Bald Mountain

“Baldy” is our primary launch, home of multiple national records, and the preeminent XC paragliding site in Idaho

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 RESTRICTIONS CONTINUE FOR FLYING BALDY

BALDY IS CURRENTLY A CLOSED SITE

Entering this winter season, Sun Valley Paragliders club is still unable to meet the insurance demands of AIG. The RRRG is not currently offering the policy our club needs. We do not know when this policy will be available again, although the board of directors believes that it may be unrealistic to expect it to be available within the next 2 months or that it will be available for the same rate ($15,000.00). Therefore, paragliders remain unable to ride the lifts or land on Sun Valley property. Concerning hike & flying on Baldy, the club asks all members and visiting pilots to obey Sun Valley's uphill traffic regulations, not to fly during operating hours from any in-bounds areas on Baldy, and most importantly not to land on Sun Valley property. The board of directors is actively seeking landing zone options that we can officially recommend to the club, and appreciate any ideas for solving this problem.

Baldy

USHPA RISK ASSESSMENT

Elevation: 9,150’

Landing zone: 5,700’ (3,400 below)

Requirements: P3 (or P2 only when accompanied by local club member)

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Baldy is accessed by Sun Valley’s high-speed gondola and ski lifts during winter and summer. Most launch sites are a short walk from the top of the lifts. The landing zone is within a few hundred yards of the bottom of the lifts at the River Run Plaza. Between May and October Baldy is also accessible via Fly Sun Valley’s special use permit to drive up the resort.

Competent P3 pilots with some mountain flying experience should feel comfortable flying Baldy after a site briefing by an experienced local club member. This site requires advanced skills as conditions can change quickly, as we are in a complex mountain and desert setting.

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Baldy Launch site parameters:

  • Wind Parameters for all Baldy Launches:

    • Wing Types: Paraglider, Hangglider, Miniwing

    • Wind Speed:

      • Minimum: 0mph

      • Ideal: 6mph

      • Maximum:12mph

      • gust: 18mph

  • Wind Direction for Baldy Launches:

    • Christmas Ridge/DD: 60-200° (ideal: 100 - 130)

    • Alabama: 230-310° (ideal: 270°)

    • HunRun: 320°

    • Warm Springs 330-60° (ideal 20°)

    • Easter Bowl 110°-160° (ideal 140°)

    • Limelight 350°-20°

    • Heaven 290°

  • 5:1 glide ratio to reach LZ from all launches

BALD MOUNTAIN FLYING REGULATIONS

(PARAGLIDING & SPEED WING)

  1. Current and active USHPA membership and Para 3 (Intermediate) rating is required to fly Bald Mountain. (P2 sponsorship available for local pilots. Sponsorship/chaperoning pilot must hold a valid USHPA instructor rating or minimum of P4 rating)

  2. Current Sun Valley Paragliding Club Membership is required.

  3. SVP membership card must be carried at all times and presented at the request of any Sun Valley Company

    mountain personnel, club officer or site monitor.

  4. All “first flights” from Bald Mountain must be made with an authorized club member. A thorough review

    of flight rules, including the location of authorized launch sites and landing zones must be completed.

  5. During the WINTER season, all flights must be airborne no later than 3:30 p.m. (Hence, launching after

    3:30 p.m. is prohibited).

  6. All flights must maintain 150' (50 meters) minimum clearance (vertical & horizontal) from all

    mountain structures, in-bounds ski runs, guests/people, lift facilities, etc.

  7. Helmets, reserve parachutes and radios, (USHPA frequency 151.925) are mandatory on all flights. A cell

    phone may be carried in substitute of a radio. (A reserve chute is not required for speed/mini wings. See

    below for speed flying stipulations)

  8. Authorized Winter Launch Areas: Heaven, Little Easter, Hun-Run and Limelight. Additional Summer Launch

    sites: Christmas Ridge, College, Alabama, Indiana, Little Swindon.

  9. Authorized Landing Zone is the north end of the parking lot at River Run. (Alternate landing zone: Sports

    fields at the Hemingway School/Atkinson Park). Landings are prohibited at any time on SV Company property in the Warm Springs area.

    - Reckless conduct or violation of any rules may result in revocation of membership and flight privileges-

Local P2 pilots meeting the following requirements may fly Bald Mt. unsupervised.

1. Minimum logged requirements: 75 flights, 25 of which from Bald Mountain.
Following demonstrating suitable skills and tasks, etc., to a local instructor, the instructor can submit recommendation for approval by the BOD. Once approved, pilot may fly unsupervised from Baldy, but cannot fly alone. (Must be flying with another pilot.)

The following additional regulations apply to speed-wings/mini-wings, (152 meters - 222 meters).

1. All flights must maintain 150' (50 meters) minimum clearance (vertical & horizontal) from all mountain structures, ski runs, guests/people, lift facilities, etc. “Speed-riding” is strictly prohibited.

2. Current and active USHPA membership and Para 3 (Intermediate) rating is required to fly Bald Mountain. (P2 sponsorship available for local pilots. Sponsorship/chaperoning pilot must hold a valid USHPA instructor rating or minimum of P4 rating)

3. P3 or P4 pilots new to flying Baldy must be supervised/chaperoned by a local pilot for first 10 flights. 4. Reserve parachutes are not required, but highly recommended.
5. Speed wings/mini wings smaller than 152 meters are prohibited.
6. Landings are prohibited at any time on SV Company property in the Warm Springs area.