Fernie is a mountain town for real adventurers. The invasion of the coffee shop and putter is evident in Fernie however the true character remains hardcore.

On a nice Autumn day paragliders can be seen flying from the microwave towel launch at 6900 ft overlooking the City. Updrafts, also called thermals, can lift these fliers another 2000 ft for a flight that can last hours. I happened to be on the ridge to ride Dirt Diggler, a downhill mountain bike trail, when Rainer and Zenoc were flying. Here are a few images of their amazing flight:

Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing consisting of a large number of interconnected and baffled cells. Wing shape is maintained by its suspension lines, the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing and the aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside.

Despite not using an engine, paraglider flights can last many hours and cover many hundreds of kilometres, though flights of 1–2 hours and covering some tens of kilometres are more the norm. By skilful exploitation of sources of lift the pilot may gain height, often climbing to altitudes of a few thousand metres.

Paragliders are unique among soaring aircraft in being easily portable. The complete equipment packs into a rucksack and can be carried easily on the pilot’s back,[2] in a car, or on public transport. In comparison with other air sports this substantially simplifies travel to a suitable takeoff spot, the selection of a landing place and return travel.

Paragliding is related to hang gliding. Hang glider and paraglider launches are often found in proximity. Despite the considerable difference in equipment the two activities offer similar pleasures and some pilots are involved in both sports. Hang gliders also fly off the microwave tower launch.