Cape Lookout, Andersons Launch

Cape Lookout is a coastal ridge soaring site located about 12 miles southwest of Tillamook and 12 miles north of Cape Kiwanda on the coast highway. Launch is from a roadside pullout overlooking the beach and just uphill from the Andersons Viewpoint parking area. The beach between launch and the campground is the designated landing zone.

The Cape Lookout dunes area, north along the spit is a site that can be flown in west winds.

You can either drive or walk from LZ to launch. LZ parking is at the south end of Cape Lookout State Park. From there, drive out to the highway, then south about 1 mile to the viewpoint. Parking at the viewpoint is limited; please carpool and park elsewhere if possible. To walk, go south on the Cape Lookout trail from the park. After about 10-15 minutes you will pass below the launch area, then follow a trail up a culvert on the edge of an alder forest to the road. The trail comes out about 150 feet uphill (south) from the launch.

Soaring is possible in northwest winds along the cliffs that angle southwest towards the Cape. To the left of launch, the cliff leaves the beach and enters the ocean. Don't fly over the ocean unless there is lift; water landings can be life-threatening. There is a gap in the cliff about one mile out along the Cape; don't cross the gap unless there is sufficient lift to get you across and back. Beware: when there is a stronger north component to the wind there is a fast tack out along the Cape and a slow tack back to in the beach. It is possible for paragliders to get trapped out on the Cape in north wind conditions. If this happens, tiny brushy areas on the Cape can be used for an emergency landing; hike south to meet up with the Cape Lookout trail, then east back to the road. The area below launch is brushy and the cliffs are tree-covered, so constant attention to the terrain is required while flying.

Winds of 8-10 mph at launch are soarable for paragliders; less than that will be a sled ride. Keep in mind that wind speed 20 feet above launch can be 5 mph greater than on the ground. If the wind at launch is above 10 mph, the Cape can generate so much lift that you may need to fly north along the beach to get down to land. If the wind speed picks up while you're in the air there is danger of being blown back over the south side of the Cape; one pilot who had this happen reported "an extremely turbulent flight down with the backwash off the [Cape]." The rotor is unpredictable so the beach south of the Cape is not a reasonable landing area, it should only be used in an emergency.

Site Protocol: The viewpoint is a popular stop for tourists to take photos of the beach north of Cape Lookout. If a car is parked in the launch area, be courteous when you ask them to move. It's not unusual for a crowd to gather to watch a launch. For safety, ask all spectators to clear the area behind launch and to stand at least 30 feet from either side of the glider. Land as far away from people on the beach as possible. Do not topland at launch for safety reasons. It's a 40 mph highway next to launch! We are lucky to have the use of this site. An injury to anyone could shut it down. Fly safely!

Amended regulations 4/8/3

I visited with Pete, the Park Manager of Cape Lookout State Park and with two of the rangers. They all have good attitudes about our use of the park. They do insist on the following:

• 1) Do not drive into the park without purchasing a permit. Day use is cheap, also, right now they are running a special on long term permits. They are no longer giving warnings.

• 2) Land near the day use area. DO NOT LAND NEAR THE CAMPING AREA. DO NOT BREAKDOWN IN THE CAMPING AREA. DO NOT DRIVE INTO THE CAMPING AREA. They are no longer giving warnings. They will be fining and it will jeopardize the use of the park as a landing area. If the tide is high and the only place to land on the beach is near the camp area (which is often the case) DON'T FLY, or talk to pilots with knowledge of alternate landing areas (Mark Wittwort, Joe Evens, Ray Berger).

• 3) If you are unsure of where you should not land- Don't fly without talking with a park ranger or a knowledgeable pilot. These limitations affect hang glider pilots more than paraglider pilots. Will lurking hang pilots please post this on your local boards. Regarding the launch area- Please park as many cars as possible in the parks day use area. The county hasn't whined about congestion for a long time, lets keep it that way. Lets leave lots of parking for the gawkers and wannabees.

Rob Ridderbusch Cape Lookout Site Guy for the Cascade Paragliding Club

Landowner Info: Launch is on state park land, LZ is in Cape Lookout State Park.

Other Info: Camping in Cape Lookout State Park; food at Whiskey Creek Cafe, north of the park.

Site Liaison: Rob Ridderbusch

Submitted By: Steve Roti, last revised 8/17/2002, 4/8/3

Flying note, added 5/17/05

Ridge soaring requires good convection as well as wind. Your instructor undoubtedly told you that convection in the troposphere requires a surface that is warmer than the air above it. Also, the actual lapse rate above the surface must be near the adiabatic lapse rate. The ocean surrounding Cape Lookout is about 52 degrees F.

As summer approaches, the ocean temperature is likely to be less than the temperature of the air. The ocean starts absorbing energy from the air immediately above it. The adiabatic lapse rate is 5 degrees F. for each 1000 ft. Assuming the ocean is 52 degrees, you only have 20 degrees to reach the freezing level, or 4,000 ft. I get very interested in flying when there is snow on the tops of the coastal range. I get skeptical when the freezing level is over 5,000 ft. Summer weather on the coast is dominated by a high pressure system that sits offshore and NW of Cape Lookout. The bays and valleys create a sea breeze like system that locally increases wind speeds during the summer to 20-25 mph every day. Except near launch at Cape lookout. On a typical summer day the sea breeze starts around 11 am.

By 2 P.M. you can stand at launch and see huge whitecaps well off shore and a calm ocean near shore with nice breeze coming straight in. I believe that the cape acts as a big dam holding a shallow pool (maybe 500ft) of cool air. And I believe that the warmer, strong winds ride over the top of this pool. There are those that are at least as knowledgeable about micrometeorology that disagree with me. However there is no arguing about the fact that the winds are too strong as you gain elevation in the summer.

Cape Lookout takes on Lorilei qualities in June. Tie yourself to the mast as you drive by on your way to Cape Kiwanda. One final note. I assume many have discovered that sledders are doable summer mornings. I would like to discourage this. The site is far too valuable to lose over a sledder. You are far more likely to wind up in the bushes, the beaches are crowded - yadda yadda yadda. Go to Sollie in the morning, it is a far safer and better sledding site.

Top of the landslide area showing the re-routed trail, the gully access trail, and what could be a new direct route.