DESCRIPTION

There is really only room for one paraglider to fly here as the ridge is only 50m high on the West side and the area of good flying is very small. If you head South to try and climb the ridge you will find you lose most of your good lift from the ridge in front and start to sink out. As you head North to land you have to cross a spine into another bowl. This was pretty dicey but I just held my course and despite less lift I managed to fly out front of the bowl with enough height to setup for a good landing. The less lift in the bowl means more forward movement so you can squeak out of there. Basically this location has some good rock climbing, and if you fly too then drag your glider along. If you are lucky you may be able to snag a flight at the end of the day and show off to all your friends how cool you are!

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- soaring

weather

Watch for high winds aloft. Just 20 feet up and the wind had double on me and I was parked and trying to get aerodynamic to maintain my position. I would recommend flying in the late afternoon as things are calming down so you don't get stuck in anything. The wind is a little bit gusty as well which is to be expected from the desert.

access

I always come up through Lucerne valley, taking Barstow Rd North. From the turn-off it's about 17 miles, you will hit a high point on the road there and the turn-off to New Jack City is just a couple of miles after that. Take a left at the turn-off onto a dirt/sand road, there will be a small structure that is fenced off with signs about a high pressure gas main. Just follow the signs and the most well trodden trails East until you get into the New Jack City Bowl, then trend South towards parking/camping. You can also get here by going South from Barstow, however I have never done this so can't tell you what that's like. I come from LA and GMaps says it is faster to go all the way to Barstow and then travel South but I'm not convinced.

regulation

None that I know of.