Piedechinche 3.635931, -76.177550
As I waited to head out for the day, I explored the hotel property.
I had to climb and relax in this comfortable tree which had some odd fruit in it.
Our Colombian guide Neno, said I could pick a fresh mango. The half without the worm was awesome.
A rainbow formed over the launch site as we left the hotel.
We reached the top of the mountain, and the somewhat large site was quickly crowded with wings and people preparing to launch. I paid the $2.50 daily launch fee, and signed in at the small shack located behind the launch site. Being a newbie, it was very intimidating with all the people. I watched one man inflate and drag his lines across the face of another man that was unpacking his wing. He had to abort as his wing rotated around the man’s head. The one man argued that he should have been yelling “launching” and the other man argued that he should be preparing at the back of the lunch site. They both seemed to have valid points to a newbie like myself and I used this information throughout the trip.
The wind was slightly cross for this launch area. I went and investigated the north launch site which was much smaller and had a much steeper drop off if something went wrong. I decided not to walk over to the cliff’s edge but would guess it was at least 30 feet of a shear drop off to the next ledge below as I could see the roof of a small house on the ledge below. The wind direction was perfect, and I felt much more comfortable with less people.
It seemed wrong to not be following the crowd but Paul agreed to go with me. Paul said he would keep an eye on me but I would need me to keep him from launching first. In the past I guess he’s had an issue was getting impatient and launching first only to sink out early as others waited for better conditions. Having him there for emotional support was very much appreciated. Thanks, Paul.
I was extremely nervous until I hooked in, then everything became instinctive. Yelled “launching” and took flight over the roof top. I was soaring along a Colombian mountain, on a different continent on a beautiful warm sunny day. I found a very small thermal where I was able to climb slightly and then maintain altitude. It happened to be directly over four women that were sunbathing around a pool. It seemed a little wrong to be invading their privacy, but I didn’t pick the thermal location and it was fairly high up (Wow, just realized, while writing this, how closely this matches a joking exaggeration I had made months earlier about going off on my own to skip the crowd, launching from a roof top and flying over a nude beach.). I didn’t stick with this thermal and soon I was deciding where to land in the designated LZ. With my feet now on the ground, I was still mentally soaring high after the short 10-minute flight.
For the second flight the “sunbathing thermal” had intensified and I stuck with it. It took me up over the launch site and I headed to the north side of the mountain. Being a north wind, I was expecting some lift and I was correct. I could feel my right side pulling hard and I pulled hard back. I brought the right wing tip down even with my elevation and despite the tight spiral I climbed at an incredible rate. “This is awesome and so easy to gain altitude.” Not only was the vario screaming but I could see the speed as I was traveling up the side of the steep mountain that was not that far way. The launch site quickly became small as I reached 8,000 ft — a 2000 ft elevation gain in no time. The first day and this would be the strongest thermal of the trip.
I noticed some other paragliders thermaling over a different launch site to the north. I headed towards them and they headed towards me. When I got to their thermal location it was raining and there was no more thermal. The valley to the north was covered in clouds so I turned back south and landed in the designated LZ after an hour long flight.
Paul’s 2nd flight would be the longest of the day. He headed south and stayed in the Sun. As we drove to pick him up, I noted the high fences lining the side of the road and what seemed like a total lack of lz’s. When we reached his location, the fence had an open gate and a gigantic mowed soccer field.
For the third and final flight of the day we all regrouped at the north “better” launch site. It was a great feeling as we all launched one after the other. The thermals had died and it was a very smooth flight down to the designated LZ and we all landed one after the other.
Packing up after a great day of flying.
Orlando was our trip organizer and guide. The taillight on his truck was hanging by the wires, so I suggested we use this as an opportunity to sticker his truck. Paul taped the top and bottom as I did the side with one with my son’s website stickers.
