| 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 and fall. |
| Conditions: | Light to moderate northwest through north winds, with a predicted high top of lift. This is an afternoon site. |
| Hazards: |
- High altitude slope launch. Good launch skills are required.
- Tall pine trees surround the launch for several miles, with no landing opportunities.
- This site is in back of a canyon with a large ridge in front. Samaniego ridge is about a 5:1 glide from launch and must be cleared to land safely. This can present a formidable obstical when winds are west.
- The nearest safe landing area is 8.5 miles west, about an 8:1 glide.
- This is an extremely advanced site which allows little room for error. Regardless of your experience level DO NOT attempt to fly this site for the first several times 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.
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| Ratings/Requirements: | H4 and either substanial previous experience with this site or a rated local sponsor. This is a USHPA insured site, so USHPA membership is required. |
| Radio: | SAHGA club frequency is 151.925 |
| Launch: | High-altitude (9600 msl) west-facing grassy slope launch, in a slot in the surrounding pine forest. A 5-8 mph northwest breeze is best for a safe launch. |
| Launch directions: | Visitors please see the listed site contacts below for information. Club members see http://www.sahga.com/members/sites.html |
| Launch access: | Paved 2wd. Combination lock access. |
| Launch parking: | Paved, plenty of room |
| LZ: | Large cleared field about 8.5 miles west of launch. |
| LZ directions: | Visitors please see the listed site contact below for information. Club members see http://www.sahga.com/members/sites.html |
| LZ access: | Paved two-lane road. |
| LZ parking: | Road right-of-way. |
| Facilities: | None. |
| Contacts: |
Eric Smith, Arizona Airfoils, HG Instructor, Tucson (520) 790-3507
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| Emergency: | 911. For launch and north landings, Pima County Sheriff's Department. For west landings, Oro Valley PD. For south landings, Tucson PD. |
