SAHGA Members:

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Location:

2 hours south of Tucson, on the east side of the Huachuca mountains, just south of Sierra Vista

Season:

Mostly spring through fall.  Road is often closed during winter months.

Conditions:

A lee side site requiring easterly winds.  Primary HG launch (#1) faces southeast into the prevailing morning winds while launch #2 takes winds from east through northeast and is suitable for both PG and HG.

With launches at 7600 feet MSL with the valley floor around 4800 feet MSL, this is a big-air site with great XC potential. 

Hazards:

• Cliff launch (#1) for HG can be challenging as cycles often lift one wing tip during the launch run or shortly after launch.
• Steep slopes on launch #2 look better than they are, so launching in light conditions requires a strong agressive run.
• Prevailing wind from the southeast often wraps around knoll to the right (south) of launch #2, inducing asymetric collapses for paragliders shortly after launch.
• Dehydration and heat exhaustion are a real hazard during hot weather. Bring plenty of water.
• Desert flying is hazardous in hot weather. Inexperienced pilots should limit flights to evenings under the guidance of a local pilot. DO NOT attempt to fly this site for the first time without a local guide!
• Rain or virga in the desert produces gust fronts and microbursts. Watch for overdevelopment or lines of moving dust.
• Desert vegetation has teeth and eats the wings of the unwary or careless.
• Rattlesnakes may be present during spring, summer, and early fall.

Ratings / Requirements:

H3, P3, SAHGA and USHPA membership required.

Radio:

SAHGA club frequency is 151.925 (USHGA Ch. 2)

Launch:

#1 is a cliff launch with a steep short ramp suitable only for HG.  

#2 has two steep slopes, one facing NE and another facing E, suitable for both HG and PG.

Launch Direction:

Visitors please see the listed site contacts for information.

Launch Access:

Dirt roads, the condition of which varies from one year to the next.  Often high-clearance 4WD is required.

LZ:

Large field adjacent to a paved highway.

LZ Directions:

Visitors please see the listed site contacts for information.

LZ Access:

Paved highway.

LZ Parking:

Along road near LZ with room for five vehicles.

Facilities:

None.

Emergency:

All pilots planning to fly this site must access and review the Miller Canyon Emergency Action Plan.  They must make a copy of the plan so that it can be easily consulted in the event of an emergency.  They must also execute the pre-expedition and on-site-arrival checklists contained in the EAP.  
When calling 911 in the event of an emergency, be prepared to give the operator the lat/long coordinates of the emergency scene and also expect to be asked what county the emergency scene is in.  Quite often it will be the county sheriff who will direct rescue operations.
911.  County Sheriff's Department.