Out Of The Flying Plane Into The Fire

Paul Guschlbauer seen during his photoshooting for the project “Volcano Flight” in Alaska, United States on June 12th, 2024

Paul Guschlbauer is a keen paraglider, and knew exactly what he had to do while touring Alaska and spotting a small island 284 kilometers from Anchorage.

What he saw was Mount St. Augustine which last erupted in 2006 and has been continuously monitored by the Alaska Volcano Observatory for more ever since as it’s potentially one of Alaska’s most hazardous volcanoes. Since the 1930s it’s erupted 9 times. It’s stratovolcanic peaks stands at a height of 1,252 meters.

Guschlbauer was able to find a place to land a plane, and hiked another 100 meters up till finding the perfect conditions to pick up thermals and glide around the volcano.

It was a brilliant feeling to turn up here and fly thermally. The volcano is so exposed, in the middle of the sea, you experience every meter of altitude you climb much more intensely. Only in my wildest dreams did I imagine that it would be possible to land at the summit and not go up. But the opportunity was there and I was ready! Simply spectacular!”