30 May. The kings son, Farhad, organised a taxi for us to take us to the launch site.
It is called the Summer Palace and it happens to be the place were the royals would hang out in the summer when it gets to hot down in the valley. In the morning he helps us find a place to fill up our Oxygen tanks which we will try out for the first time. In the end Frahad can’t come himself but the taxi driver knows where to take us and around two o’clock we are on the launch site. At 2700 meter we are 1600 meters above the valley floor and have a great view over the chitral valley to the east and to the west stands the imposing bulk of Trichmir, a 7705 meter high mountain that dominates the view.
The process of getting ready for take off is somewhat longer and uncomfortable in these altitudes. On the launch the temperature is a balmy 25 degrees but we have to dress ourselves for the cold at higher altitude. By the time the cameras and Oxygen are hooked up and we are clipped in to our gliders we are dripping with perspiration. The launch is a grassy slope and makes for an easy takeoff. Our first flight in Pakistan was about 3 hours long, we got up to 5500 meters and it totally left us wanting more. The scenery is awe inspiring. Once one climbs above the surrounding mountains the view opens up to a imposing 360 degree panorama of snow covered peaks that reaches as far as the eye can see. It left me feeling very small but also wanting to go beyond what was visible. Although I didn’t need it at that altitude, the Oxygen system worked perfect as did the rest of the equipment.
The landing was an event in itself. I decided to land in a field near the castle, away from any crowds. Amazingly, within seconds of touching the ground children came running towards me from all directions and in no time there was a crowd of fifty kids. They stood so close to me I could hardly move and I had to yell several times to get them to give me some space. Getting out off all that gear and keeping it all together was a mission but one of the older kids spoke good English and made sure that nobody was standing on my lines or would unnecessary touch my stuff. Although I don’t need have worried about loosing my stuff, people around here are so honest that theft seems not to be part of their vocabulary. As I walked over to Farhad’s house to dump my gear I bump into Mukrim, the Para Gliding pilot from Canada. Together we walk back to assist Grey by his landing, although by then the novelty had worn of and only half of the kids showed up.
We got invited to dine at Farhads place which was an excellent end to a first flying day.
It is called the Summer Palace and it happens to be the place were the royals would hang out in the summer when it gets to hot down in the valley. In the morning he helps us find a place to fill up our Oxygen tanks which we will try out for the first time. In the end Frahad can’t come himself but the taxi driver knows where to take us and around two o’clock we are on the launch site. At 2700 meter we are 1600 meters above the valley floor and have a great view over the chitral valley to the east and to the west stands the imposing bulk of Trichmir, a 7705 meter high mountain that dominates the view.
The process of getting ready for take off is somewhat longer and uncomfortable in these altitudes. On the launch the temperature is a balmy 25 degrees but we have to dress ourselves for the cold at higher altitude. By the time the cameras and Oxygen are hooked up and we are clipped in to our gliders we are dripping with perspiration. The launch is a grassy slope and makes for an easy takeoff. Our first flight in Pakistan was about 3 hours long, we got up to 5500 meters and it totally left us wanting more. The scenery is awe inspiring. Once one climbs above the surrounding mountains the view opens up to a imposing 360 degree panorama of snow covered peaks that reaches as far as the eye can see. It left me feeling very small but also wanting to go beyond what was visible. Although I didn’t need it at that altitude, the Oxygen system worked perfect as did the rest of the equipment.
The landing was an event in itself. I decided to land in a field near the castle, away from any crowds. Amazingly, within seconds of touching the ground children came running towards me from all directions and in no time there was a crowd of fifty kids. They stood so close to me I could hardly move and I had to yell several times to get them to give me some space. Getting out off all that gear and keeping it all together was a mission but one of the older kids spoke good English and made sure that nobody was standing on my lines or would unnecessary touch my stuff. Although I don’t need have worried about loosing my stuff, people around here are so honest that theft seems not to be part of their vocabulary. As I walked over to Farhad’s house to dump my gear I bump into Mukrim, the Para Gliding pilot from Canada. Together we walk back to assist Grey by his landing, although by then the novelty had worn of and only half of the kids showed up.
We got invited to dine at Farhads place which was an excellent end to a first flying day.
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