How about an alternate form of soaring expedition? For the past three
years hang- and paragliders descend on Zapata, Texas in search of big
miles. They call it the World Record Encampment. The tiny town puts
out the welcome mat and the local ranchers arrange to let the local
sherrif open locked gates to retrieve pilots who landed out.

When the weather conditions are right, which they usually are for
about one month a year, pilots launch absurdly early and race north
under cloud streets extending to the horizion. About the only
adventure is staying out of controlled airspace and landing near
enough to a road so you don't die of dehydration before getting picked
up.

This page has links to several articles
http://www.flytec.com/news_archive.html

Here is the story by the guy who set the paraglider open distance
record
http://www.gravsports.com/Gadfly%20P...Encampment.htm