Best soaring site in USA?

As one considers outstanding locations to soar in the US, I believe
one should really add Moriarty, New Mexico to the list. Moriarty has a
lot to offer the soaring pilot including:
1. The area offers great soaring weather and truly outstanding thermal
soaring from April to October with cloudbases often found at 16-18K
(The Moriarty airport is at 6,200 feet)and thermals of 6-8 knots being
very, very common.
2. Very nice wave in the fall and winter months is generated off the
Sandia and Manzano mountains.
3. Excellent routes for long cross-country flights are well known with
minimal airspace "issues."
4. There are plenty of safe land-out areas and the typical altitudes
normally achieved during a normal X-C, give the pilot plenty of range
to reach airports, ranch strips, etc.
5. Sundance Aviation operates 7 days a week and is an outstanding FBO
dedicated to supporting soaring at Moriarty. Tows, instruction and
rentals are available. Moriarty is also home to the Albuquerque
Soaring Club.
6. Two glider repair facilities are located right on the field
(Applebay Aviation & Enchantment Aero) should your ship need any
repair work!
7. The US Southwest Soaring Museum is curently under construction in
Moriarty on Old Route 66 and it will soon be open to the public with
exhibits and numerous historic gliders on display! There are plenty of
very nice hotels and restaurants in town and the airport is just 2
miles from downtown Moriarty.
8. The "Land of Enchantment" offers a lot to the visitor. In addition
to very friendly people, NM offers many cultural and historic
attractions found in: Albuquerque (30 miles West), Santa Fe (40 miles
North)and Taos (100 miles North). The high-desert scenery is great
with the Sandia and Manzano mountains to the West and the Sangre de
Christo mountains to the North.
9. Finally, as many folks found out at the "Lift 2000" SSA Convention
in Albuquerque, there is nothing like the outstanding New Mexican
food! All you will have to do is decide if you want the "red or green
chili..."
Regards,
Renny Rozzoni
Albuquerque, NM

I created a Web site to display the pictures that I took at Soar Truckee
last summer. http://home.earthlink.net/~dandunkel/ It will give you an
idea as to why I love the place--and the people.

-Dan


"James" wrote in message
om...
I can't believe no one has nominated SOAR TRUCKEE yet
http://www.soartruckee.com . Situated only five miles from Lake Tahoe
(and about 20 mi as the glider flies from Minden) it offers the BEST
soaring with strong thermals, decent wave, views of Lake Tahoe and the
Sierra Nevada mountains that cannot be matched. It is a challenging
airport to land at with density altitudes often at 8-9000 feet, a
cross wind that comes up in the afternoon, a narrow runway with runway
lights, and a 400' drop off before threshold. But hey, if you can fly
TRK you'll have the confidence that you can truly fly anywhere.

Many pilots drive 4 hours from the San Francisco Bay area every
weekend to TRK. Yes, it is that good. There is a camp ground among
the beautiful pine trees next to the airport where many pilots keep
camper trailers throughout the soaring season. Every Saturday evening
after the day's flying there is a great BBQ...no hot dogs and
hamburgers but tri-tip, ribs, fish, steak, etc. Finally, the staff at
SoarTruckee, especially Joe and Samantha run a first-rate operation.

At 05:24 16 January 2004, James wrote:
It is a challenging
airport to land at with density altitudes often at
8-9000 feet, a
cross wind that comes up in the afternoon, a narrow
runway with runway
lights, and a 400' drop off before threshold. But
hey, if you can fly
TRK you'll have the confidence that you can truly fly
anywhere.
SNIP

Truckee is a nice mountain site with some great soaring.
However as far as most *challenging* airport in North
America that gliders launch from, I nominate Telluride.
Some of its more unique features a
1.) 9k' msl and it gets hot
2.) One way in and out runway due to terrain and noise
considerations.
3.) Situated up on a 800' mesa for true carrier type
launches.
4.) Did I mention the biz jets on their 8 mile straight
in finals
5.) Or the commuter props popping in over the 12k'
ridge 5 miles north of the field.
6.) Low rope break options mean if u walk away from
the wreck, it was a good landing.
7.) The runway has a 150' dip in the middle, makes
for interesting launching when towplane touches back
down on the second half of the runway.
8.) All worth it, unbelievable scenery and great
soaring.