FLYSITES

- Howard

DESCRIPTION

The Wallowa River Delta landing zone is located on Division of State Lands property where the Wallowa River enters Wallowa Lake. We must land in this river delta area and not on the grassy State Park property. Please contact the ECPC before flying from Mt. Howard to arrange paperwork, site intro, and a time when club members are available. · This Delta area changes throughout the season, and from year to year. Please plan your flying trips to Mt. Howard accordingly. Contact the local pilots for updates on the delta landing, as it typically doesn’t become large enough for P-4 pilots until mid August. The river normally reaches full volume during the snow melt and spring runoff (Mid June-Mid July). Take high precaution when landing next to the swollen river at this time, as the only possible landing area is very small, rocky, brushy, and surrounded by tall trees! The swift water could be very dangerous if a wing or a person falls into it! Usually starting in may, the spring runoff will start to fill the lake as water is held behind the 27-foot tall irrigation dam located at the lake outlet. The lake will continue to fill for most of May, June, and early July until irrigation demands exceed spring runoff flows. Maximum capacity (highest water level) during normal years is around July 15th. After that point, the lake will continue to drop until a huge landing area is exposed by the end of September. · Landing a hang glider here is normally not recommended. · All pilots are advised to walk through the landing zone and become familiar with the area. Remember, landing zones always seem large from the ground and much smaller from the air! Most visiting pilots overshoot their landings due to the thinner air and light wind. · When the lake is at a higher level (normally mid June-mid July) paraglider landings are not recommended at the lake as the landing area becomes restricted to a very small area with tall trees and a fast flowing river as hazards. Not until August does this landing area normally become easier (not requiring advanced maneuvering skills). It is advised that the river delta landing area be restricted to advanced P4 pilots until mid August when water levels drop and landing becomes more forgiving. · Do not land on State Park Property! The Wallowa Lake State Park has warned paraglider pilots not to land west of the river delta as it is not an appropriate activity for the park. Please respect the State Park requests and only land in the river delta area! If the lake is high and the delta landing is too small, go land in the cow pasture or on the east moraine.

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- powered paragliding
- powered paragliding
- powered paragliding
- powered paragliding