I'm leaving for Sweden (business) on the 20th and returning on the 25th or the 26th, so I'll be spending the weekend in Tucson. I'm hoping to fly at least one day during that long weekend though.

I'm scheduled to leave town on the 28th. But, there's a chance that that may get delayed. If so, I'm game.

The passing of Cindy West will be a great loss to the event and all of us who knew her. It's hard to picture the Dry Canyon LZ without her in it.

let`s fly the Lemon right here in town? that weekend?

Eric

yeah! The Lemmon!

It's about the same amount of driving as going to Alamo.

And perhaps Ross and Gunter would like to re-vitalize the PG launch? It would be a fun project. (the flying part, not the cutting and pruning part).

Driving to Dry Canyon 5 hrs, Mt Lemon, one hour twenty minutes.
Come on face your fears!

Eric

I may be available to drive and/or scout and clear a PG launch.

John,
The old PG launch is in national forest and would carry a very steep fine for tree cutting and or flying from. If you chose to fly there you are not associated with SAHGA or the USHGA.

I suggest that you guys consider launching from the approved launch site at the summit. The glide to the notch , if you chose the most difficult glide out, is 4.5 to one. The ridge line route is perferred, it`s longer but lifty. The only trouble is launching at 9157 in light winds. Forward launch is probably required.

Eric

It will be a long time before I have the skills to fly Mt. Lemmon from any launch. I am not interested in doing anything to violate any laws or SAHGA/USHPA rules.

By "clearing" I meant only the trimming of bushes, which I assume is legal under our agreement with the USFS.

Ok,
Then let`s find some place else to fly , perhaps Box or Miller will be good by then.

How about this weekend? Any thoughts? It looks like Box to me.
Come on you weather experts weigh in!

However any which way the wind blows it`s cool by me!

Eric

I cannot fly this weekend (out of town), but I hope to fly next weekend. In any case, if you HG guys head to the Lemmon next weekend, I might want to tag along just to see the spectacle.

Eric wrote: The old PG launch is in national forest and would carry a very steep fine for tree cutting and or flying from. If you chose to fly there you are not associated with SAHGA or the USHGA.

Eric

I can't find anywhere on our Coronado National Forest Catalina Ranger District permit where it specifies the specific launch location. Our insurance covers us (or rather, the forest service) for Mt Lemmon and any launches within 5mi. I believe that when Arjan was flying from it, it was with the understanding of the Ranger that he was scouting out potentially safer launch points for PGing. Couldn't we could touch base with Mr. Ranger and request the opportunity to once again search for suitable and safe new launch locations?

No the launch he used was never considered a possibility. The area on Mt Lemon, the summit inside the compond was the only area available for us to launch from. The authority to cut the trees in this area took two years, no preliminary flights were allowed.I have personnaly been involved in the development of this site and was told repeatly that we can not cut trees and or fly from any other area. I did in the past approach the district about other areas, I was told that we need to submitt a detailed package, containing the location. I was warned at that time that the fine is 500$ and your equipment may be taken and that if they wanted to this could include your vehicle. No cutting of trees in the national forest was ever approved. Nor flight from this alternate area. Flights from the wilderness area would be even more severly dealt with!