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GRADE : BASIC (Min 50 flights, 2 instructor and 4 guided flights by an observer).
DESCRIPTION : Soaring. This is the home of the Glen Paragliding Club, a consistent and beautiful site to fly, offering a superb panorama of Clifton, Camps Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles. As the sun moves across to the West in the afternoon, Lion's Head begins to heat up and generate a thermic, upslope breeze. Best flying is from 3pm onwards during windshadow conditions. Parking is on the back (Cape Town) side of Lion's Head, then a stiff hike is required up the gravel road and around to the front side. Because of the spire-shape of the peak, the wind diverges quite dramatically around it, causing a strong venturi (increase in wind speed) at both takeoff sites when it is soarable. The wind is usually crossed from the left (south) at the topsite and very strong, and crossed from the right (north-west) at the lower Silvertree site. Please do not pioneer a new launch site somewhere else on the mountain - it is a Nature Reserve.
WIND : W - SW soaring, thermic in the wind-shadow during SE winds
LAUNCH : Lower launch is reached after 10minutes of walking. It is a challenging launch through a silver-leaf tree grove. This is where the path narrows from a jeep-track width into a hiking track with steps. Takeoff is clean - a new gabionned stone-mattress has simplified the launch somewhat. This is where to launch if there is soarable south-westerly wind blowing.
The 'Top site' is reached after another 10minutes of brisk walking, and is a rocky launchsite with a stone/netting surface. The wind is usually crossed from the left here, making good ground-handling and committed launch techniques essential for a safe get-away.
ALTITUDES : Topsite is 450m asl, with ceiling at 1200m asl.
LANDING : On the grassed playing-field in front of LaMed, at the Glen Country Club. The field is sometimes rented to the Camps Bay High School, so try to have a minimum impact on any sports being played on the field. The Camps Bay High School field (above the main road, to the left of the big swimming pool) can be used as an alternative if it is not being used. During the summer season the Municipality has asked us to please avoid landing on the beaches (Camps Bay, Clifton, Glen) There is also a median strip of undeveloped land between the upper main road and the lower main road, just above LaMed. The lower slopes of Lion's Head can be used to slope-land in an emergency.
DIRECTIONS : Drive up through Cape Town and take Kloof Nek road up to the pass between Lion's Head and Table Mountain. At the intersection, turn right to Signal Hill and continue until the road levels out. You will find a gravel carpark to the right of the road. The path to takeoff is on the left as you reach the carpark.
CARETAKERS : Glen Paragliding Club
PERMISSION : Guidance by a local pilot at this highly visible and sensitive site is essential. If you’re a regular here, you're expected to get a Wild Card which supports the organisation who built the launch-sites - the Cape Peninsula National Parks.
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