KAVU Day Classic

By Jeff Shapiro

By KAVU

March 16^th, 2021

The seasons are changing here in western Montana and with that, comes magic Spring days like yesterday.

Blue skies...... Klear Above, Visibility Unlimited!

So, what to do? Well.... I figured if I could spend the entire day outside..... mix in some friends, make sure there was some training that led to flying..... and do my best to see the sun set from the air.... it had the makings of a classic KAVU day.

I got a call the evening before from Jenn Bedell at BlackBird Paragliding, about going to a site in the Clark Fork corridor that I'd not flown yet. With east winds forecast to be 8-12 mph, it seemed like the perfect way to spend the morning. Meeting the group just off the highway, followed by a nice hike through the melting snow and biting cold wind, brought us to a perfect launch. The wind was bitter cold but smooth and, the sky was certainly KAVU.

I think hooting and hollering at your friends while playing in the wind is about the best way to start any day....... just sayin.

When I landed at the bottom, laughing was the theme.

I think most of the crew decided to head to another site and get an afternoon flight in but, I wanted to get home to pick up my favorite co-pilot for an afternoon/evening flight in the KAVU Cub. I love to paraglide but, a hike with the dogs followed by a Bitterroot flight with Kara Shapiro sounded like the best day ever!

When we got to the airport, the winds were next to nothing and the sun was still shining at the perfect height above the mountains to be setting just about the time we would be pulling back into Stevensville and landing.

Quick Preflight....... and get er pushed out and the prop spinning!

Kara and I never take for granted how unbelievably beautiful the Bitterroots, and all the mountains in the backyard are. Instead of flying deep into the canyons, we chose to just cruise down the middle of the valley for a while, and take in the vista of peaks and lakes, enjoying the calm evening air.

Flying past Trapper Peak and the dramatic skyline in that part of the range represents lifetimes of adventure. Memories of BASE jumps, flights in hang gliders and paragliders and long trail runs always play through my mind when I pass these peaks and canyons.

It's awesome to love where you live!

And most of all, it's cool to be at a stage in life where I recognize how lucky I am, every minute of every day.....

Go find your KAVU Day!!

You won't be sorry..... and remember, a KAVU day can be found anywhere and.... comes from between the ears and from the heart, more than anywhere else. Go Get It!!