Elko Weather Station

Help Fund the New Elko Weather Station – Elk Valley Weather for Pilots

We’re the Elk Valley Paragliding Association, and we’re raising funds to install a brand-new wind station at the Elko launch — now the most popular flying site in the Fernie region.

Back in 2016, the local community came together to install a Holfuy wind station at Morrissey Ridge. It completely changed how we fly:

✅ Drive-downs dropped by over 80%

✅ Pilots flew more often, with more confidence

✅ The station ran for almost 10 years, with virtually no downtime

✅ Community-supported — built and maintained by volunteers

But in 2021, a road washout made Morrissey harder to access. Since then, the Elko launch has taken off — literally and figuratively. It’s now the go-to site for local and visiting pilots alike. But there’s one big thing missing:

We don’t have real-time weather data from launch.

What We’re Doing Now

We’re raising $3,000 to install a new Holfuy LTE weather station at Elko — and to maintain it through at least 2030.

The Elko station will:

Budget Breakdown

Holfuy station + sensors: $2,706

5 years of data plan + maintenance: $672

Total Goal: $3,378

Installation and support are being donated by local volunteers — so every dollar goes directly to equipment and operation.

Why It Matters

Elko has quickly become one of the premier XC launches in southeastern BC, especially for pilots coming from Cranbrook, Fernie, and Alberta. With the Morrissey site harder to reach, having reliable data at Elko is more important than ever.

This is a community-funded, community-operated system. We’re proud of what we built at Morrissey — and with your help, we’ll make Elko even better.

Suggested donation: $100, but every contribution helps!

Thank you to all those who have already contributed to the Morrissey station:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fernie-wind-station

✈️ Help Us Fly Smarter

We all know what it’s like to show up at launch and turn around — or to miss a great day because of uncertain weather. Let’s eliminate the guesswork.

Donate today to support safe, informed flying in the Elk Valley — and keep the skies open for all of us.

Thank you!

– Elk Valley Paragliding Association