Mark Webber <<email>> writes:

Palisades launch is not on the list of the five "official" world class launches we have within an hour of Lakeview (OK, OK two hour drive) because you need a 4WD the last half mile. On light wind days, the wind direction can change to blowing down without you knowing about it. The incoming rotor from an east wind feels exactly like the prevailing west wind. It's best to release a helium balloon just before launch.

Launch: 42° 18' 14.00" N 120° 15' 22.00" W

There is a nice big bail-out field below launch at: 42° 19' 20.00" N 120° 17' 45.00" W

Ralph, John and I went back to Sugar today. There was a large tree (4.5 foot diameter) fallen across the road so we backtracked and went the long way. Got to launch about 2:30. Ralph set up his ATOS and got his "virgin" flight in light wind conditions.

Some pictures of our adventure today at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wild_high_mark/. On Monday I'll have to figure out what phone to call in the California Forestry Service to get them to remove that tree by next month, YIKES.

Last year on our first trip to inspect Palisades launch, we were surprised to find the road missing. The forestry service was methodically removing the old logging trails by ripping up the compacted soil and blocking the path with the old tree stumps and rocks. Hang gliders had such a minimal impact, they did not know we used the road to get to launch.

Lucky for me, the Forestry service has a building in town so I went in to try and find out why they had removed our road. At first I was given the runaround "the person in charge of that project is on vacation and won't be back for two weeks" but I told her their must have been fifty people on that project and I just want to speak to one of them. After a while a very shy young man came out to the front desk. A regular suit (with tie). He asked how he could help me and I explained how the road was gone, but the maps that we already gave out explain that it takes a four wheel drive to get to launch and when they get to the spot where the road is missing, they are going to put it in 4WD and start tearing up the hillside. These maps have already been mailed out to all registered pilots and (if the winds are right) we could have 60 cars off road looking for launch.

As fate would have it, a Regional Director was visiting and heard my plight (second hand) and decided to have the road replaced (see the USHPA RD's are good for something). Within a week, a D-7 Caterpillar was unloaded, the rocks were remove, and the road was compacted.

From the viewpoint of the visiting pilot. Everything is the same, nothing happens in Lakeview.

Would that be Mark Forbes?