Mc Clellan Peak / Duck Hill
MAP: Click here (This takes time)
RATED: Hang 3, 4 (Hang 2 with Instructor) / P2 Paragliding
MC CLELLAN LAUNCH ELEVATION: 7100 Feet, Landing 5100 West Facing
DUCK HILL LAUNCH ELEVATION: 5962 Feet, Landing 5100 North Facing.
SITE DESCRIPTION: Open ridge soaring with thermal potential. From McClellan, there is a very long glide out from the west ridge takeoff, and therefore, should not be flown unless you plan to soar and easily make it to the landing zone. Duck hill is small ridge soaring for 1 or 2 gliders. Nice intermediate area. This area is not commonly flown by paragliders.
SEASONS: Spring Summer, Fall. South launch is accessible in winter.
BEST WINDS: McClellan West - 20 MPH: Duck Hill - 18 from north.
Typical day: Summer pattern is west winds 10 to 20 in afternoon
ROAD TO TOP: McClellan 2 WD gravel and rocks, washboard in places; Duck rough 2WD, 4WD is best.
SITE LOCATION: North of Carson City, up Goni Road.
McClellan west launch is about 3/4 mile WNW of Peak. You must take a left when you get up to the towers and go down a hill, across a flat area, and up over another small ridge to get to the west launch.
Duck Hill can be accessed from Carson also but also from the road just east of park headquarters.
SETUP AREA TERRAIN: McClellan flat with no sheltered area. Plenty of room for 40 gliders. Good idea to tie down glider from dust devils. Duck is flat and protected.
LAUNCHES AND OBSTRUCTIONS: McClellan West Launch- Flat slope launch area with large cobbles and rocks littering the ground. Duck north NE, NW Launch- Good slope, small rocks and grass.
CAUTION: McClellan was a long glide out to the landing area. There is a small ridge out in front that you do not want to get caught behind.
LANDING ZONES: IN STATE PARK - Location: South end of Washoe Lake, between road going into park and lake.
SIZE: Large grassy area surrounded by medium sized sagebrush.
Approach from north into a prevailing west wind.
DANGERS: There are big power lines near the main road, come over them high. Wind gradient close to ground, fly it in fast.
PROTOCOL: They are not charging us for entry...yet, so be nice to the State Park so we can keep landing here, free. Do not land in the alfalfa fields, and do not trample sagebrush. Keep all trucks and cars on the roads.
MISC. INFORMATION: The launches are along side the Reno airport glide slope corridor. It runs from Carson City into Reno. So watch out for jets at different altitudes arriving from the south and taking off from the north.
