The site is situated approximately 1 mile north of Lavington on Hwy 6. The launch directions are SE - S, S - W, making it suitable for paragliding with ridge and thermal flying. The site features two main launches: the 'Lazy' Launch at 3600' ASL (GPS: N 50 15 18.0 W 119 08 12.7) and the 'Point' Launch at 3100' ASL (GPS: N 50 14 36.7 W 119 08 00.5). The flying season is best in spring, with good conditions also in summer and fall. Winter flying is not recommended. The site is known for its excellent thermic conditions, with altitude gains up to 8,000' being common. Cross-country potential is good, with flights extending up to 60 km. Access to the site requires a 2WD vehicle, though there is a short, rough, steep section early on. The upper launch can be easy to miss without a GPS. The site features grassy slopes and offers easy XC down the ridge to Vernon to the west or Lumby to the east. For those interested in hang gliding, there is a launch farther along the road towards the Vernon Mt launch. This area requires a very hard hike on a poorly marked trail with a steep, rocky, and grassy slope. Directions to the site: - Start from the Noble Canyon Rd intersection (2.4 km east of the Lavington Shell). - Turn north on Noble Canyon road. - At the 2.8 km mark, take the left fork. - At the 4.1 km mark, take the left fork (Becker Lake). - At the 10.0 km mark, take the left fork for 1.8 km to reach the parking lot at 'The Pond and Aberdeen Trails' where the hike-in trails begin. Trail directions to 'Lazy' Launch: - From the Pond parking lot, walk through the gate and take the 'Aberdeen Trail' to the right. - The center fork leads to the 3600' 'Lazy Launch,' a 5-minute walk. Trail directions to the 'Point' Launch: - From the Pond parking lot, take the right fork to the western picnic area viewpoint. - From there, it's a few minutes downhill to the lower 'Point' launch, a total of about a 15-minute hike. Landing directions: - Check with local pilots. Do not land in crops or Ginseng fields. - The only secure landing zone (LZ) is at Glenn Derouin's Flight Center property on the north side of the highway shortly before Lavington. GPS: N50 13 677 W 119 07 614. Designated airspace for hang gliding and aerobatics is from the surface to 6200' ASL and includes Lavington east to Cherryville and north to Mable Lake. The ceiling can be raised for events or on request to FIC (1-866-WXBRIEF). Radio frequencies: - Aircraft: 123.400 MHz - Local Club: 146.415 MHz For more information, contact the British Columbia PG + HG Association: [BC PG + HG Association Contact](http://www.bchpa.ca/contact-us.html) Primary Contacts: - Doug Nitchie: 250-308-9854, dougtnitchie@REMOVE.THISgmail.com - Greg Penner: 250-306-1325, skydawg_73@REMOVE.THIShotmail.com - Glen Derouin: 250-503-1962, glenn@REMOVE.THIShotmailparaglidecanada.com - Fred Wilson: 250-309-6651, ftlwilson@REMOVE.THISshaw.ca - Borge Host: 250-503-7285