May, 2004

Regional News: Okanagan/Kamloops
By Fred Wilson, BCHPA Regional Director for Okanagan/Kamloops/Revesltoke

NEW SITE NEWS
A new site has been pioneered west of Keremeos north of Hedly.

Stoney Creek (South of Salmon Arm) has been reopened after the BCFS slashed the brush on the road in.

A new flying site at Lavington features two competition quality launches for PGers at an unofficial BCFS park ("The Pond and Aberdeen Trails.") Pics and info at http://members.shaw.ca/interiorsoaringclub/Sites/Lavington.html

Cambie Corner in Salmon Arm was wiped out by logging activity. However new clear cuts on the NW face are very promising for a new site. Spring will tell.

The Salmon Arm gang has opened a new east facing flying site in the burned out area on Fly Hills.

Sicamous ramp repairs should be completed this spring. In addition, we hope to open a new Paragliding launch suitable for SIV clinics directly over that fabulous "Old Town Beach" LZ (boat access only) (Quick road up.)

BCFS still has a recreation department, responsible for recreational use of crown lands. We will use this avenue in preference to LWBC to secure new sites. (I firmly believe our commericial uses are "incidental" at most, and this is the route we need to explore.) Several meetings with BCFS (and logging companies where they are designated responsible) have our hopes high for new sites in new logging areas. BCFS promises to keep our interests in consideration when deciding on clear cuts versus selective logging... so the future looks good.

EXISTING SITE NEWS
South Okanagan
Anarchist is being actively flown again. This site is considered highly sensitive until a landing field is secured. Permission to land at the Reserve's Camp ground must be obtained before every flight.

Kobau is threatened by a new National Park proposal. SOSA will meet with the Oliver Mayor who is spearheading recreational interests in the area. It is hoped that the VIHGC will be able to provide some guidance to our members as they face a similar situation with Saltspring Island.

2004 Site funding is prioritized for defense of this site. Secondary considerations are:
a) repairs to the Sicamous ramp and a new PG launch suitable for SIV courses.
b) a shady shelter at the King Eddie LZ.

Cawston (Keremeous) is closed due to landowner issues and is further threatend by the Parks Proposal.

Ripleys was used extensively this year. LZ awareness is critical to long term retention of this site and this info will be updated in the site guide revision.

Mid Okanagan
Blue Grouse in Kelowna saw significant road improvements (some $4,0000 was donated for the project by one member.) OSA regional site funding for 2003 is allocated for this project.

Black Knight in Kelowna is now ISC club members and accompanied guests only via a locked gate.

North Okanagan
King Eddie and Vernon Mt.
Glenn Derouin has secured commercial access and OSA has secured recreational access from Coldstream ranch. There is faint hope that the front road up King Eddie will be re-opened in the near future. Minor pruning of the trees at Baldy this fall were a welcome improvement.

Bolleen had some launch clearing done again this year and a launch suitable for paragliding (SW facing, in the punch bowl 300m west of the Hang Gliding launch) will be assessed this year to determine if the site is suitable for Paragliding. (BIG air.) The club's decision is to declare this site "open" again with the proviso that pilots understand clearly that we have lost all landing fields in the valley bottom around Faulkland. The bomb out LZ is still there at the base of the mountain but the message is "This site is designated XC only." (The same is true for Stoney Creek - both areas have hypersentive landowners, both are outrageously good XC Sites, so the rule of thumb is "plan to fly home" "These are not top to bottom flight sites."

Mara saw much less use this year. The road in is getting quite rough. BCFS long term plans are to abandon this road in preference to a new, less expensive to maintain road to service major logging planned in the near future. (We can already see potential NW facing sites appearing that overlook Sicamous.)

Coopers.
The Lumby School system has a forestry program that is well on the way to opening a south facing launch at Coopers. A nice cooperative venture between the school and flying communities.

Kamloops site information was updated in the resently revised BCHPA Site Guide for that area, thanks to Ed Rilkoff . Okanagan revisions will be posted shortly.