DESCRIPTION

No phone or Facilities at Launches. Dry campground 2 miles from launch includes outhouses, fire pits. USFS fee for camping is $10 per night. Phone, beer, restrooms, pool tables (free on Saturday), etc at Nick’s Bar- ‘bout 100 yards south of LZ. Barmaid monitors the club frequency- so speak highly of the establishment during radio communications. Mini-mart, gas and restaurant right next to Nick’s. Emergency: 911 Cochise county sheriff's department; Sierra Vista hospital, 10 miles.

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- hike
- soaring
- thermals
- xc

weather

In strong conditions the SE (cliff) launch requires good AWCL skills. Controlled airspace two mile radius around aerostat (tethered balloon) to the north. Do not fly north of Carr Canyon road east of Route 92. Controlled airspace to the north around Ft. Huachuca army base. Check Phoenix sectional chart for details, or consult a local. Unpredictable, often powerful desert weather. Dust devils will flip gliders on occasion. Zeus will toss lightning at unsuspecting pilots holding bags of aluminum tubing. Occasional Hail. Some local pilots bite. Barbed wire fence on the south east corner, and along road on NE side. Stay clear of the cows (and associated material) if present. The sign post at the ‘Y’ in the road in the LZ is hard to see on some approaches. The Y is a tempting spot to land so pay attention. There are powerlines on three sides of the LZ but are pretty far away- arrive at LZ high to ensure avoiding. Expect turbulance over LZ if winds are from the SW.

access

Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA. 4wd controlled access (key, special use permit). Room for 5 vehicles and 25 gliders right at launch. More if road is used.

regulation

Ratings: USHGA Membership required. H4/P3 - no questions asked. H3/P2 with CL, TURB, AWCL, FL appropriate experience, or lots of guts, also O.K. H2 if local sponsor and conditions are appropriate to skill level. This can be a nasty place to fly- so you owe it to yourself to fly this site ONLY with a local pilot, regardless of rating. Also in keeping with our agreement with the NFS, there is a locked gate a mile from launch. Club members have keys. Radio: SAHGA club frequency is 151.925 (USHGA Ch. 2)