Step by Step
“Every journey starts with a single step,” goes the saying. Or when you look it up it’s actually, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and it’s attributed to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. It can also be translated as “A thousand mile journey begins where one stands”.
Several of our stories in this issue follow this exact philosophy, and nowhere more clearly than with Chrigel Maurer and Peter von Känel’s incredible adventure through the Alps this season. On the day they set off they hadn’t even decided if it was a training flight for their “Big Idea” or whether they were actually starting. As Tarquin Cooper writes in his interview with them both: “It was cloudy and windy at the pass, far from ideal, but they decided to take off anyway. ‘We managed to soar up between the clouds and suddenly we were at 3,500m,’ recalls Peter. It was the first of many magic moves of the trip.”
The efficiency with which Peter and Chrigel travelled through the highest Alpine terrain, using gliders to hop across valleys, soar up to summits or fly XC to cover distance, is perfection in mountain movement. That they managed to summit all 82 4,000m peaks in 51 days, in a season which saw so much snow and bad weather, is truly incredible.
Another pilot who writes about taking things step by step this issue is Galen Kirkpatrick, who set a new North American FAI Triangle record in July. Her description of the day will strike a lot of chords, I’m sure: “Safe launch, safe landing, and something in between” is a mantra for any flight, whether it’s a sled ride to the beach or a 200km mission.
And finally those pilot-mountaineers in Pakistan. Waiting weeks for a weather window, acclimatising and battling with ice and snow, then climbing K2 without oxygen before launching from the summit for a single-skin ride to the glacier below – it’s mind-blowing stuff. If anything it proves that our ultralightweight paragliders can now truly be taken anywhere and used like any other mountain tool, from karabiner to ice axe.
Whatever you are planning next, whether it’s an evening soaring or a multi-day vol-biv, tread carefully – and take it step by step.
Enjoy the issue!
Ed Ewing, editor
Here’s what’s inside
K2 Flown for the first time
Four pilots caught the ultimate weather window on K2 this year – and flew from the summit. By Charlie King
Power and Control
Staying alert to power lines is a key part of learning to fly XC. By Ed Ewing
Hike, Fly, Climb, Repeat
Tarquin Cooper talks to Chrigel Maurer and Peter von Känel about their incredible X-Peaks tour
The End of the World
“The perfect flying hideaway for souls who like to soar.” Werner Luidolt heads to far-flung Portugal
The Devil’s Work
Jacques Paul-Stefani achieves a lifetime ambition and flies from Capu Tafunatu, in the heartland of Corsica
Iberian Flyover
“I went from zero to doing it.” Nico Aubert shares the highs and lows of mid-summer vol-bivouac flying
The Harness Files: Part 3
Bastienne Wentzel dives into the world of competition and ultra-light pod harnesses
Drifting In
Sky Paragliders and young company Drift have merged – we find out why and fly their new EN-C
Neo Suspender 2.0
Designed for cross country with input from Maxime Pinot, we take a look at this high-end XC harness. By Charlie King
Plus
- Need to know: Coupe Icare 2024
- On Launch With: Max Loidl
- Under the Midnight Sun – hike-and-fly record attempt in Norway
- Paramotoring Endurance Worlds 2024
- (Not) like riding a bike by Liz Dengler
- Taking the Aesthetic line by Gavin McClurg
- Project Volcano by Paul Guschlbauer
- It was a day to remember forever by Galen Kirkpatrick
- Destination: Manaslu
- My Flying Life: The two adventure pilots on their X-Peaks gear – and what really mattered
