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Location and
Region |
| Fraser Valley, South
Western British Columbia Canada (13 km) 8 miles
west of Agassiz on Hwy 7. |
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Click
for Map (210 Kb) |
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Pilots
flying Mount Woodside should agree
to abide by the Site
Safety Standards |
Launch
ind
the Mt. Woodside FSR entrance opposite of the 'Koffee
Kettle Cafe' on Highway 7. Follow Mt. Woodside
Forest Service Road (FSR) 4.2 km (2.6 miles), then
take the left fork in the road. Park at the
first available spot if you don't have 4 wheel drive.
Hike/drive 250 meters (275 yards) to launch.
Paraglider
Landing
The
'Riverside LZ' is located 10 minutes hiking time south
of the Lougheed Highway junction with the FSR.
There is a trail out of the field through a neighbors
property starting near the NW corner of the field
leading to the Cafe. If you open a gate close
it behind you.
The 'Eagle Ranch LZ' is a private
LZ owned and operated by Fly BC Airsports. You
MUST have express permission to land
there prior to launching.
Hang Glider
Landing
The
'Old LZ' is located on the north side of the Hwy 7,
at the extreme east end of the Harrison Mills flat,
just before the highway goes (east) uphill into the
trees. The field is a cow pasture, so take necessary
"precautions".
The
'Best' field (because it is owned by Bill Best) is
located west of the old LZ on the north side of the
highway. Turn onto Mill Road from Highway #7
heading north and then a left shortly after to get
to the LZ. Note that although it's a long glide
for paragliders, and should not be considered a primary
PG LZ, the Best field is also open to paraglider landings.
Flying
Season
End
of February to beginning of November.
Type of
Site
Mountain site with
Thermal and Ridge soaring. Rumours of Wave lift?
Suitable for HG and PG.
Cross-Country
Cross-country
flights to Hope on both types of wings, or (usually)
upwind flights west towards Dewdney. An easy
and pleasant XC Flight is to east to Harrison Hot
Springs: a good place to soak your bones after a day
of flying.
| Description
of Launch: |
|
| Launch is a groomed
gradually steeper slope facing WSW at 2250' (680
m) ASL, but is currently undergoing major
improvements. Set up area for 10+
gliders. Large parking area. Clean
takeoff. Wire men required in strong thermal
conditions. In poor conditions there is
a good HG ramp lower down the slope. Leave
for the LZ when no more than 50' below the old
lower launch. Use small field ("the Swamp") on
S side of Hwy 7 in an emergency only (turbulent
and wet). |
|
Click
for updated pictures of launch (550 Kb)
|
Click here for the Fly BC Webcam and Video Cam Pages
Description of LZs
Ensure
that you have a valid landing pass before flying,
and land only in designated LZs.
Outlanders
will be charged $20.00.
Riverside
LZ - 30m (100') ASL. Suitable for PG.
Field is a scrubby 10 acre field just north of the
Fraser river. The field slopes slightly up from
the southwest. Winds generally west southwest.
Field is surrounded by trees, but is somewhat surprisingly
usually free of rotor. Hazards include the train
tracks, some deactivated power lines and poles, and
occasional livestock.
Old
LZ - 30m (100') ASL. Suitable for HG, PG
(Tandem Flights permitted only). Winds tend
to be southerly at 3 - 8 MPH. Watch for trees,
fences and livestock. Other hazards include
highway 7 and adjacent power lines.
Best
LZ - 30m (100') ASL. Suitable for HG &
PG. Large, flat field, with stand of trees on
north side, other trees lining south side. Winds
generally southerly. Sometimes a "touchdown"
area is cut out of the surrounding crop. Aim
for it. Hazards include power lines, buildings
and equipment in the southeast corner.
Outlandings
at Woodside
The properties around Mt. Woodside are rather sensitive,
and the WCSC has gone through much effort to secure
appropriate LZs for both HG and PG. To ensure
our current LZs stay available to us, outlandings
at Woodside will NOT be
tolerated. The following guidelines will help
you with your landing choices around Woodside.
Flying
south and east from Woodside - Flying over the
back of Woodside launch and landing to the south or
east is permissible. For example, landings in
Agassiz, at Harvest Market, a sandbar, Harrison Hot
Springs, Ruby Creek, Hope, etc, are NOT outlandings
(however you must obey local airspace restrictions
such as the Agassiz prison CYR, Hope Airport, etc.,
and avoid landing in crop fields).
Flying
west and north from Woodside - We have the Bill
Best Field available for "failed" XCs in
this direction. This field is OK to land in
for both HG and PG. Once over Harrison Bay and
towards Sasquatch Mountain you are not outlanding.
However you must obey local airspace restrictions
and be sensitive about landing in fields west of Sasquatch
Mountain (don't land in crop fields, etc.).
Landing
on the west side of Woodside Mtn between launch and
Harrison Bay is restricted. The only LZs available
are the Riverside LZ, the Old HG LZ, and the Bill
Best LZ. Landings at Eagle Ranch are allowed
ONLY with the express permission of FlyBC
Paragliding. Landings on any other property,
such as the dike, Eric's property, or the off-limits
swamp, are considered outlandings and are payable
by a $20 fine, payable to the relevant landowner.
The WCSC collects these fines on behalf of
the landowners in the area.
The off-limits
swamp (formerly called the "bailout swamp"
is NOT a viable landing zone. This property
is owned by a private landowner who doesn't want that
land being trespassed on. There is a technical
"right of way" (easement) between the private
portion and the #7 highway, but this section of land
is very small and tight, and very close to trees,
a major highway, and power lines. It is NOT WORTH
IT to try to land on this right-of-way. Chances are
you will miss it, and trespass on private land, or
you will end up in an embarrassing (at the very least)
situation with your glider in the trees or power lines.
There is a good reason this area is "off-limits"!
To land at WCSC LZs, you need a Woodside
landing pass (see the WCSC
membership form for rates and expiry dates).
If you don't have a Woodside landing pass, and land
in one of the 3 designated LZs listed above, you are
also subject to the $20 outlanding fine. So
buy a pass to have as many LZs as possible available
to you!
Please
respect our landowners' wishes, and don't ruin it
for the rest of us by putting our LZs in jeopardy!
Transportation
Most
vehicles can make it most of the way to launch, but
4 wheel drive is best (keeps the road in better condition).
Site Regulation
The
WCSC holds a tenure on the launch area, and has agreements
in place for the use of landing fields. Follow
the Site Safety Standards. HPAC Insurance and
WCSC membership (of any type) is required. Also,
ensure that you have a valid landing pass or landing
permission.
Local Contact
Contact
a WCSC Director
for more information, or with any questions.
Other Information
CYA
132 (H) to 6000' (1800 m) ASL (Maximum). Watch
for small aircraft over Riverside LZ. One of
the WCSC's most high profile and valued sites. Can
get crowded in spring and early summer. Only land
in the designated landing fields. Do NOT land in any
other fields. Long glide to HG landing fields in any
headwind. The WCSC runs several XC meets two
to three weekends here every year starting Mid-April.
See the Events page.
Great way to start the year. The site has very nice
coastal influenced air combined with pleasant thermals
which are generally well away from the hill. The scenery
is outstanding.
Radio
Frequency: 123.4 Mhz (Aircraft), 173.640 Mhz
Local: 146.415 or 146.550 MHz
Emergency: 911
Flight Services Abbotsford: 250-855-1010 Fax: 250-855-1181
|
Mount
Woodside Panorama
by
Stewart Trowsdale |
 |
Get
QuickTime |
| (Note
that this panorama shows the launch prior to the
modifications done in October 2004) |
Warning!
This panorama is a large (3.3Mb) file, and will
take 15 to 20 minutes to download using a typical
dial-up connection. |
| Once
the graphic is loaded, use your mouse (button
pressed) to scroll the image.
Click
the
+ and
- buttons to zoom in and
out. |
Last
Updated: 22 Apr 2005
