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Location:

1 hour 30 minutes northeast of Tucson, in the Catalina Mountains of the Coronado National Forest, about 40 miles driving. 6000' vertical over the surrounding valleys.

Season:

Year-round, but primarily spring through fall.

Conditions:

Light to moderate soutwest through west winds are best.

At 8100 feet MSL over a valley floor at 3000 feet MSL, this is a big-air site with excellent cross-country potential.  

Hazards:

• Northerly winds produce rotor from the ridge northwest of launch.
• This site is in back of a canyon with a clear glide out to the valley, but it is a long glide at nearly 5 miles to the primary LZ.
• Rain or virga in the desert produces gust fronts and microbursts. Watch for overdevelopment or lines of moving dust. 

Ratings / Requirements:

P3, SAHGA and USHPA membership required.  Local guide required.

Radio:

SAHGA club frequency is 151.925 (USHGA Ch. 2)

Launch:

High-altitude (8100 feet msl) west-facing grassy slope launch.  Light, due west winds are best.

Launch Direction:

Visitors please see the listed site contacts for information.

Launch Access:

Paved road to the parking lot followed by a two-mile, mostly downhill (1000 vertical feet) hike on a well-used trail.

Launch Parking:

Large paved parking lot.

LZ:

Sandy riverbed (wash).

LZ Directions:

Visitors please see the listed site contacts for information.

LZ Access:

Dirt road, 2WD.

LZ Parking:

Dirt, room for two vehicles.

Facilities:

None.

Emergency:

911. For launch and north landings, Pima County Sheriff's Department. For west landings, Oro Valley PD. For south landings, Tucson PD.