Abert Rim
Description of Site: Abert Rim is a prominent 22-mile, 2500' agl west-facing fault block escarpment located on Highway 395 near Valley Falls. This is an incredibly scenic spot -- the Rim is said to be the largest exposed fault scarp in North America. Most of Abert Rim is BLM property, but there are some privately owned areas so obey no-trespassing signs. Most of the recent paragliding activity at Abert Rim has been in evening glass-off conditions during July and August, but it's also possible to fly the length of the Rim in thermal conditions. The best wind directions are west and west-northwest, and the best wind speed is around 10-15 mph aloft. Less wind than that and it won't be soarable, more wind than that and the higher sections of the Rim become riskier because of compression and the massive amounts of lift that are generated. The Rim is highest at its southern end and gradually tapers off until it's only a few hundred feet high at the northern end. Hang glider pilots typically launch at Tague's Butte and fly over to the Rim in soarable conditions, but paraglider pilots can hike part way up from the road on the eastern shore of Abert Lake and bench up over the Rim. Launches
There are many areas that have been used for launching paragliders on Abert Rim. Perhaps the most frequently used is the slope above the Geological Marker sign. The slope starts out shallow and becomes steeper the higher you climb. Pilots have launched as high as the base of the rimrock, but the slope is so steep there you'll need wind or another pilot to keep your glider from sliding down the hill as you set up. The major disadvantage of this launch area is there are no landing zones within glide if it isn't soarable. The road isn't a landing zone and should only be used in emergencies. Another launch area is approximately 3 miles south of the Geological Marker, above a large flat grassy area between the road and the lake. There are west and northwest facing launch sites here, and although the hike up is a little longer than at the Geological Marker the major advantage is having a landing zone within easy glide of the launch area. Pilot Comments Tim Reynolds: One of the things I have noticed about the site is how much lift there can be in light wind conditions and how you often have to start from high on the hill to get into the lift band. Also I have been there a few times when the ground winds have been almost zero but it still works. Oh, and the seagulls and the wind on the water, and the amazing altitude gain, and how little altitude you lose as you fly over the water and how much lift there is when you fly over the valley and how laminar the air always is and how much I like to fly there. Douglas Mullin: The wind gradient - it can be soarable with almost no wind on the road and it could be dangerous with a "good" wind on the road. And it's quite a hike. Rick Conger: One add pertaining to "no LZ's" at the Geological Marker Site. The one and only time I flew at Abert (sled ride)....I launched from the normal area high above the Geological marker and landed about 50-100' west of the road near the lake...pretty much straight out from the marker...maybe a tad south of it.. Not sure if this spot is always there or if lake was lower than normal....but was a good landing spot (I'm not fond of no wind landings on asphalt). Just a 5 min hike back up to the car. [Editor's note: other pilots have had less success landing along the shore of the lake and have ended up ankle-deep in mud.] Tina Pavelic: Learning how to forecast the weather for Abert is the key especially since it is a 2.5hr drive and 50 minute hike for us from Bend. We look for lighter wind forecasts in the 5-10-15 mph range. 15-20 mph will probably mean it will blow out. Also you want winds aloft to be stacked mostly westerly. Usually we park somewhere near the prominent Geological Sign and hike up as far as we think we can start benching up. There is no official launch, just rocky and grassy steep slopes ... a few places have been improved some ... but you need to be comfortable pulling up the glider in a tight space with rocks all around. Some super light evenings you might have to hike almost up to the vertical rimrock, but most days you only hike 1/2-2/3 of the way up to the rim. There is no official landing zone so pilots need to be comfortable with picking small LZ's from the air and realizing the little rocks by the side of the road end up looking like huge boulders close up. Do not land next to the lake. The grassy areas next to the water contain foul smelling knee sucking mud and hundreds of years of decaying brine shrimp. There are a few pull outs and grassy spaces near the road, and I often choose a spot south from my car and hike back to get the vehicle. If one person retrieves the car, the others can fly and land near Valley Falls in one of the fields, being respectful of crops, animals, watching for fences and wires, etc. Highway landing have been done but not recommended for safety. It would reflect badly on the sport if there was an accident with a motorist. Contacts: Submitted by: Steve Roti |
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