Parapente
Em's Launch
Chile Flashback: Parapente Date: August 30, 2009: Iquique is a mecca for parapente (paragliding). The conditions and geography make for primetime parapente conditions year round. Some of the most ideal and consistent parapente conditions in the world. The thermals funnel in off the Pacific up the couple thousand foot coastal escarpment that climbs from the ocean up into the Atacama Desert above Iquique, which is sandwiched between the ocean and the coastal mountains behind it. The takeoff zone is up on the edge of the otherwise bleak Iquique bedroom community of Alto Hospicio. Suburbia Atacama style. The takeoff looks down on the dune system of Cerro Dragon, which backs Iquique, and the city and beaches of Iquique. The Pacific stretches off into the horizon, a field of blue offsetting the Atacama brown. Landings are on the sandy beaches of Iquique or the dunes of Cerro Dragon. Our landing would be on Playa Brava, the closest beach to our house.
Preparation
Kill Bill 3
Em was hesitant to fly at first. But after much deliberation, she decided to go for it. Earlier in the week, I signed Em and I up at Avitours on Baquedano. Avitours contracts out with parapente companies for flights. I signed us up for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 30,000 Chilean pesos a piece. Our pilots would pick us up at our house. And they did. Our pilots, Jorge and Daniel (if my hazy memory serves me correct), showed up just after 10:30 a.m., and we climbed in their rattly car. They were a jovial pair:
Jorge: “Is this your first time to parapente?”
Us: “Yes.”
Jorge: “Me, too.”
Scoping the take off
- My foot over Cerro Dragon
We rattled over to their shop and grabbed all the neccesary gear, as well as our shuttle driver. He would drop us off up in Alto Hospicio, get us launched, and meet us down at our landing spot on Playa Brava. The five of us squeezed in the small car and rattled up the switchbacking road to our Alto Hospicio launch spot. Being a Sunday, the launch spot was kicking with all kinds of parapente action. One of the first things we saw was a solo pilot take off and just as quickly plunge down out of sight towards the road below. Everyone ran to the edge to see if they could see his fate. Luckily, it did not end on the road on the front of a semi. He crash landed on the sloped desert above the road, and struggled his way back up the hill with his chute for another go round. Shaken but undettered, he would successfully take off a little later.
Up, up, and away
Vuelos en parapente
After that death defying excitement, we all got geared up. Em and Jorge would go first. Their running start put them airborne. They dropped a little towards the road, but soon found a thermal and circled up. Free from the ground, they were flying. Daniel and I took off 10 minutes later. I dangled in front of and a little below the pilot. I felt completely safe in his capable hands. We caught thermals and circled higher and higher. Alto Hospicio and the highway soon spread below. We circled and soared, over the dunes of Cerro Dragon, the streets of Iquique, and finally a soft landing on the sands of Playa Brava. We were airborne for just under 30 minutes. It was amazing. I can see why the diehards risk life and limb in their pursuit of flight. Soaring with the wind as your only propulsion is hard to beat. They offered to drive us home, but earthbound once again, our feet were up for some Iquique roaming. We said our goodbyes and strolled off down the beach, our heads still in the clouds.
Calles y Casas
Post flight celebration
