§ 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General.
Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.


This sounds like a "sparsely populated area" which is our excuse for ridge soaring. But less than 500 feet from people is in the rules.

Perhaps you could use this as a basis for a constructive discussion with the rangers. Here is what we're allowed to do. If there are known concentrations of people, like a well traveled hiking trail or campground, agree to stay 500 feet away. And perhaps a discussion of just what dangers gliders operating regularly -- not buzzing -- pose to people on the ground would help.

John Cochrane