Sponsored by: Sportaircraftseats.comCoffeeinahangar.com to sign up for our email listWhat if you could travel hundreds of miles across the mountains of Alaska—with nothing but a 5-pound ball of fabric on your back?My guest today, Bryan Friedrichs, does exactly that. He’s one of only a handful of adventurers in the state combining cross-country paragliding, mountaineering, and packrafting into single, mind-bending wilderness traverses. Imagine launching from a remote alpine ridge, catching thermals to 7,000 feet, crossing glaciers, and then landing on the banks of questionable rivers to float back to civilization.In this episode, we dive deep into:✦ How Bryan links thermals and ridges to fly 40–50 miles deep into the mountains✦ The razor-thin decision points between “epic flight” and multi-day walkout✦ Understanding mountain wind flow and valley weather✦ How paragliders read the texture of the air through dozens of tensioned lines✦ The gear it takes to blend paragliding with packrafting in Alaska’s backcountry✦ The mental toughness needed to commit to days of uncertainty, with no engine and no easy outsIf you’re a pilot—fixed-wing or otherwise—this episode is packed with insights that will sharpen your understanding of the invisible forces shaping mountain flying.