February 18 - March 7, 2020
Flying Sites: Dikki Danda, Bandipur, Serangkot

Thank you to Aerial Paragliding and Karma Flights for making the trip happen. Links to both organizations are below.

paragliding.us
karmaflights.org

The trip started in Kathmandu where we spent the day hoping to catch a helicopter to Everest (didn't happen due to weather). Next we flew to Pokhara and met up with the Aerial Paragliding group where we all flew Dikki Danda together. It was my first time really getting lift and staying up in the air. I learned paragliding late in the summer and got signed off on my P2 in the Fall which was riddled with bad flying weather. My only experience prior to this trip had been sled rides. Although it was just ridge lift, it was still really exciting to clock in my first 30 minute flight.

Next we went to Bandipur and flew there for about a week. I caught my first thermals at that site and started gaining confidence in the turbulent air. We ate donuts every morning and drank beer every night. It was truly an awesome place to be.

After that, Aaron and I headed back to Pokhara with hopes to catch a heli ride to Annapurna's Base Camp; although they ended up only taking us to Mardi Himal instead (still nice!). A day later, the squad came back from Bandipur where we met up and began flying Serangkot. It was my first experience with heavy air traffic and I still don't think I'm completely used to it. When the site is on, the house thermal provides an easy access to play above the radio tower and potentially fly out to Dikki Danda/the Green Wall if you want to go XC. I think the highest I got was probably 2k above the launch.

Aaron and I left from the group after a few days of Serangkot flying and went back to Kathmandu to try and heli to Everest's base camp. This time we were successful! We got to see the famous peak, the Lukla Airport, and had breakfast at Hotel Everest. As we ate breakfast, we were treated to views of Everest and the surrounding Himalaya.

Dubai was the final itinerary on the trip. We spent a full day there visiting the Burj Khalifa, the indoor snow slope, both the malls, and a rooftop bar to end the night.