markwebster Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Trip: Mt Rainier - carving turns uphill at Panorama Pt Date: 1/31/2011 Trip Report: I wouldn't ordinarily post a trip report that I didn't go on, but this is my son, who only posts on facebook. This new sport is so amazing I thought you all would enjoy this. Thursday he and a friend from the ER room skinned up to the wide valley just East of the top of Panorama Pt where my son took these pictures of his friend kite skiing. No one had skied there, so all the tracks are the guy on the kite. As many of you know, it is always windy up there. My son said the kite was very light. My son's notes on this photo: "J was literally skiing up the mountain, all those tracks are his. awesome to see" He was getting 20 feet of air in this shot: My wife, daughter and I skinned up yesterday, but it was IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) the whole day. Nothing like wandering around for hours in a big cotton ball, 40 feet of visibility. I've not skied a sunny day up there this year. Love that mountain though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 That's awesome! Me thinks with some updrafts you could...summit?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwebster Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 I've not done it, but I suspect it is not ready for summiting. The control on those things is precarious. I've heard they are similar to windsurfing, which I did for 9 years in the Gorge. If your kite/windsurfing sail is too large for the wind gusts, you need a smaller kite/windsurfing sail. At Hood River, we would just sail up to shore and change to a smaller sail. I climbed with a pilot for southwest for a couple years. They had a layover in an oceanside hotel. His copilot was kiteboarding and came in fast to the beach. He miss-judged his turn and crashed into, and through, the second story hotel room window...spent some time in the hospital. But for what J was doing at Pan, that looks super fun, and reasonably safe, if you had the proper training. J, the guy doing it, is a semi-pro kiteboarder and snowboarder. He is sponsored by some big names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
To_The_Top Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Interesting...good if the wind is too your back.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.