Fall flying is here! Conditions are great for newer pilots!
our sites
Kiona - 4x4 Recommended (Easy-Moderate)
Summary: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MRqG6A2W5Vu4A7fX8
This is our Go-To site in a North wind for convenience and versatility. It is possible to drive a 2WD car to each of the launches, although not recommended due to large rocks, overgrown brush and bumpy terrain. 4x4 and ground clearance is recommended when driving to PG, Dead Dog, or HG. The Saddle is easily reachable with 2WD car.
Launches (East-West respectively):
PG, Dead Dog, Saddle, HG
Landing Zones:
Trailhead, Bailout. NOT on Anelare property (marked in Red)
(Dodd's: 30006 107th PR NW)
Wind: https://io.adafruit.com/danflat/dashboards/kiona-wind-data?kiosk=true
North
House Thermals: https://thermal.kk7.ch/#46.238,-119.486,14
PG bowl, Dead Dog spine, HG spine/bowl
Wind Assisted Glassoff:
Requires a North breeze, occurs a few hours before sunset until sundown. Smooth, stable, floaty air. Trailhead LZ goes catabatic and will require landing towards the hill on an uphill slope. Top-landing at the saddle is recommended.
Dangers:
Reports of collapses when low in ravine east of PG spine, Mild OTB rotor turbulence, Strong thermals can occur
Badger Mtn. - Hike 'n Fly (Easy-Moderate)
Summary: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HAWDB4vjH38iVD6D7
For hike 'n fly, it doesn't get much easier than badger. A quick 20min hike from the North trailhead. The South hike can be even shorter but it might be a bit steeper. Try to stay on the trails as much as possible. 2WD car accessible.
Launches:
North Launch is near the towers, South Launch is pretty much anywhere on the South face.
Landing Zones:
North LZ is just to the west of the trailhead, park at the trailhead parking lot.
South LZ is anywhere along the South base. We are usually able to land on the road near where we park.
Wind:
North/South
House Thermals: https://thermal.kk7.ch/#46.236,-119.319,15
North: "Big House, House Thermal", water tanks
South: Neighborhood can get spicy
Glassoff: No
Dangers:
North: Towers, Hikers, Housing
South: Powerlines, Crops, Orchard, Housing
Eagle Butte - CLOSED - (EXPERT)
Where it all started! The site experiences double compression from the South and is the windiest place in the area due to this phenomenon. Punchy desert thermal action as well as strong glassoff occurs here. Landing Zones are limited and top landing can be dangerous. Long retrievals and not easily hikable anywhere but the northern trail. Do not fly here. Site is CLOSED due to lack of permission from owner. We are working on rebuilding a new relationship with the owner.
Horse Heaven Hills Vista - Easy Access - (Easy)
Summary: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BLURH9wKhK5tTzpk9
AKA: "Prosser Overlook" or " Prosser viewpoint". It's an official Benton County park equipped with a gazebo and bathrooms. This launch is only about 1450ft elevation, so ridge soaring wind speeds will be required in order to gain enough height to search for thermals. The gradually increasing slope from launch to the northern peak at 1600' makes the initial height gain quite easy. The true beauty in this site is the explorable surrounding ridges to the East and West, as well as the gorgeous views.
Launch:
Just beyond the large park info sign, there is a nice flat area great for kiting, launching, and top-landing. It is also terraced, with an upper flat area above with an open wheat field behind that.
Landing Zone:
There is a large mostly flat area below launch which is ok to land in and hike back up to launch. There is a barbed wire fence with a downed part for easier crossing. Further to the West there is a turnout off of the highway that is easy to retrieve pilots from.
Wind:
West, Northwest, Southwest
House Thermals:
Blue circles on map are a rough and variable starting point.
Wind Assisted Glassoff: Yes
Dangers:
Barbed wire fences near launch. Highway. Low launch
Snipes Mountain - NEW! - (Gated)
Summary: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yp29cuTemqdNyawe7
This new site has the potential to be our area's best South facing site. Snipes also has a shallow North face and a Southwest facing bowl making it flyable in almost any wind direction. The four south-facing, black basalt, pyramid-shaped features appear to be perfect for thermal generators.
The peak of Snipes is only 1300ft but has about 600ft of elevation difference to the valley floor to the South. Access to the North side of the Mountain and North LZ is graciously granted by the owner: John Heffron. John does ask that we notify him when we fly Snipes. South side permissions graciously granted by Nick who also owns the vineyards and South LZ.
Main Launch:
Featured on the map with a triangle. Pin-coded gate (authorized members have code). Requires 4WD for vehicle access to peak.
East Launch:
Can be accessed through vineyard pin-coded gate entrance for 2WD during operational hours. Access from the North is preferred (4WD).
West Launch:
2WD accessible from the North, Farm Rd. No gates. 1200ft. Requires gravel-pit bowl as bailout LZ. There is a South retrieval shortcut on the west end of the mountain
Landing Zone:
Massive North and South LZ's. The North field is not being farmed currently. The South fields have Alfalfa. In both cases, be mindful of any crops.
Retrievals:
All Main and East launches should prefer North access which requires driving all the way around via the highway. South retrieval (shortcut) road on the map in Orange is possible but can be a bit gnarly even for rugged 4WD vehicles. South retrieval to West launch is possible via Farm Rd shortcut 2WD.
Wind: https://weather.wsu.edu/?p=126251
South, North, West
House Thermals:
Unknown, Help us map them by uploading your flight logs!
Glassoff:
Unknown
Dangers:
Potential turbulence from terrain features. Low launch. Towers. Limited LZs outside of designated LZs
Nitro Hill - NEW! - (Gated+Waiver)
Summary: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pSY5QzHP92ZVqT6u6
This new site has the potential to be one of our area's best XC sites. With Rattlesnake Hills just 5mi away to the south and the +30mi long range extending to the west of launch all the way to Yakima there's plenty of terrain to explore. There is a steep North face and East face. A large solar farm is located to the Northwest which might be an excellent source of lift. About 1-2mi North of launch is Restricted Airspace, fighter jets are frequently seen flying low.
Bonus: if you find yourself over the peak of Rattlesnake Mtn... Kiona should be reachable on glide!
Gate Access + Waiver:
(Owner) John Nyboer - (509) 840-0007
Main Launch:
~1950ft. North or East. 4x4 required.
North Mid-Launch
Best reserved for the hike-n-fly folks.
Summit Launch:
+150ft height gain, park car and hike to top only.
Landing Zone:
Please be mindful to only land in the designated LZ's.
Retrievals:
Road to launch is 4x4 only. Hwy 24 makes long retrievals from the West easy. Retrievals from Rattlesnake area could get complicated. John Nyboer may also be willing to retrieve.
Wind: https://weather.wsu.edu/
North, East
House Thermals:
Unknown, Help us map them by uploading your flight logs!
Glassoff:
Unknown
Dangers:
Fire Risk, Restricted Airspace, fighter jets
Saddle Mtn. - Long Retrieval - (Hard)
Not one of our sites, but it's a very close neighboring site. Well-managed by CBCC. Check out their awesome Site Guide here: