Blanchard Hill Launch Site

 paragliding, hang gliding

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www.nwparagliding.com/blanchard.php

"Blanchard Hill, located at the north end of the Skagit valley, is an excellent site for P-2 + pilots. Overlooking Samish Bay, the view from the west launch includes the San Juan and Gulf islands. Moving to the south launch two hundred feet away, completes the panorama from the blue waters of the San Juan Islands to the ever-changing patchwork quilt of farmland tucking in the northern Skagit Valley. Blanchard Hill is the head poking out of the quilt. It's a great area to explore in the unlikely event you are unable to launch. There may not be a more relaxing place to fly.

There is a prickly little porcupine who may come out to hassle you on launch. Ignoring this Garden Gnome-like creature is your best tactic. If that doesn't work, try complements, which work for even the prickliest of creatures. Do not feed him, whatever you do. He seems to be attracted to paragliders more than to hang gliders, and to be quite territorial about the remaining stump at the base of the west launch slope.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5_T0uuw3f4
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