Hangliding Location: Black Cap

Location

Black Cap peak, Sec. 11, T. 39 S., R. 14 E., 42°12'18" N., 120°19'42" W.; 1.5 miles NE of Lakeview I/S of U.S. 395 and Hwy 140.

Soarable

Ridge (limited room) and thermal, needs S-SW winds (typical for the area), excellent X-C potential to the N-NE with S-SW winds (see Records). This has proven to be an excellent afternoon glass off site, with gains to 11,000 plus MSL, but use caution as it can have a smooth, but strong, lift being hard to get down from these altitudes at and after sunset. It also gets very dark fast.

Access

About 3.5 miles of good 2WD dirt road from Center Street and North D Street.

Route

Take Center St. east from F Street (U.S. 395), east past the public swimming pool (North D Street) up Bullard Canyon. At 1.9 miles from North D Street, opposite a large tree on the right, take the left fork. After another 0.6 miles, under the power lines, take the left fork. Continue up and around the south side below the summit radio towers. Take this last, new left form off the last switchback of the main summit road. This is to the lower launch. You can launch from here at the dirt ramp and further out, around onto the W-SW spine just past where the new road ends (shallow and bushy here). In 1991 Lakeview constructed new upper launches with setup areas and gravel parking. These launches are slightly further east and case more southerly than the lower launches. Caution: There is a slight spine to the west of these upper launches that can cause launch rotor turbulence if the wind is west-crossed.

Launches

The lower main launch site is at about 6,240' MSL and the newer, upper launches are at about 6,370' MSL. The summit is about 6,420', 1,500 AGL, S to W-SW facing, moderate to shallow sloped dirt ramps.

Landing

Several private fields north of town about 1.5 miles W-NW of launches. The closer LZ is the field between U.S. 395 and the hills, east across 395 from two churches. There is a gate for foot access only. HUnter's Hot Springs Resort created a large LZ W of U.S. 395 on the N side of their entrance road. Their 90 second cycle geyser just W-NW of this LZ and their windsock provides wind direction. Do not land in the field W of the RV park.

Protocol

Unregulated, USGHGA H2 with altitude experience and good FSL Speicial Skill necessary for zero to light winds recommended. H1 with USGHA INstructor supervision for first altitudes possible.

Records

38 + miles N to the N. Abert Rim area, 5-90 by Terry Cook, completed in 1 hour with strong S winds. This is southernmost developed SE Oregon site in the Warner Mountain range, a good possible site for 100+ mile open distance X-C flights to the NE towards Burns.

Maps

USGS 7.5-min. (1"=1/2 mile) Lakeview NE, 1964; Klamath Falls NK 10-6 1:250,000 (1/4"=1 mile), 1976, U.S. Forest Service, Lakeview Ranger District, HC 64, Box 60, Lakeview OR 97630, (541)947-3334

Nearby Sites: S. Abert Rim/Tague's Butte and Sugar Hill (CA).

Misc.

This is the closest site to Lakeview. This site was substantially improves with Oregon Lottery funds in 1990 and Lakeview further improved the site in early 1991 by making new upper launches and parking.

Contributor

This information has been provided by Dave Baleria, USHGA #42283, and is used with his permission.

"It has been produced to assist currently certified USHGA hang gliding pilots with planning their flights while visiting Lake County, Oregon. The protocol listed for each site is advisory in nature only. It is always the responsibility of each pilot to use maturity and good judgment in deciding when or whether to fly at any given place or time. Accurate prediction of weather and flying conditions are different for each site and depends on a pilot's knowledge, skill, and ability. Please remember this is a high altitude, 'big air' area."