Hoag, Grant ()
writes:

The 2007 Eighth Annual Winds of a Hurricane Fly-in is only three
months away! It will be a repeat of last year's trip, except the T-cells will be
slightly smaller, and flights will be higher and further.



The short version of the fly-in is:



Who: Organizer: Grant Groundhog Hoag & Hungary Joe



Participants: 30-40 pilots, Hungary Joe’s Goof Balls, and you!



What: Driving, flying, eating & drinking – Repeat daily for 5 days!



When: Fourth of July Weekend – Wednesday 7/4 thru Sunday 7/9



Where: Hurricane Ridge & Cedar City near Zion National Park in Utah



Why: Fun flying the last seven times we did it!



The long version of the fly-in is:



Qualified pilots are invited to join us on the Winds of a Hurricane Eighth
Annual Fly-in. To be held on Independence Day and the following weekend (July
4-9 Wed-Sun), last year 35 hang gliding/paragliding pilots plus families,
friends and dogs took over the Red Ledge Campground in Kanarraville, Utah, got
high and went far in pure recreational flying. We always have a blast! Many
pilots have made the trip 7 times. Most of the pilots are from Sylmar’s SHGA and
Crestline’s CSS, but a pilot came from Detroit, too.



This free trip attracts intermediate and advanced HG/PG pilots and their
non-flying companions (yahoos and wusses can stay home). Located 130 miles
northeast of Las Vegas, we’ll fly Hurricane Ridge and Cedar Mountain. This is
the place for first time XC, ‘cause Hungry Joe’s Flying Circus will open gates
and point to green pastures, red cliffs, cool rivers, sandy fields, dust devils,
farmlands and friendly ranchers.



Cedar Mountain is a morning site with easy XC flying over wide-open fields.
Hurricane Ridge is a 15-mile windy escarpment jutting 400 feet above the desert.
With afternoon ridge and thermal lift, you have got to fly over to the Zion
River. Sinking out is a no brainer with road along all routes outta there. A
4-wheel drive vehicle isn’t needed for either (but is helpful – and that’s what
friends are for)!



We will be camping at Red Ledge Campground in Kanarraville near the morning
flying site at Cedar Mountain, with cool air, hot showers, picnic tables at a
grassy camping site (and 3 cabins available through Grant). There are hotels
around, which are a little antisocial, a lot more expensive, but quieter and
cleaner. If flying bites, then Zion National Park is nearby. There are lots of
rivers, bike trails and restaurants nearby, not to mention the Virgin River LZ,
which has been christened the official destination for drunkenness.



We will have an orientation meeting on Sunday June 17th in the SHGA LZ at 6 PM.
Want someone to share gas? Need a ride? Speak up at the meeting. Two weeks later
on Wednesday July 4 we will meet at the campground at 9 AM. Spend the prior
night in Vegas to chow down, sleep in a cheap bed, and cut the drive in half.
Don’t be late (and someone always is) -- we don’t wait for stragglers.
Alternatively, if you can arrive on the night of July 3rd, you can participate
in the Kanarraville 4th of July parade before flying!



Send an email to Grant
to let him know you are coming. He will take care of reservations at the
campground but doesn’t need your money and he will send you a bunch of cool
maps, photos and info.



Grant: (h) (949) 387-5976, (c) (949) 370-8446



Be sure to read this month's USHPA's magazine for story about a 107 mile XC from
Hurricane!