From a video posted on the .org that has a few sites not too far from us:
https://vimeo.com/107720020
Bear Mountain (not too far from Bakersfield)
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1987828 ... a=!3m1!1e3
Midway Peak (near Taft)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Midwa ... eda69de8dd
Anyone know them? Worth a day trip?
Mike
Does anyone know these sites?
Moderator: Chip
- gregangsten
- Posts: 502
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:22 am
- Location: Westchester
Good question
Good question. I've driven that road where Midway peak is shown, thinking that there ought to be a place to launch around there. Seems like it would be a good XC spot. It's a long haul to get there though.
Bear Mountain is inside a locked gate of a private development. You have to either live there, or have permission from someone who does. There is a (very small) local group who fly there.
Also, the LZ in front is not the best. It is better to get up and go over the back. BTW, over the back is also inside the private development. It is huge. Bear Valley is the name, I think.
On the other hand, it is flyable in a NW....
Also, the LZ in front is not the best. It is better to get up and go over the back. BTW, over the back is also inside the private development. It is huge. Bear Valley is the name, I think.
On the other hand, it is flyable in a NW....
Fly High; Fly Far; Fly Safe -- George
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- Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:18 pm
I had the privilege of flying Bear Mtn. for many years. It's awesome. There's a handful of pilots left up there, and they're perpetually struggling to maintain access through a gate to the main LZ. Don't know what the current situation is.
Midway Peak is a great site with a great launch and LZ. Very consistent early spring through late fall. Very hot in summer. Lots of untapped XC potential. Not particularly favorable to single-surface gliders (fairly long glide to LZ) but there's bailouts and they usually make it to the main LZ anyway. Faces NE, but that's the wind it gets over on that side of the valley when it's blowing NW everywhere else in the SJ Valley. I've had many great flights and very few sled runs there.
Midway Peak is a great site with a great launch and LZ. Very consistent early spring through late fall. Very hot in summer. Lots of untapped XC potential. Not particularly favorable to single-surface gliders (fairly long glide to LZ) but there's bailouts and they usually make it to the main LZ anyway. Faces NE, but that's the wind it gets over on that side of the valley when it's blowing NW everywhere else in the SJ Valley. I've had many great flights and very few sled runs there.