Crystal Skygliding

Thanks guys. I have a friend that's offering to teach me.

Not sure if it's my thing, though. Call me curious.

Make sure he is a qualified instructor though, insurance liability and all that good stuff. Non qualified "instructors" liable to lose site privilages. Ground handling training, get as much time as you can, doesn't matter who teaches you.

Good luck.

Thanks guys.  I have a friend that's offering to teach me. 

Not sure if it's my thing, though.  Call me curious.

Make sure he is a qualified instructor though, insurance liability and all that good stuff.  Non qualified "instructors" liable to lose site privilages.  Ground handling training, get as much time as you can, doesn't matter who teaches you.

Good luck.

I'm with you haggis. Really would have no clue what qualifies someone to teach another how to fly. I'm pretty conservative (wimpy). Like I said, it's probably not my thing. Insurance liability though? Isn't signing a waiver a prerequisite?

The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) certifies paragliding instructors. Here is the USHPA website:

www.ushpa.aero/

You definitely should learn with a USHPA certified instructor.

Haggis mentioned the paragliding portion of my website. Here are some interesting pages:

www.alpenglow.org/paragliding/history/nw-chronology.html - Early NW paragliding chronology
www.mountaineers.org/NWMJ/07/071_Paragliding1.html - Narrative of early NW paragliding (NWMJ)
www.alpenglow.org/paragliding/writing/ski-launch.html - How-to article about ski flying (written in the early 1990s).
www.alpenglow.org/paragliding/fun/index.html - A few photos of Crystal Mountain flying

As Haggis mentioned, Crystal Mountain allows paragliding in winter, if you follow their guidelines and check in with them. I was among the group that originally opened the mountain to paragliding, but I haven't flown there for several years, as I'm semi-retired from flying (due mostly to lack of time). Mt Bachelor in Oregon used to allow flying (and probably still does) but I haven't kept in touch with the situation there.

In the early 1990s we flew Crystal in summer as well, when the lifts were running for tourists. The site never became very popular, because it gained a reputation for rough flying conditions. With improved gliders these days, you might be able to climb out of the rough zone more easily than before. The valley turbulence can be spooky though.

Since Tom McCune's June 2001 XC flight from Tiger Mountain (Issaquah) to Crystal Mountain, the hot pilots would rather emulate his flight than launch at Crystal. Still, I think the mountain may have summer potential for today's pilots.