DESCRIPTION

For PG pilots, this web address has some more helpful info & photos: http://elpasoparagliding.com/SiteInfo/DryCanyon/dry_canyon.htm Local club: Rio Grande Soaring Association (RGSA) http://www.rgsa.info

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- hanggliding
- soaring
- thermals
- xc

weather

DANGERS: If you see or hear thunderstorms to the east or see the white sand being kicked up 15 miles west of the site, GET DOWN! Beware of the typical very rough southwest desert air in the spring/summer.

access

To takeoff: From HWY 54, go north past Alamogordo and turn east on HWY 82. Go about 5.7 miles and turn off to the right through a gate. Follow a Google Earth printout to the site. To LZ: From Hwy 54, take Fairgrounds Rd up towards the mountains. After a baseball field, the large LZ field is located on the left. There is a windsock and gazebo for shade. Takeoff is about 1:00 to 1:15 from the LZ.

regulation

Don't land or fly too near the hospital due to helicopter traffic. There is a large restricted airspace (White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base) west of Hwy 54. There is the civil airport and its class C airspace south of the city. North and east of Hwy 54 is where most XC happens and is ok. Consult a sectional chart before going XC!