As I have been a paragliding instructor for 18 years, I often find challenging expectations from my former students on launch. As the most experienced and knowledgeable pilot on the hill, expectations are very high that I will out fly all others. Sure I have more airtime and experience than most other pilots on the hill but I am only human and not immune from bad luck. A former students really rubbed it in last Sunday.

Carter Brown had learned to PG from me in 2002 and has devoted much time and effort to become an excellent advanced pilot. At the last Boulder Paragliding Club meeting he had described his record setting XC flight from Boulder to Golden----about 20 miles along the front range. Although many pilots had done the route from Look Out north to Boulder, no one had ever launched from Boulder and made it south to Golden. Carter was the first one and pilots at each site where in awe of his accomplishment. Sure I had done part of the route before but I felt I needed to show my former student that I could fly the entire route also.

On Sunday July 27th I had already coached several P1, P2 and P3 students at the north Boulder training hill when the threat of tailwinds appeared. It was only 11AM but I feared tailwinds coming so I prepared myself for launch from our 500’ training hill reasoning that a sled ridge was preferable to a hike down later with a tail wind. I warned other pilots about the down slope pressure gradient and launched myself.

Staying aloft was challenging in the beginning and I boated around the training hill saluting other pilots as I searched for a worthy thermal. It looked like I would be landing below soon. Unexpectedly I saw another pilot hit a thermal and I rushed over to join him in a 360 climb. As I approached 2,000’ above launch---usually my XC start altitude, I saw Carter’s XC route beacon me. The large mountains looked intimidating but if my students had done it a few weeks before---certainly the master could do the same.

My first challenge was to cross over the City of Boulder and Boulder Canyon. I had sunk out there before so I was aware of the limited LZs. What an intimidating route to cross---high mountains on one side and city buildings on the other---not a place to sink out. As I circled over the city, I was slowly climbing and I drifting towards the imposing Flat Irons. As long as I was still climbing, I reasoned, I could continue on the perilous route. As I crossed the last LZ. I was tempted to wimp out and land safely but I pushed onward---I was more experienced and knowledgeable---right?

As I thermalled onwards, I saw another wing ahead of me but far below. That was Kevin Kohler, a new XC pilot that I had just issued a P3 rating. I considered he was too low to get much farther. I thought he would be on the ground soon.

As I climbed up to 10,000’ and above the Flat Irons, the rock faces did not look so intimidating anymore. All I had to do is stay even with them and I thought I could glide past them to a safe landing area---or could I?

As I crossed past the First Flat Iron I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had flown over 10 miles of rugged terrain and had accomplished a personal best---why not just land in the inviting fields below. Again thoughts of Carter echoed in my ear---“if you made the Flat Irons Crossing, why did you not just continue like I did?” After all, Lookout Mountain was downhill now.

The first 1 1⁄2 half hours of my flight had been very scenic and very pleasant---not even a wing tip flutter. A sudden snap and turn of my wing brought me back to reality. Yes, where there is lifting air and descending air, the boundary is violent!

As much as I struggled to gain altitude over Coal Creek Canyon, the thermals were not strong. I circled around an open field next to the road and thought how I could tell Carter that I had flown most of his new route. 1 hour 45 minutes and 14 miles was a respectable distance for his old instructor to fly but I was so close. I landed softly with a big smile on my face. It had been a great flight but I would go further next time.

I marked my landing spot on my GPS and packed up my gear. With my cell phone I asked Svein Edland to use my truck as a chase vehicle. Great---he was on his way. Were there any other pilots to collect he asked? No, I replied thinking Kevin had landed way before me.
As I hiked to the road to wait for the retrieval, I was surprised to see a red glider fly high over me headed south towards Look Out. Who could that be? Who has a red glider who could have flown as far as Carter and I----Carter again? Damn, way to rub it in again Carter!

Once Svein pulled up in the retrieval truck, we had a new mission: chase Carter. I was sure he would land at Look Out so we only had a few miles further to go. We scanned the skies and called on the radio as we headed south but to no avail. We pulled into the LZ. at Look Out and asked if they had seen Carter. They explained that one pilot had landed here and the other continued on. Who could be here I thought and was astonished to see young Kevin folding up his wing. Damm so much for my greater experience thinking he was too low. I encouraged Kevin to pack quickly as we still had to chase Carter. 22 miles had not been enough for him.

As we headed south we continued looking and calling over the radio but no sign of Carter. This would be the longest flight ever from our 500’ training hill---over 30 miles now and counting. Damm Carter, way to rub it in and show other pilots the XC potential of North Boulder.

Eventually my telephone rang, Carter was down safe and stood 34 miles from launch and had climbed to 12,800’! Good job Carter----well as least I could claim some fame as his instructor.

By Granger Banks