"It's possible to fly without motors,
but not without knowledge and skill."
Wilbur Wright
For most people visiting Yosemite National Park, the views from Glacier Point hold a special lure. At 3,200 feet above Yosemite Valley, only a few things prevent people from traveling there to take a peek, such as winter snow or road rehabilitation (as is occurring in 2022).
Otherwise, the expansive and accessible vistas do not require much skill or knowledge to enjoy. The views include the whole of Yosemite Valley, its iconic domes that define its boundaries, and the sparkling waterfalls that add bling to the sweeping landscape. Consequently, a visit to Glacier Point gets put on almost everyone’s “don’t-miss” list.
John Muir found reason to guide President Roosevelt to Glacier Point during Roosevelt’s first visit to the Park in 1910. A. C. Pillsbury, the noted photographer of the early 20th century, added emphasis to his picture postcards by including views from its multiple scenic overlooks. Stargazers, amateur and professional photographers, and families with children in tow seek out its spectacular sights.
Most visitors, however, do not get in on one of the most amazing views that Glacier Point affords. Even John Muir, in all his wilderness exposure and gliding about throughout the high Sierras, did not live long enough to experience anything like this! It’s a panorama that starts at Glacier Point and then culminates on the Valley floor at Leidig Meadow. The view I am speaking about comes from the eyes of a pilot operating a non-powered hang glider!
Unfortunately, not everyone “qualifies” to join in on these unique views, and not everyone would necessarily want to experience it. These views do require trained skills and knowledge! Still, let me share a little bit of this glide over Yosemite Valley for you, if you might be willing!
It will require you to get up early in the morning. In doing so, however, you’ll also enjoy a sunrise over Half Dome as your reward. Who could resist that? If you stay in Yosemite Valley, the ride to Glacier Point takes about an hour. If you plan on coming from the Fresno, CA area, you will need to get a 2 ½ hour head start.
The “launch” for this view gets started at 8:00 am near the Glacier Point Trailside Museum. To get there, we can follow the trail from the Visitor Center toward the Museum. Doing this at about 7:30 am, allows us to see numerous hang-gliding pilots diligently assembling their hang gliders as they carefully prepare for their turn to take-off off from Glacier Point. Every pilot wears a helmet and flies with a locking-type carabiner and a backup hang loop. Pilots must also wear a parachute with safeties installed to prevent accidental deployments. Most pilots also take the recommendation to wear protective clothing covering arms and legs, enclosed footwear, gloves, and eyeglass retainers.
Seventeen flights are allowed per day during the flying season (about June through September, weather permitting) and the window for all hang-gliding launches occurs between 8 am and 10 am. All flights must reach the landing zone, Leidig Meadow, by 10:30 am. The large, clear landing area is located approximately one mile northwest of the Glacier Point launch location. Although very large, this meadow is surrounded on all sides by 100- to 200-foot-tall trees, and on two sides by the Merced River. At launch, pilots can expect light breezes of 2-3 mph during the morning take-off.
Continuing our walk to the launch site, we veer off the trail to the right just before reaching the Glacier Point Trailside Museum. After leap-frogging over a few protruding rocks, we come to an unobstructed, smooth granite downslope (see video and image below). This hang-gliding liftoff point faces directly toward Vernal and Nevada Falls, and quickly slopes down, steepening as it drops off 3,200 feet below. If that doesn’t get your blood pumping, I don’t know what will.
Video courtesy of Google Earth
So, although not widely advertised, hang gliding does occur in Yosemite. Obviously, the view it provides is not one that comes with guardrails and easy accessibility. Admittedly, certain additional ‘prerequisites’ exist that narrows the field of potential candidates able to experience this literal bird’s-eye view.
Let’s do a quick review of some of the few prerequisites needing attention before attempting the ultimate tour of Yosemite Valley. First, anyone wishing to hang glide within the glacially carved walls of the Valley must be a member of the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA). That organization provides certified instructors to train and certify pilots to reach a specific level of proficiency. Each level of proficiency carries a set of operating limitations. For example, levels 1-3 would not provide a pilot with the specific set of flying skills needed to hang glide in Yosemite, but level 4 would. Since moving from “beginner” (level 1) to “novice” (level 2) could take 3-6 months, reaching level 4 could take some time to acquire.
To hang glide in Yosemite, one must also be a member of the Yosemite Hang Gliding Association (YHGA). It exists as a local Chapter of the USHPA, and, as its manual states, ensures that “1) Hang gliding fully meets Yosemite's standards for safety, 2) Hang gliding is compatible with other uses of the Park, and 3) Yosemite National Park remains open for recreational hang gliding.”
The YHGA also acts as the entity under which the National Park Service Superintendent holds a Commercial Use Authorization (i.e., Special Use Permit), the umbrella agreement that allows advanced-level pilots to fly under. But, let’s not get bogged down in such details. The good news is that the cost of membership in the YHGA is a mere $20 (US).
Let’s get back to the launchpad. With every lift-off, a monitor checks and ensures that all safety protocols have been adhered to. As the clock approaches 8 am, I can see the monitor prepping the first pilot to take the initial launch of the morning.
Let’s listen in:
“Okay, we need to complete your preflight check. Your harness is hooked in and we have clear airspace out over the launch area. Remember, once you land, quickly clear the landing area so approaching gliders can safely land.”
“Now, let’s get clearance from Yosemite Dispatch.” The Monitor puts a call in to Yosemite Dispatch. “Yosemite Dispatch," he says, “this is the Glacier Point Hang Gliding Monitor. We have 16 Gliders requesting permission to launch beginning in approximately five minutes. Are we clear to launch?”
Yosemite Dispatch Ranger’s words come over loud and clear: “This is Yosemite Dispatch. You are clear to launch from Glacier Point.”
The Monitor responds by saying, “Copy, gliders clear to launch. Thank you!”
With that, the Monitor clears the first pilot for launch to put to use all the skills and knowledge needed to land safely at Leidig Meadow. With lift-off, the most spectacular views follow, views not even some birds have access to.
As Wilbur Wright said, "It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill." Despite that, even though John Muir might have missed out on these views, there is a way you can see them without obtaining the necessary knowledge and skill. Just click on the video below to get started seeing for yourself what these views from Glacier Point are like.
Rest assured, by clicking on the video below, you are “clear to launch” from Glacier Point!
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