June 10th, 2014 - Mulanje Area, Phalombe, Malawi

When I signed up for my first paragliding lesson ten years ago, I felt that I was achieving some unsurmountable height simply by paying the deposit to do something so unbelievable. How then, is it possible that, after spending three days stuck on top of a remote mountain with three of North America's top-ranked paraglider pilots, today could just feel like another day at the office?

Not long ago, Nick Greece, Matt Beechinor and Gavin McClurg payed us a surprise visit when they rolled up to our SPOT co-ordinate in a remote part of central Malawi. They had been travelling around Africa, producing short documentaries about extreme do-gooding and chose to lend the School of Dreams project a hand.

After a successful week of pioneering new sites in the Dedza area, we chose to thank them by taking them up to our launch on Mt Mulanje. The incredible sunset, illuminating our journey to the top, left us with sweet dreams of glorious skies to come. The next morning however, we were greeted with a fog so thick one could barely see their own feet. High in spirit, the dream team kept warm in an old alpine cabin left over from the British occupation. We stoked the fire, told countless stories and played cards well into the night.

The second day begun and ended with the thick blanket of cloud as did the third. After 72 hours, the guys were still managing to crack the odd smile but I could tell that I wasn't the only one about to go insane. On day four, Gavin spotted a break in the cloud and the cabin emptied out to marvel at the glowing blue hole. As more and more breaks appeared, our eager group quickly gathered their gear and headed out to launch.

Uncertain of the conditions, Greece went first and quickly disappeared below the ridge line. In silence, we waited hoping our brother would not land out and have to endure the four hour hike back up. Then with a loud "woo-hoo" Nick's bright orange canopy emerged to the north and the rest of us flew out to meet him. For the last hour before sunset, we enjoyed lofty conditions, boating around the impressive jagged peaks spread across Mulanje's great spine.

Two hours later, the entire gaggle landed back up top, smiling so hard it was almost impossible to speak. That night we compared photographs until we nodded off, each dreaming of the incredible day to come.

As the sun rose over the eastern ridge, you could smell epic-ness in the air. The pro's quickly checked through all of their fancy gear but it was clear that this was the kind of day that anything with a heartbeat would have felt like a top-gun.

At the sight of a yellow butterfly being blown up the slope, we clipped in and launched into the strongest lift I've felt here over the past three years. Like a proud parent showing off his baby girl for the first time, I raced after the gentlemen from ridge to ridge and peak to peak. After a few hours of beefy thermic conditions, we top landed to regain our composure, then pushed back out into the buttery afternoon air.

As the sun begun to set, the US them caught one last climb and sailed off 20 km towards the fiery red ball, where their truck was waiting to carry them onward to Mozambique. Having missed the climb, I waved goodby and landed below, joining the SOD team at the chief's. That night, we laughed while digesting the last two weeks of incredible progress and adventure, filled our bellies and got ready for another great day at the office.

Ben