User:MissleTow/sandbox

Poo Poo point is the most popular spot for Paragliding in Washington

History
Poo Poo point, located on Tiger Mountain, is the most popular spot for paragliding in Washington state. This page provides a brief history of the site.

1970s - Used for Hang-gliding
The area was owned at the time by Weyerhaeuser and used for logging, and the name "poo poo" point came from the sound of the logging steam whistles. In 1976, the clear-cut area started to be used by hang gliders as a launching spot. Gliders would be taken up the hill on the logging road.

1980s - The start of paragliding
In 1978 skydivers Jean-Claude Bétemps and André Bohn launched from the slope of Mont Pertuiset in Mieussy using a parachute; an event considered the founding paragliding flight. In 1979 the first paragliding school was founded in with Bétemps as an instructor. In 1985 Laurent de Kalbermatten began manufacturing and selling the first wing intended specifically for paragliding. In 1987 Mark Twight and Russell Erickson were the first to paraglide in Washington state, In 1988 Jeff Splittgerber – first paragliding fatality in the US. On Thimble Mountain in Wenatchee, WA. http://www.alpenglow.org/nwmj/07/071_Paragliding3.html During this time there was very little paragliding from poo poo point. Although Marc Chirico was learning the sport in France in Col de la Forclaz from Pierre Bouilloux (founder of Sup'Air), which lay the foundations for what was to come...

1990s - Paragliding goes mainstream
In the early 1990's, virtually all new pilots and instructors were taught by Marc Chirico or Mike Eberle. Marc had a vision of modeling poo poo point after La Forclaz, where he'd learned. That site, like Tiger Mountain today, had 1800vf elevation with two launches (to handling different wind directions) and both a road and hiking trail to top. But there was significant work needed to put that all in place. In 1990 the Northwest paragliding club was formed In 1991 the first of many site improvements using heavy equipment was made to the poo poo point north launch; leveling it, clearing debris, and installing astro-turf In 1995 the south launch was similarly leveled and cleared of debris In 1997 the Chiro trail was started; it was finally finished in 2000 In 1999 Marc Chirico bought the lot next to the landing zone which is now home to Seattle paragliding

2000s - Recent history
TODO - history of other site improvements. Wind socks. Toilets. Weather stations. Etc. History of the LZ and who owns it?

Fatalities
While there have been a significant number of accidents, there have been only two paragliding fatalities on Tiger Mountain. In 2008 Eric Jansen become the first person to die while paragliding from Tiger mountain. In 2011 Ken Blanchard became the second fatality.