On calm summer days, boaters and sunbathers may spot paragliders spinning and tumbling overhead as they practice maneuvers over the deep waters of Wallowa Lake.
Not to panic, these experienced pilots have got it all under control, and carry several “reserve” parachutes in case they need them. A rescue boat is always on hand to pluck those who come down “under reserve” out of the water and bring them to shore. In this way they can learn advanced maneuvers called “acro” in a safe manor. In fact, Wallowa Lake is the only place in the United States which has a tramway leading to a launch site above a lake to do so!
Of course, not all pilots are here for “acro”, as many simply enjoy soaring around with the birds, and like the birds, paragliders can stay up for hours, climbing thermal-heated air from the valley below which rises up the mountains during the day. This type of flying is called “free flight” and does not involve a motor of any kind. The pilot uses a slope to “launch”, lifting their paraglider (referred to as a “wing”) with the incoming breeze before taking a few steps to depart the ground.
Different from a parachute, which is used in sky-diving to descend, and different from a para-sail which is a parachute towed by a rope from a boat, a modern paraglider is an EN certified aircraft designed to fly great distances without having to come down, much like a hang-glider, except paragliders are made of fabric and lack ridged frames. Pilots of these craft sit in a comfortable chair called a “harness” which attaches to either side of the wing via thick nylon webbing called “risers”, and use instruments to detect thermal lift and determine altitude and speed. It is truly an adventurous sport, where one must be in tune with the weather conditions at all times!
Those who wish to see paragliders launch can do so by heading up the Wallowa Lake Tramway and hiking out to the Valley Overlook. If there are pilots on launch, it is a good idea to keep quiet and patiently wait for them to set up their equipment, which can take minutes or sometimes much longer if they are waiting for more favorable wind.
For those interested in flying themselves, Mt Howard is an advanced site which requires high altitude launch skills, a P3 rating and membership to the Eagle Cap Paragliding Club who manage the site. Unfortunately, there are no commercial operations on the mountain taking passengers, so one must be a skilled pilot with their own equipment to fly.