Toutle River Valley
2000' over launch, May 8, 2009 ©Jan Kubic
Twin Bowls launch, 5/17/09 ©Mark Sanzone
STATUS: OPEN (Reopened from fire danger closure on 08/12/2009)
Note: Twin Bowls(a.k.a. The Toutle) is located on Weyerhaeuser property and is subject to closure during the summer months due to fire danger. Please check the discussion list for the latest news.
Note: No smoking or alcohol is permitted on Weyerhaeuser property. If you need to smoke, please return to your car to do so.
The Toutle is strictly a thermaling site and is very UNFORGIVING for pilot error. Please read and understand this entire guide and the linked discussion of top landing before flying at this site. It will greatly add to your safety and enjoyment.
NEW: Click here to read a discussion of top landing at Twin Bowls.
[Weather] [MM5]
LAUNCH: Northwest facing, 2390 msl, 46.3143 latitude, -122.4139 longitude.
LZ: 1290msl, 45.3100 latitude, -122.4325 longitude.
WORKABLE FORECAST:
Works best when predicted winds are WNW to NNW at or below 10mph. Due to the thermal nature of the site, it will also often work when the wind direction is somewhat outside that listed and the wind speed direction is low..
The phone for the Hoffstadt helicopter operations is 360.274.7750. If you plan to fly here give them a call or stop by the helicopter shack. When we flew last Friday, the pilot contacted us by radio thanking us for the heads up, and later gave us a wind report from the valley. This also means our radio is being monitored so please comply with FCC rules (i.e. call sign and no foul language). Mark Sanzone, Aug. 12, 2008
UPDATED and EDITED – Aug 2009
In 2009, the site liaison negotiated the purchase of 35 Douglas firs to improve the launch. The felling of these tress along with the clearing of alders below launch greatly improved the air flow up to launch. This in turn greatly reduced but did not entirely eliminate the difficulties in kiting and stabilizing one's wing prior to launch. It also did little to eliminate the imposing wall of trees below launch and thus the launch remains intimidating to even seasoned pilots that have flown there hundreds of times during the last 5 years.
With the clearing of the trees and brush, it is now possible to launch in good W, NW, and NNW cycles. As a reference, looking down launch to the longest run out is true NW. The ideal launch area is the west side of the flat area above the slope. With W or WNW cycles, pilots with good kiting skills can also launch from the area adjacent to this ideal location. PLEASE, do not launch from this adjacent position unless you can demonstrate your kiting abilities from this position. Many pilots who feel they have good kiting skills are severely challenged in trying to stabilize their wings at the Toutle. Set up on the flat such that your wing is up and stabilized and you've begun your aggressive launch run before reaching the edge of the slope. Getting the wing up to speed separates most good launches from sketchy launches at the Toutle. It is best to time your launch run to the start of a cycle. This can be done by watching for movement in the trees below launch then beginning your inflation and wing stabilization as soon as you feel the wind on your face. Once airborne, do not transmit needless input to your wing by getting into your harness no matter what technique you use. The real concern during launch is not clearing the trees but actively flying to keep your wing stable if you happen to encounter any turbulence before clearing the trees. As a general rule, you should not settle back into your harness until you've cleared the trees.
There are no bailouts below/beyond the tree line at launch. If you turn north (right) after launch and do not get any lift, you should immediately turn south and head along the ridge toward the LZ. It's a very long way to the south (about ½ mile without any adequate bail outs) until there is a significant drop off providing enough altitude above the tree tops to complete an easy glide to the LZ or a reasonable bailout area..
There are four house thermals in the general flying area. The most consistent one is located on the west side of the point that overlooks the LZ. The second one is on the south west side of this same point. They vary in intensity throughout the day but generally provide a soaring opportunity for most pilots. The other two are located to the right and left of launch and generally work better later in the day after the sun has crossed the ridge line that runs from launch to the point.
All vehicular access to Elk Rock (located near mile marker 36 on Highway 504) is now gated. Most upper launches are overgrown. Launching from the upper log deck was still possible in 2007 but has not been scouted since. Launching from the Elk Rock berm just off highway 504 is no longer possible due to the tree growth.
Never, never, never attempt landing at the Weyerhaeuser learning center located 1 mile SE of Twin Bowls launch. Looks are deceiving. There is a severe rotor off the cliff that has nailed ALL pilots that have tried. PLEASE TAKE HEED!
In the past, it has been requested that we not land at the Hoffstadt visitors center, located 3.75 miles NW of launch, due to the helicopter traffic in that area.
SITE PROTOCOL:
The Toutle River valley is a patchwork of public and private ownership, and the east end of the valley is a popular tourist destination because of the new Mount St. Helens National Monument visitor center there. The area was flown first flown by hang gliders in 1992 and by paragliders in 1993. Foot launched pilots are asked to observe the following restrictions in order to maintain good relations with the landowners and to minimize our impact on the area.
- No launching or landing inside the monument. The monument begins on the valley floor below Elk Rock and continues up into the volcano crater. If you don't know where the monument boundary is, get a map and figure it out before you fly.
- Vehicular access to the valley floor is gated and locked. The gravel roads from the highway down to the valley floor were closed in 1994 because too many people were driving illegally on the valley floor. From 1995 to 2003 paraglider pilots have had vehicle access to the bottom of Twin Bowls for pilot retrieval one weekend each summer during our annual fly-in. The fly-in is no longer held.
- No illegal parking along the main highway. In other words, if you want to park along the main highway outside of one of the official parking lots, be sure to pull completely off the highway so your vehicle is not a traffic hazard. Tickets have been issued to illegally parked vehicles.
- Do not harass the wildlife. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which owns most of the valley floor west of the monument wants to protect the elk, deer, birds, and other animals that call the valley their home. We can help them achieve their goal by trying not to disturb the wildlife we see in the valley.
LOCATION:
Twin Bowls is near mile marker 32 on Highway 504. To get to launch, drive 0.2 miles past the 32 mile marker on Highway 504 and park in the small pullout on the right side of the road. Walk southwest over the small hill to the flat berm on the other side at 2,400' MSL. The primary launch is the west side of the berm, although the southeast side can also be used. The usual flight path is southwest along the ridge to the southern-most point, which can often be ridge soared in light wind conditions. Twin Bowls is a good thermal soaring site, with thermals forming in the bowl west of launch and drifting back over the launch berm. The primary LZ (LZ1 in photo above) is the east-west-running dirt road on the valley floor at 1,250' MSL. Don't land off the road because the ground is uneven. It is a 20-30 minute hike from the LZ back up to the highway. To leave cars at the top of the trail up from the LZ, park completely off the highway on the gravel shoulder east of Hoffstadt Bridge.
REMINDER:
If you land on the valley floor, do not land east or south of Elk Rock -- foot-launched flight is not allowed inside the monument boundary; plan on a 1.5 hour hike back up to the road.
NOTABLE FLIGHTS:
The 3 mile flight from Twin Bowls to Elk Rock has been made many times by paragliders in thermal conditions. The highest altitude reported on a paraglider was to 8000 ft. msl. The longest reported flight was 4.25 hours.
On the image below the yellow dots mark a route along an old road that can be used as an emergency hiking route. Alders have overgrown the road, but it is passable. The numbers are elevation in meters. The last bit below launch is negotiable and leaves the old road which continues on to the point.
Local Contacts:
Jan Kubic (site liaison)
Jim Baldo
Reed Gleason
Pete Reagan
Kelly Kellar
Steve Roti
Submitted by: Steve Roti
Last Revision Date: 8/26/2009 Jim Baldo