Location: Eagle Summit, Alaska
What is a "fly-in" you ask? Well, it is simply a gathering - a gathering of hang-glider (HG) and para-glider (PG) pilots from far and wide. They come together to embrace the spirit and energy of each other, and come with high hopes for good flying and camping. One pilot, John, came from as far as Pennsylvania:
What better way to celebrate the longest days of the year by soaring hills and watching the sun not set?
Adam soars the ridge.
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Eagle Summit is a two hour drive to the northeast of Fairbanks. As altitude is gained to a meager 3,652ft (high by sub-Arctic standards), the trees slowly fade and the domain of Arctic tundra is entered. Here the hills are bare, covered with soft, spongy flora and the occasional rock pile. Eagle is an ideal flying site because it sits between the Yukon Flats to the north, and the Tanana Valley (Fairbanks area) to the south. Any differences in weather between the two areas produces strong winds, and even if light, the air is always moving. We camped right on top.
The Arctic Circle is defined as the latitude on Earth where the sun does not set on the summer solstice, June 21st, at sea level. The farther north you go, the more days of 24hr sun. Eagle Summit is not technically in the Arctic Circle, but the elevation at a latitude of 65 degrees north makes it is possible to watch the sun skim the horizon and continue upward into the sky.
The night would grow no darker.
Saturday would prove to be an epic day. I awoke to the sound of a PG crinkling in the wind as it inflated. Adam was up at ‘em, feeling out the steady up-slope breeze with his wing.
Not wasting any time (nor wind), he set the mood by soaring the ridge. Get a load of Apollo in this one!
After a breakfast of pancakes and homemade Pennsylvania maple syrup, it was time to hit the training hill. We drove down about 5 minutes, but probably a good 1000 ft of altitude, where winds would be mellow. Here I got to stretch out my wing and hop around in the breeze over a gentle slope of tundra. At one point I shared the hill with 5 or 6 other pilots. It was truly incredible. I don’t have any photos from this spot, but somebody snapped this one.
If Apollo had a Facebook page, “chasing flying people” would surely be in his list of Hobbies.
Next, it was back to the main camp, and thus the main launch. Winds were still too light for the HGs, so while they were napping Adam and I discussed a tandem. A 'tandem' is two people in one wing, which can be done in either craft. They do, however, have to be specialized wings to account for the extra-heavy load! Adam got out his tandem and felt the wind.
“A little light,” he said. But it will do. I had waited a long time for this. My first tandem flight: unreal. We had to work a bit to get airborne in the light conditions, but after a short run I felt the harness tighten around me and watched the ground drop from beneath my feet. The air rushed past my ears, my helmet whistled a little. I shouted for joy and probably cursed a few times, because I was flying.
Apollo beat us to the bottom. Paragliders fly slowly.
By then we could all use a nap, so I joined the HGs in their slumber. I was awakened only after an hour or so by the sound of aluminum clanking and sails flapping. Winds had shifted and gotten a little stronger, so the HGs set up, anxiously anticipating stronger winds. It turned out the puff was short lived. Thus, the HGs were left to take a short flight or don’t fly at all. It takes a good 15-20 minutes to set up a HG, so you may as well make it worth it. John offered a tandem, I pounced on the opportunity.
Unheard-of. A PG tandem and a HG tandem, in the same day - without paying a cent! Had to have been a first in the state of Alaska. I promptly assisted John with set-up, and we did a few practice launches. When the pilot and passenger are here:
. . . the pilot needs to know the passenger will commit, and not become an awkward piece of luggage upon launch. All those days running track paid off, John was impressed with my run.
So then it was time! Wow, HGs are fast. Something about laying prone, Superman style, makes it easy to convince yourself you are now a bird.
It was easy to see why HGs are superior for long distance cross-country flights, and stronger conditions. We covered about twice the distance, in half the time. Apollo arrived a whole minute later.
At this point, my day could not possibly be any better. About an hour later we were graced with a passing shower.
The only thing left to do was to crack a beer and watch the sunset (or lack thereof). Dinner was moose chili by the fire.
Solar noon at Eagle, due to the large Alaska time zone and daylight savings, was around 1:45p. This means, in this shot:
. . .the sun was still on its way down.
Meanwhile, our camp was growing by the hour with fellow celebrators of the solstice. Everyone took to their own space, and did their own thing, but there was a common theme of light and wind. At one point there was a pack of at least 8 dogs circumnavigating the camp. Our view was a little blocked, but not spoiled, since they brought kites. There it is, 2:01 am:
According to Ben, we were very lucky this year to not have the sun blocked by clouds. I was even offered a kite to put in the air. How could I resist joining the flock?
To say we got rained out on Sunday would be putting it lightly, but it comes with the territory. Packing up camp in a torrential downpour didn't dampen anyone's spirits.
