Should Point of the Mountain Be Preserved For Hang Gliding/Paragliding?
The air currents at Point of the
Mountain, between Salt Lake City
and Provo, are ideal for hang
gliding
and paragliding. So perfect that “The
Point” is known to gliding enthusiasts from around the world.
People come from all over to ride the air waves.
Some of the land there has been
designated Flight
Park State Recreation Area. It is jointly managed by Utah State
Parks and the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association.
The ridge in that area has unique
characteristic making it an exceptional spot. In the morning, as the
sun warms the land, air currents follow the contours and provide the
lift needed for great flights. Then in the afternoon, cooling changes
the air flows and enthusiasts move to the other side of the ridge.
People can launch and fly from either direction.
White the land on top of the ridge is
reserved for the sport, areas around the base are not and are subject
to development. Large sand and gravel pits are located in the area
and continually push into the ridge.
Now gliding enthusiasts are concerned
that enlarging the gravel operations will change the land contours,
which will alter the air flow and destroy the prime updrafts.
KSL.com has this
interesting news report about the issue. Below are excerpts.
The Point of the
Mountain has been excavated for freeways and construction for the
past couple decades, leaving large gravel pits and mounds. Many
paragliders have used the mountains for paragliding, and it's become
a common sight to see them floating in the sky at the Point of the
Mountain.
However, Geneva
Rock has started expanding its mining operation and has begun
excavating a slope of the mountain. Many paragliders are afraid the
construction will change the wind flow.
Paraglider pilot
Milly Wallace explained that the wind will follow the path of the
hill.
"That is
where we are catching our lift, is right there," she said.
"Anything that disturbs that is going to change the flow of that
wind."
However, Geneva
Rock owns the rights to the land at the Point of the Mountain to use
for excavation. Spokesman Jake White said that Geneva Rock supports
the paragliders and even traded some of its property so the south
paragliding park could be built a few years prior.
The gliders say they appreciate Geneva
Rock's cooperation in the past and they know the company has the
legal right to expand its pit. They hope to work out some kind of
arrangement to have the expansion go a different direction to
preserve the air flow.
We encourage the public to learn about
this issue and voice opinions.
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