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

Sun Valley Paragliders club is still unable to meet the insurance demands of AIG. 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

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 (but NOT currently for flying!). 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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PLEASE NOTE the MAIN LZ in the River Run Parking lot is no longer usable! The two closest landing, which each require more than a 6:1 glide are the “Bailout LZ” near the hospital, or the Hulen Meadows LZ shown above

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Bail out LZ near the Hospital looking from the South

Hulen Meadows LZ looking from the North. Making this LZ requires a 6.5:1 glide and is not recommended with Mini wings or when a north wind is present

Baldy Launch site parameters:

  • Wind Parameters for all Baldy Launches:

    • Wing Types: Paraglider, Hangglider

    • 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°

  • 6.5:1 glide ratio to reach the Bailout LZ or Hulen Meadows LZ from Double D Launch

BALD MOUNTAIN FLYING REGULATIONS

(PARAGLIDING or HANG GLIDING).

  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. THE STANDARD LZ WE HAVE USED FOR DECADES IN THE RIVER RUN PARKING LOT IS NOT AVAILABLE! (Alternate landing zone: Sports fields at the Hemingway School/Atkinson Park). Hulen Meadows or the “Bail Out LZ” near the Hospital (see above). Landings are prohibited at any time on SV Company property in the Warm Springs area or the River Run 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.)