Jack Pincus decided to spend his Canada Day in the air, paragliding. A member of the West Coast Soaring Club, he ventured by vehicle around the Beaufort Range from his home in the Comox Valley to meet friends at a launch spot on the Alberni Valley side.

What he didn乌鸦传媒檛 expect was to be hung up at the top of a tree, 35 metres above ground.

乌鸦传媒淭here were a few of us up there,乌鸦传媒� Pincus said. 乌鸦传媒淲hen I launched there was a gust that pushed me sideways. Everything to the front was free and to the left was a tree. I found the tree.乌鸦传媒�

The pilot who launched before Pincus 乌鸦传媒渉ad a very successful flight. I got unlucky,乌鸦传媒� he said.

After the pilot on the ground tried unsuccessfully to find an arborist to assist Pincus, they decided to call search and rescue.

The Alberni Valley Rescue Society sent a hoist team with Ascent Helicopters as well as a ground team and called Dave Potter from Totem Tree Services for assistance.

The rescue was a first for Potter, a climbing arborist who owns and operates Totem Tree Services.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a bit unusual,乌鸦传媒� Potter said after the rescue. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e heard of paragliders getting caught in trees before; this was the first one for us.乌鸦传媒�

Potter and the small team of rescuers were airlifted to a logging road near the site at Mount Irwin for expediency. Pincus had already been hung up in a seated position for nearly two hours by the time rescuers arrived (the harnesses they use for flying are designed for sitting, Pincus said). He was appropriately dressed and he had water with him.

乌鸦传媒淲e hiked down to the base of the big tree and climbed to the top, which was where he was stuck,乌鸦传媒� Potter said. 乌鸦传媒淲e set up a system for him to be able to exit the tree.乌鸦传媒�

Potter explained that Pincus was not injured but he had no way of getting down from that high up in the tree.

乌鸦传媒淚 was able to set up a rope by him and hook up to one of the descending devices. He had some experience with rappelling too.乌鸦传媒�

Potter and fellow arborists train for this kind of aerial rescue, so although the call was unusual he was trained for it.

Pincus said the rescue went quickly once Potter was up in the tree with him.

乌鸦传媒淭hey were fast and efficient and professional,乌鸦传媒� Pincus said of the rescuers. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 really thankful for all the help I got. That乌鸦传媒檚 the story for me is these guys took off on their Canada Day.乌鸦传媒�

Paragliding is a Transport Canada-regulated sport. The soaring club also has a land access agreement with Mosaic to use the launch site on weekends and holidays.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e trying to follow the rules, we乌鸦传媒檙e prepared and every once in a while things happen beyond our control,乌鸦传媒� Pincus said.

He and Potter were supposed to go back to the site of the incident and retrieve Pincus乌鸦传媒檚 paragliding wing from the tree the following weekend.