Redrock / Zulu Ridge
MAP: Click here (This takes time)
RATED: Hang 2 - 4 (Hang 2 with Instructor) / P1 Paragliding
LAUNCH ELEVATION: 5600 Feet
VALLEY ELEVATION: 5000 Feet
LAUNCH DIRECTION: West
SITE DESCRIPTION: Ridge Soaring, four miles long, leading to Granite Peak at 5920 ft MSL. Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall Best Winds: Prevailing afternoon west winds. Typical day: Summer West winds in the late afternoon. Smoothes out for glassy soaring around 6:00 PM.
SITE LOCATION: North of Reno out Red Rock Road and left on Silver Knolls Drive. Turn left after water tower into park and then right before fence. Turn right at T follow up. Bear right into small gully and on up to the back side edge of ridge.
ROAD TO TOP: Reached from the east by rough 2WD road. SETUP AREA: 30 Gliders can fit in the rotor/sheltered area and many more behind that. Area is scattered grass patches and dirt. Some tie downs are in place.
SETUP AREA PROTOCOL: Keep cars far enough away to make room for gliders if necessary.
LAUNCHES AND OBSTRUCTIONS: West Ramp: Medium sloped, semi cleared of rocks. Weak or no wind launches are not recommended. Improved for Paraglider launches. Zulu Monument Knoll: Is slightly steeper and has a greater crosswind tolerance because it sticks out further. It is a longer walk from the setup area.
CAUTION: Do not fly in cross winds, especially strong winds. The ridge is very rocky and a surprisingly large rotor can be generated by the small hill south of the water tower during SW winds. Pilots have died and tumbled here. Do not underestimate how dangerous this site can be extremely cautious with a South component in the wind! It can kill you. Paragliders beware winds at this site can increase rapidly in velocity almost instantaneously.
LANDING ZONES: 1.
TOP LANDING: Hang 4/Class 2 pilots experienced at top landing only Location: South of the set up area on the flat part of the ridge. SIZE: Small APPROACH: From the north, from the south, or straight down. Do not get to far behind where you plan on landing, the air is laminar and sinky in back of the ridgeline. DANGERS: Do not land behind the road, do not land in the rotor area near setup where there is a slammer rotor!
PROTOCOL: Provide assistance to pilots who land by grabbing their front wires so the glider does not flip over backwards. 2.
BOTTOM LANDING: Located north of launch north of houses. Paragliders can land right down below launch. SIZE: Large. APPROACH: Look for wind in the valley to determine a north or south approach. Come in fast, there usually is not much wind in the valley.
DANGERS: Power lines/houses at the bottom in front of launch. New construction has recently decreased the size of the landing area and restricted landing to make it much more difficult.
