In a sky close to take-off

Well...there we go then, I have chosen a name which has risen like a phoenix out of the smoky Indian sky. It's time for some clear air!

I hope it is descriptive enough, because what I would really like to call it is SKYGUIDESTOTHEMOSTAMAZINGPARAGLIDINGDESTINATIONSONEARTH.COM .

But that's probably a bit long. 

SKYGUIDES.CO.UK it will have to be.

I have been guiding for a few years in the Indian himalaya, and whilst I plan to continue the brilliant post monsoonal Bir trips with himalayanskysafaris.com , it is now time to go off exploring again.

I dont know how soon the new website will take to come to life, but for now I hope this will do the job,and that maybe you too will come along for the ride, either here in cyberspace, or for full-on reality, in that place that is called THE SKY.

cheers...john silvester

So, where to first?

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My favorite destination of course, Pakistan!

The driveable lower launch at the Eagles Nest ( Rakaposhi  in distance with CLOUD!)

Rakaposhi. 7788m
25km from launch.
But still crystal, right there in your face, clear.
Which shows how good the air still is, up here in this far corner of the Karakorum.
And how big!
In fact the highest mountain face in the world.
The face you can see is 6000m high, and you can glide all the way along it and back to base in one.
Rakaposhi is a one and a half hours flight from launch, at the aptly named 3 star Eagles Nest hotel, which has a tarmac road to the door. Not a bad place to make base camp.

Itinerary. I shall be arriving approx 20 June and staying through July, and the plan is to meet up in the capital Islamabad, & then travel up to Hunza and the mountains, where we will join our guest guide Brad Sander, the most experienced Karakorum pilot of us all.

Hunza. It is very relaxed and tranquil, a laid back beautiful place, with nice hotels, and that is how we plan to start our flying...relaxed!
Get used to the valley, the massive scale, the huge potential height gains, and the breath-taking scenery.
And then, weather permitting, our main mission of Rakaposhi can begin.

 On Rakaposhi circa 5600m

To fly on this massive mountain (the world's 32nd highest) is for me absolutely special, but really it's no more difficult than the tour du lac in Annecy, although I guess it's alot more intimidating...and impressive! There are good bomb-outs along the way, near a tarmac road with easy retrieves, but you really won't need them once you have climbed high from launch, the flying is totally textbook.

My ultimate flight would be to soar to the very summit,
although we are not offering to guide this, because no one has ever flown a paraglider to such heights before, and I am sure that we as guides would find it difficult to guide to the high standard we are used to.  All our energy/oxygen will probably be focused on keeping ourselves alert and alive.
What we can do is pass on all the information we have accumulated over a decade of himalayan exploration, and by going slowly and gradually building things up, 6000m should be very feasible and enjoyable!
Altitude and oxygen deficit are the main new parameters, so it is important that altitude is built up slowly.
But in reality, 5000m is enough to fly along Rakaposhi and soak up the views, and at this altitude the temperature in summer is fine.
Over 6000m for much over 20 minutes and it's a bit colder,and the big gloves will be coming out as you're gliding past the massive overhanging cornices on one of the big mountains of the Greater Ranges.
It wont be a memory that will fade fast.


We will stay flying in Hunza as long as we like, but should we want a change of scenery, then it's pack up the jeep and off to the wilds beyond the famous Shandur pass.
Or, even closer, off to 8000m Nanga Parbat.


Shandur, Booni and beyond.

From Hunza, one drives west through Gilgit, (or fly, with the polo match being goal... thankfully we follow the road!) and over the Shandur pass, when the polo festival is taking place in July. From here it is not so far to Booni.

Booni has a road to a high take-off at 3800m, perfect if the weather is stable, with possibly higher cloudbases than Hunza, and without quite such high mountains. It is from here that the current Asian distance record has been made, twice in succession by Brad Sander and Thomas de Dorlodot, 225km all the way back to Hunza. Brad also made the highest flight so far from here...a massive 7750m.

Join us.There will be a limited number of places for experienced or 'mature' pilots to join the expedition with SKYGUIDES. The flying will definitely not be constantly 'full on', and there will be ample opportunity to gradually acclimatise to the conditions. Valley winds are consistently light, and it is one of the best places for long gentle mid morning glides with perfect sandy beaches for landing. In fact the weather will often dictate this, being clear until mid day, when it builds a storm.
For up to one months guiding with the expedition as a group client the cost will be £1100, and for personal 1:1 guiding it will be £4000. You can easily come along for shorter periods, since we will be staying in accessible locations, and there is an airport with usually 2 flights a day just a 3 hours drive from Hunza. A small number of supplementary oxygen systems will be available for hire at £200/trip, should you wish to use one. Historically Brad has used O2 when expecting to go above 6000m for any length of time, whilst I have not, so our philosophies/physiologies seem to complement each other nicely.

contact john for more information or bookings at  skyguides@hotmail.com


Hope to see you in those high clear skies, it's totally amazing.
                                                                                           ...john silvester

the first big crossing in 2001, the 5400m  'chatri la'