To ensure our place in the queue and guard against afternoon rain scuttling our plans, we departed the Ramseyer Memorial Presbyterian Church premises at 6 AM. Destination: the Easter festival at Nkawkaw and paragliding at the Kwahu (Kway-oo) range! Auntie Jemima told us that Kwahu means “go and die,” so-named because warriors once refused orders to fight there. Who would want to “go and die?” This is a rather unfortunate name for the location of a paragliding festival, and it generated some gallows humor on the bus.
Our early arrival meant that we avoided the security queue that formed by 9 AM. And we alone enjoyed the spectacular morning sun on Nkawkaw beneath the mountain. (The site reminded me of the diving venue of the 1992 Barcelona summer olympic games.) While waiting for flying to start, I took several photos of the scenery, the students (Maria, Krista, Olivia, McKinley, and Kallie), Catherine, and Cynthia. From the mountain, we could see the landing site, a football pitch occupied by a dawn match. Security arrived well before flying began.
Take-off requires significant technical skill due to the short, steep, rocky runway and severe drop-off, so Kwahu tandem pilots are some of the best in the world. You don’t sign up for Kwahu; you are invited. They use sophisticated windspeed instruments to guide takeoff decisions. The pilots are assisted by several local boys both atop the mountain and at the landing site in exchange for rides on the last day of the festival.
Flights begin with a short briefing from your pilot. Helmets are donned. Pilot and passenger are strapped together. The glider inflates and rises. Then, when the wind is right, you run as fast as possible off the cliff! Once airborne, the scenery is spectacular. After takeoff, the pilots snap GoPro photos. Of course, Mark’s mom was concerned. But she need not have been. The flight is relaxing, and landing is usually smooth.
After the stress of watching your son jump off a cliff strapped to another man, time for some coffee in a baggie.
In addition to Mark, most of the students flew. I took loads of photos and included the best of each student in the gallery below: Captain America, Sarah, Rebecca, Brooke, Katie, Krista, Abby, Maria, Julia, Natasha, and Olivia. You’ll notice smiles from everyone. All had spectacular flights and safe landings.
I went last, and I appreciate that Bethany took over photography duties starting with Maria’s flight, including this nice shot of my paraglider after takeoff. Blake (my pilot) got a great photo of us with his GoPro camera.
I was the only flier in our group with the courage to take a few photos with my cell phone camera while aloft. Blake caught a thermal, lifting us high above the runway. We glided along the ridge for a time, allowing some fantastic photos of the blue paraglider that took off before us. I snapped a photo of Nkawkaw and a panorama of the entire valley including the Kwahu range. We flew over the town hoping to catch another themal (which never materialized) that would have provided enough altitude to reach a second ridge and its stunning rock face. Thereafter, we focused on a safe and smooth landing at the football pitch.
Through it all, there was music for the spectators: a DJ, a band, and, of course, drumming and singing. About two hours after my flight, rain arrived and cancelled any further activities.
Several of the professional paragliders mentioned that the Easter festival is a favorite annual destination because of its stunning views, excellent flying, and hospitable hosts. We agree!
—Matt
