Nova Scotia Buzz
The Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Atlantic Canada is about 40 pilots strong and they’re always looking to add new locations.
They’re limited to where the winds take them and one day in January it brought Brenan Isabelle to Destination Cape Smokey in the scenic Cape Breton Highlands. The Highlands are explored by many, but very few experience the view by running down Cape Smokey, taking off and gliding over the trees and rugged terrain.
Isabelle who calls Mahone Bay, NS home has been parachuting since 2003 and has near 4,000 parachuting jumps under his belt and a couple hundred paragliding flights.
Destination Cape Smokey installed Atlantic Canada’s first gondola which began operating in 2021.
“The gondola is an amazing ride, you get to see all around the mountain.” says Isabelle. “It’s a very impressive piece of infrastructure and the only gondola on Canada’s east coast. It’s definitely the easiest way to access the top of a mountain that we have. Normally we have to hike.”
Isabelle shared his view from the top of Cape Smokey and in the air thanks to onboard GoPro cameras.
VIDEO – Paragliding Off Cape Smokey
“At the top of the mountain you’re almost 1,000 feet up. It is a fantastic view and from the air it only gets better.” he says. “It’s a fantastic location to fly.”
