Paragliding Stoney Creek , BC

Pre-Mara, this site was a top choice for paragliding, but it has since become somewhat neglected. Despite this, it still offers excellent potential for cross-country (XC) flights. The site is located in the Salmon Arm region of Canada, specifically in the Salmon River Valley, north of Hwy 97 and 12 miles south of Salmon Arm. The launch is at an elevation of 3800 feet above sea level, with a height difference of approximately 560 meters. The launch direction is west, and the site is suitable for both paragliding (PG) and hang gliding (HG). The type of flying here includes thermal and glass-off conditions. The launch area features an excellent natural slope with a chute between trees, though the setup space is limited. The road to the launch can be challenging, with thick brush and minor branch deadfall. It is recommended to go with a local pilot the first time or print out the directions. The best time to fly is mid-afternoon, as the site becomes active around 2 PM. Resident thermals are located right in front of and on either side of the launch. These thermals can be worked like ridge lift until you gain about 100 meters over the launch, allowing you to 360 away. Landing zones (LZs) are small and have twitchy winds, which is partly why this site is designated for XC flights. The most common LZ is immediately below the launch on the north side of Sallenbach Rd, along the river just west of the picnic area. This LZ is small and has power lines running down the road. Another LZ is located one kilometer farther north, immediately southeast of the bridge. The site is in Class 'E' airspace above 2200 feet AGL, with several Victor Airways overhead. Pilots should reset their altimeters to the accurate launch altitude before flying. The local radio frequency is 146.415 MHz. For more information, you can visit the local club's website at [FlyOK](http://www.flyok.ca). Primary contacts for the site include: - HG: Tim Staal, Tel: 250-833-4349, tim_staal@REMOVE.THIShotmail.com - HG: Cliff Rempel, Cell: 250-571-3620, csrlt1@REMOVE_THISsunwave.net - HG: Fred Wilson, Cell: 250-309-6651, ftlwilson@REMOVE.THISshaw.ca - PG: Raul Sanchez, Cell: 1-403-689-5122, nepalraul@REMOVE_THISyahoo.ca - PG: Doug Nitchie, Tel: 250-308-9854, dougtnitchie@REMOVE.THISgmail.com - PG: Greg Penner, Cell: 250-306-1325, skydawg_73@REMOVE.THIShotmail.com For more details on the flight area, visit [Paragliding Forum](http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/694749).