Launch, Access Road and Webcam at Mount Swansea, summer 2013

1/1/2013
​In partnership with the Columbia Valley Cycling Society (CVCS), the Columbia Valley area pilots (about to become the "Columbia Valley Paragliding and Hang Gliding Society") engaged in major improvements to the Mount Swansea launch and access. Because of this partnership with CVCS, which had received a federal grant for the overall improvement to recreational facilities in the area, the BCHPA funds were doubled in value, and all of it went to improve the HG and PG facilities on Mount Swansea. The pending Columbia Valley Society will manage the launch site, maintain the webcam and Tower on top and will formally lease the landing field below, allowing for the construction of a parking lot there as well.

In specific, the BCHPA financial support to the local pilots was used for the following: removing the unsafe old wooden ramp; cleaning up the north launch to create a foot-launch area for hang gliders; tree removal and clean-up of south launch; extension of metal ramp on south launch to make it safer; setting up tower for webcam and installing webcam; purchase of flagpole and heavy-duty Canadian flag for installation at launch; hiking trail improvement for accessing launch from upper parking area.

Partners in the overall improvement project included BCHPA, Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Columbia Basin Trust, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Columbia Valley Cycling Society, Valley Chamber of Commerce, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Lake Windermere Pointe, M&H Logging, District of Invermere, Regional District of East Kootenay, and many volunteer hours of the pilots in the Columbia Valley.