Skyout Quick Snap: Read the Ridge Shadows
In this Quick Snap I want to share the secrets to sharpen thermal game when flying Piedechinche Colombia. While the main slope faces west. With the mountain facing west it’s important to remember that the face won’t be exposed to the sun until a little later in the morning. Like all mountains there are spines that jut into the valley. These spines are not always straight they have twist and turns that expose parts to the rising sun sooner and warm first. Plus, as the sun climbs higher, the sun-shade line heats the valley floor before the faces. Spot these patterns, and you’ll be first on lift. Here’s how:
Sunrise Facet Scan
When first arriving at launch, locate the spine faces that angle southeast. These patches glow first and cast crisp shadows down onto the west face—your earliest thermal markers.
Watch the Sun-Shade Shift
Between 9–11 AM, those southeast faces flood with light, and the sun-shade boundary moves closer to the mountain’s base. That tells you the valley is heating up even faster—look for shadow lines near ground level that hint at rising columns of warm air.
Plan Your Launch Timing
Hook in as the facet shadows lift and the sun-shade line reaches the base of the mountain. That moment, when both the small facets and the adjacent valley are warmed, offers a two-layer lift source—ideal for your first thermal.
Fly the Sun-Shade Fence
In the air, keep your wing’s center in the sunlit air, while your harness edges into the slightly cooler shade below. That “sun-shade fence” is where thermals peel off both spine and valley.
Ground Recon & Debrief
Pre-launch, spend two minutes scanning upslope for facet shadows and valley shadow lines. After landing, review your IGC track: mark where you climbed off each pattern, and sketch a quick ridge diagram in your debrief notes. Next time, you’ll know exactly where to hunt lift on this Colombia paragliding hotspot.
With this refined shadow-reading tactic—spot, time, fly, review—you’ll unlock more consistent lift on Piedechinche’s west-facing slopes. Ready to test it on your next guided paragliding tour?