I was in Lauterbrunnen a couple of years ago. Hiking through the valley we heard a “whooshing” sound, then a “pop”. It was a base jumper right over our heads. There are 72 waterfalls in that valley. Thanks for posting, Mark.
This has been my dream for years, I can't wait till I have the funds and means to do this some day. But for now I will live vicariously until that becomes a reality
that mad me laugh, Arkansas is awesome, I fly there the most I bet & I am like shit all over the place, see ya in da Alps 1 day! god willing. my bucket list has to be Iceland Volcanic, water falls but not cheap & I am so poor I can't evenly attention..............
Been waiting to hopefully get a Switzerland video. Going there is a bucket list achievement in itself. Flying is just over achieving 😂. Looks absolutely stunning
@@MarkHuneycutt And the restaurant there (called Weidstübli) is excellent and _less_ expensive than average. Locals go to eat there when they feel too lazy to cook at home.
That's some really nice scenery. I tandom-paraglided five times in Trancoso, Bahia, Brasil back in 1998-99 with a pilot named Alec Gordon. Ever hear of him? He was one of the first to fly paragliders. He was working on a "speed" rig for one of his wings when I knew him, something to do with aerobatics. I lost contact with him, several years ago. If you know of him, can you reply here? Thanks. Happy flying. Peace.
Mark, I saw the large dairy cow with the huge bell , and you taking off & I thought oh cool Swiss form of cattle tipping except you silently glide on to a cows back gently landing on her until she runs taxing you until you take off again. Just my imagination but it would be an entertaining sport. Best David
I agree that flying a paraglider is not nearly as scary as climbing on such high cliffs, even if you are wearing a climbing harness and using guidewires!
AH MAZE ING!!! I look forward to learning how to do this properly. I know it isn't just like paramotoring with your motor off. WOW! Awesome footage! Where in Switzerland???
@@ooglek For mountain flying paragliders are really the only way to go as you need a small light package to take it up the launch, not to mention the thermalling, XC flying, and handling turbulence. Paramotors in general are weird, they can't really go far, people just tend to buzz around back and forth in them because of the weight and fuel limits. Perhaps in the future when small, long lasting, and powerful _quiet_ engines are developed, they'll make more sense in places like this. This is also the reason why hang gliders are much less popular in the Alps despite their superior flying characteristics: one can't just hike up a mountain carrying one, even on a cable tram. So get thee your lessons, you won't regret it! This is what happened to me, I went on a tandem in Interlaken in 2011 and got hooked. At the risk of making this post too long, here is an example how well things are set up there: one of the launches is accessible by a mountain train (the Schynige Platte train). That train has a separate compartment reserved for paraglider pilots! So when it's crowded, you have a place to sit! That compartment is cleverly marked by a plain sign that just says "Reserviert" and it looks just official and scary enough that "normal" tourists avoid it 🙂And then the launch is a minute or so _past_ the station called Breitlauenen. But it's all uphill (a cog wheel train), so if you got off there, you'd have to walk up. Sooo, you tell the conductor that you are a pilot and the train will stop just for you to let you out a nice level walk from the launch (while the passengers are looking out wondering why we stopped). That's not all! If you cannot fly for some reason, let's say a storm is approaching, you can ride that train back down for free! Isn't that cool? It happened to me once. BTW, here is what this spot looks like, the view is magnificent as normal: th-cam.com/video/LMpBGSAJ-Ko/w-d-xo.html
@@JanPBtest Holy crap! That IS AMazing!!! Yah, I think I need to live somewhere where paragliding is a first order citizen. Sounds VERY much like that is the situation in Switzerland. In the US, while we have lots of mountains, generally on the east coast it is a lot of flat land. There are some paragliders who find some success out here, but their launches are pretty low and if you don't catch any thermals, you land 10-15 minutes after launch and either give up or hike back up and try again. Taking a train sounds WAY better! The site definitely looks amazing. Thanks for the long reply, I really appreciate it! This is going in my bucket list. Cheers!
@@ooglek One nice thing in Europe is that there are no stupid airspace ownership laws there so you can fly over congested areas. When you fly to Interlaken, you fly over the city and land in the park in the city center with hotels, churches, Patek Philippe shops and, last but not least, a Hooters. The flag on top of the cupola of Victoria Jungfrau Hotel (five-star) serves as a nice windsock. I'm sure it was not designed for this in 1864, haha. Another landing field doubles sometimes as... a target practice place (a Swiss thing). The bus stop there is called Schiessstand Lehn. One major thing to be aware when flying there is valley winds. They can get quite strong. Not turbulent but strong enough to turn your "perfectly" set up landing approach into an embarrassing (or dangerous) landing _way short._ The lower you get, the stronger the wind gets. It blows up the valleys (opposite river flows). So until you get the hang of it, it's best to be very conservative and not fly downwind the landing field, just zigzag back and forth to go down. The second Swiss rule is that if you see a grassy field whose part is cut, land in the _cut_ grass. That's because grass is actually a crop and you don't want to damage it lest the owner chase you (freshly from target practice).
Do you need some sort of certificate to fly overseas? Do they recognize ushpa? Or from the sounds of it a guy just let you borrow his stuff no questions asked. Some free flying spots out west are so strict with certifications I heard it’s not as easy to fly in other countries. What has been your experience?
Theoretically you need IPPI Level 4 card (available from USHPA with a P3 + TUR rating for a small fee). In real life nobody ever asked me anything. The USHPA third-party-damage insurance is considered good enough, I think, despite euro being a bit higher than USD. Other than that just be nice and put the 2 CHF coin in that pipe-shaped box when launching from Amisbühl 🙂
Absolutely incredible place
What time of the year was this?
@@Catpanl september
Watching the climbing parts made me way more nervous than the flying. Great video.
what a beautiful view of the mountains there
Absolutely amazing scenery
Thanks for the tour! Certainly a must fly for me, but that ladder climbing stuff, no way! You guys are so brave haha!
What an incredible life experience! We're all envious of you. Stay safe and enjoy your adventures!
Happy that you pulled off some flights in Mürren ;) Nice via ferratta footage!
I was in Lauterbrunnen a couple of years ago. Hiking through the valley we heard a “whooshing” sound, then a “pop”. It was a base jumper right over our heads. There are 72 waterfalls in that valley. Thanks for posting, Mark.
I enjoyed watching ~ thx for the post.
This has been my dream for years, I can't wait till I have the funds and means to do this some day. But for now I will live vicariously until that becomes a reality
It's so beautiful!
Thank you for sharing. Great video!! Awesome adventure. 🤩
Wow...........looked like a good time!
Wow ! I never.
I've been to one mountain, in Arkansas.
Thank you for sharing.
go to the mountains! They're the best
that mad me laugh, Arkansas is awesome, I fly there the most I bet & I am like shit all over the place, see ya in da Alps 1 day! god willing.
my bucket list has to be Iceland Volcanic, water falls but not cheap & I am so poor I can't evenly attention..............
Mountains rule Bill, just beware the rotor and you'll be just fine!
Unreal!!!
Been waiting to hopefully get a Switzerland video. Going there is a bucket list achievement in itself. Flying is just over achieving 😂. Looks absolutely stunning
Wow! so beautiful! Thanks for the video
Lauterbrunnen is an iconic place for a reason. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Amazing place. Very affordable campsite down there too.
@@MarkHuneycutt And the restaurant there (called Weidstübli) is excellent and _less_ expensive than average. Locals go to eat there when they feel too lazy to cook at home.
Incredible Mark, thanks.
UNREAL. Thanks.
That's some really nice scenery. I tandom-paraglided five times in Trancoso, Bahia, Brasil back in 1998-99 with a pilot named Alec Gordon. Ever hear of him? He was one of the first to fly paragliders. He was working on a "speed" rig for one of his wings when I knew him, something to do with aerobatics. I lost contact with him, several years ago. If you know of him, can you reply here? Thanks. Happy flying. Peace.
Amazing
Paragliding in Switzerland?? I AM JELLY!
Mark,
I saw the large dairy cow with the huge bell , and you taking off & I thought oh cool Swiss form of cattle tipping except you silently glide on to a cows back gently landing on her until she runs taxing you until you take off again. Just my imagination but it would be an entertaining sport.
Best David
Willkommen in der Schweiz ...
Thank you
likewise!
Over the top EPIC!!!! Fly down and cable car back up???
Very cool
What a beautiful place! ;-)
A beautiful flight!
I agree that flying a paraglider is not nearly as scary as climbing on such high cliffs, even if you are wearing a climbing harness and using guidewires!
I can't believe you didn't take your paragliding gear to that idyllic place! Gorgeous! I'm planning to XC to Switzerland from Annecy, France in June.
Nobody said we were smart. That sounds like fun!
@@MarkHuneycutt 😂
I wanna go now
So beautiful!
Damn cant wait until i get old enough to make money for this
AH MAZE ING!!! I look forward to learning how to do this properly. I know it isn't just like paramotoring with your motor off. WOW! Awesome footage! Where in Switzerland???
Paramotors are illegal in Switzerland (thankfully 🙂). This is Lauterbrunnen, near Interlaken.
@@JanPBtest noooo! Illegal in Switzerland? Damn. I’ll learn paragliding then. Must fly there!!
@@ooglek For mountain flying paragliders are really the only way to go as you need a small light package to take it up the launch, not to mention the thermalling, XC flying, and handling turbulence. Paramotors in general are weird, they can't really go far, people just tend to buzz around back and forth in them because of the weight and fuel limits. Perhaps in the future when small, long lasting, and powerful _quiet_ engines are developed, they'll make more sense in places like this. This is also the reason why hang gliders are much less popular in the Alps despite their superior flying characteristics: one can't just hike up a mountain carrying one, even on a cable tram. So get thee your lessons, you won't regret it! This is what happened to me, I went on a tandem in Interlaken in 2011 and got hooked. At the risk of making this post too long, here is an example how well things are set up there: one of the launches is accessible by a mountain train (the Schynige Platte train). That train has a separate compartment reserved for paraglider pilots! So when it's crowded, you have a place to sit! That compartment is cleverly marked by a plain sign that just says "Reserviert" and it looks just official and scary enough that "normal" tourists avoid it 🙂And then the launch is a minute or so _past_ the station called Breitlauenen. But it's all uphill (a cog wheel train), so if you got off there, you'd have to walk up. Sooo, you tell the conductor that you are a pilot and the train will stop just for you to let you out a nice level walk from the launch (while the passengers are looking out wondering why we stopped). That's not all! If you cannot fly for some reason, let's say a storm is approaching, you can ride that train back down for free! Isn't that cool? It happened to me once. BTW, here is what this spot looks like, the view is magnificent as normal: th-cam.com/video/LMpBGSAJ-Ko/w-d-xo.html
@@JanPBtest Holy crap! That IS AMazing!!! Yah, I think I need to live somewhere where paragliding is a first order citizen. Sounds VERY much like that is the situation in Switzerland. In the US, while we have lots of mountains, generally on the east coast it is a lot of flat land. There are some paragliders who find some success out here, but their launches are pretty low and if you don't catch any thermals, you land 10-15 minutes after launch and either give up or hike back up and try again. Taking a train sounds WAY better! The site definitely looks amazing. Thanks for the long reply, I really appreciate it! This is going in my bucket list. Cheers!
@@ooglek One nice thing in Europe is that there are no stupid airspace ownership laws there so you can fly over congested areas. When you fly to Interlaken, you fly over the city and land in the park in the city center with hotels, churches, Patek Philippe shops and, last but not least, a Hooters. The flag on top of the cupola of Victoria Jungfrau Hotel (five-star) serves as a nice windsock. I'm sure it was not designed for this in 1864, haha. Another landing field doubles sometimes as... a target practice place (a Swiss thing). The bus stop there is called Schiessstand Lehn. One major thing to be aware when flying there is valley winds. They can get quite strong. Not turbulent but strong enough to turn your "perfectly" set up landing approach into an embarrassing (or dangerous) landing _way short._ The lower you get, the stronger the wind gets. It blows up the valleys (opposite river flows). So until you get the hang of it, it's best to be very conservative and not fly downwind the landing field, just zigzag back and forth to go down. The second Swiss rule is that if you see a grassy field whose part is cut, land in the _cut_ grass. That's because grass is actually a crop and you don't want to damage it lest the owner chase you (freshly from target practice).
was sup u guys!!!
yo
Where is this in Switzerland?
Lauterbrunnen, read the Wikipedia article about it.
Do you need some sort of certificate to fly overseas? Do they recognize ushpa? Or from the sounds of it a guy just let you borrow his stuff no questions asked. Some free flying spots out west are so strict with certifications I heard it’s not as easy to fly in other countries. What has been your experience?
It depends on the Country and the people you go fly with. In S. Korea it is not a problem and same thing happened on our 1 trip to Switzerland!
I think it wise to get an IPPI card, just in case. It's internationally recognized.
Theoretically you need IPPI Level 4 card (available from USHPA with a P3 + TUR rating for a small fee). In real life nobody ever asked me anything. The USHPA third-party-damage insurance is considered good enough, I think, despite euro being a bit higher than USD. Other than that just be nice and put the 2 CHF coin in that pipe-shaped box when launching from Amisbühl 🙂
wpw
Can you fly a motor there?
You can’t fly combustion driven paramotors there, you can fly electric.
I think paramotors are illegal in Switzerland.
How about some helmets?
random base jumper just handing us gear didn't have a reserve or helmet for us.. when in Switzerland and offered gear for free 🫣...
The cliff jumper was commiting suicide.
"That's OK, it's not because of anything serious."
-Monty Python