10/23/2026
Q: What has a view of 73 alpine peaks and the best seat in the house?
A: A paraglider sailing on the updrafts of Mount Pilatus in Switzerland!
I captured this one on a recent trip to the top of Mt. Pilatus at 6,983 feet and was surprised when several paragliders, both single and tandem, came up and over us! I watched one pilot come up from the valley to our level, then turn and head out toward the distant peaks.
Because Mount Pilatus sits right in the heart of Central Switzerland, the panoramic view it offers is a sweeping showcase of the Swiss Alps, featuring famous Swiss giants like the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
I never dreamed I could photograph a paraglider at their level without jumping off a cliff or out of an airplane (never gonna happen), but here we are!
If you need inspiration or a breath of fresh alpine air, lock this image in your mind, close your eyes, take a slow, deep breath, and float on the current as you slowly exhale. Better? Again? Me too...
