Wind socks lead a path through the sagebrush as student pilots of Astro Paragliding maneuver nylon canopies into the air, “kiting” as they learn to fly. A barbecue is at the ready for post-training gatherings while Astro Paragliding’s founder, Harrison Ruffin, and his wife, Heather, instruct and tell stories from the sidelines, inviting all who arrive to share their passion for this extreme sport. A pursuit that inspires pilots to travel the world in search of the perfect launch has a home in Central Oregon, roughly 30 miles east of Bend, at Pine Mountain.
“I moved here for the flying,” said Austin Miles, an Atlanta native who now lives in Bend. “Pine Mountain is an epic launch site.”
Rough gravel roads carved by hang gliders in the 1960s veer off Highway 20, marking the way to this renowned free-flying peak. Chasing evening wind, pilots’ cars kick up dust as they bump along while others carry their 20-pound gliders in packs and hike the trail from the base to the mountain’s top. Then, there are those who turn their kites perpendicular to the ground in front of them and, like wielding a spinnaker on a sailboat, let the wind pull them effortlessly up the hill. A path guides the way through pine trees to a gentle, open slope where a rainbow of bright nylon canopies ruffle in the breeze, awaiting the perfect gust. The Cascade Range frames the western horizon as pilots—some in tandem—take turns running down the gentle slope to inflate their wings with wind and take flight into the open sky.
Experience the Flow
At roughly 6,300 feet, Pine Mountain’s altitude is perfect for soaring and maneuvering with a paragliding wing. The mountain’s wide-open ridge faces prevailing westerly winds that create reliable lift, so even on days with moderate wind speeds, gliders can stay aloft for extended flights. Known as “glass-offs,” Pine Mountain’s late summer evenings have predictable, smooth wind patterns that support flight in every direction. Stretching for miles, the surrounding Badlands wilderness heats unevenly in the sun forming strong thermals—ideal for experienced pilots to gain elevation by circling within them, much like birds of prey. And with plenty of landing spots, year-round sunshine and breathtaking views, Pine Mountain is a paraglider’s paradise.
Training Grounds
Below Pine Mountain’s peak, at the basecamp of Astro Paragliding, free flying is more than a hobby, it’s a way of life.
“You just show up one day and that’s your future,” paraglider Miles said upon landing an evening flight. “The addiction is real.” Creating community since 2019, Astro began with a free kiting clinics and a mission to train pilots to be better, smarter and safer. “We study the weather, we study ourselves, and we study human nature,” Harrison said.
Amidst a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, the Ruffins’ instructional school is known for its high safety standards. “We don’t train ‘sendies’ here,” Harrison said, defining those who have a more risky “send it” attitude. Intentional instruction and respect for the power of nature are at the core of Astro’s philosophy, and the success of its graduated students’ safety history speaks for itself. To earn a license to fly, pilots begin with ground school to master kiting and theory, before moving onto practice solo launches (Harrison supervises these on more forgiving sand dunes at the Oregon coast) and two comprehensive written examinations. While the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) requires an 80% to pass, Astro accepts nothing less than a 93%. “This is aviation,” Harrison said, “A ‘B’ is simply not good enough.”
Take to the Skies
With wings rooted in parachuting technology used for WWII rescue missions and the return of NASA’s space capsules, modern gliders are lighter, more stable and higher-performing, making today’s paragliding safer than ever, according to the USHPA. Still, soaring thousands of feet in the air requires a healthy dose of courage, meticulous meteorology analysis, quality gear and intensive training to achieve symbiosis between the pilot and the wing.
“[It’s] like balancing a broom handle on your palm,” Harrison explained, adding the words of Spanish world champion paragliding pilot and instructor Raul Rodriguez: “I’m teaching you to dance and the glider is your dance partner.”
If the skies are calling, head east on any sunny summer evening and look for graceful arcs punctuating the high desert sky. Whether you’re yearning to launch off Pine Mountain’s ridge, soar cross-country, hike-and-fly around the world or become a competitive aerobatic paraglider, begin by taking a tandem flight with Astro Paragliding, Desert Air Riders or Cascade Paragliding Club to experience the rush and feel the camaraderie. A partnership between Project Airtime and Astro Paragliding has paved the way for free adaptive tandem flights for those with mobility limitations, ensuring everyone has the chance to fly. Because once the weather is analyzed, the gear is checked (and double-checked), and the wing fills with wind, the high desert sky opens up to a quiet, peaceful freedom.
