General Info |
- Pilots have been flying almost daily at Blue Rock, since April 1, 2009.
- Flying is awesome during the springtime.
- The conditions are rowdy during the summer season, between noon and 4:00 PM, but summer evenings are typically OK.
- You can fly in smooth lift until sunset, during the fall.
- Please fly with caution and follow these instructions to insure that we can continue to fly at this newly opened site.
Regulations and Requirements |
- Recommended to have a site into. Please reach out in the Telegram channel or a contact below for assistance.
- Please be courteous, remove trash from the trail, follow the access rules and make sure that others do so, as well.
Local Contacts for Site Intros |
- Rob Black - 707.853.6912
- Ron Lee - 707.333.8308
- Danny Redding - @dannyredding on Telegram
Launch |
North Launch:
The upper north launch offers smooth launches in NW-SW wind. This launch provides the best option and chance of getting up if light.
Pease note: Pulling your wing up at the top of this launch puts you at risk of being dragged into a nasty rock formation, so you should lift your wing up lower on the slope.
Mid:
Having an easier hike to this launch than North this is often used when the wind is strong enough and not too south.
The wind tends to wrap around the trees to the south and seem like it's perfectly west when it's really south. It is best to monitor the wind direction on the hike up.
Hike to north launch if its too south.
Top launch:
Best for lighter days. Primary hazard is the exposed rocks all around and the fence along the top of the ridge.
Better for south wind than north launch is.
The upper north launch offers smooth launches in NW-SW wind. This launch provides the best option and chance of getting up if light.
Pease note: Pulling your wing up at the top of this launch puts you at risk of being dragged into a nasty rock formation, so you should lift your wing up lower on the slope.
Mid:
Having an easier hike to this launch than North this is often used when the wind is strong enough and not too south.
The wind tends to wrap around the trees to the south and seem like it's perfectly west when it's really south. It is best to monitor the wind direction on the hike up.
Hike to north launch if its too south.
Top launch:
Best for lighter days. Primary hazard is the exposed rocks all around and the fence along the top of the ridge.
Better for south wind than north launch is.
LZ |
There are many LZ options but be aware of large rocks hidden in the brush and especially of cardoons which have tons of spikes.
Landing is not permitted on Solano College property or parking areas.
The Runway: this is the fire break/road across Saint John Mine Rd from the main ridge and runs parallel to Columbus Pkwy. Beware of the new fence installed between the creek bed and the runway. Best to walk the LZ like normal just so you know what it's like. If the wind is strong the creaked throws off turbulence and thermals like to let off in this area.
The Spot: You'll see this on the hike up after the first incline of the hill there's a spot where the cows have wallowed or lain in the grass and cleared it a bit. We don't use this as often just because it is a slightly longer walk to the cars.
Sometimes this is preferable to the runway if the wind is strong.
Landing is not permitted on Solano College property or parking areas.
The Runway: this is the fire break/road across Saint John Mine Rd from the main ridge and runs parallel to Columbus Pkwy. Beware of the new fence installed between the creek bed and the runway. Best to walk the LZ like normal just so you know what it's like. If the wind is strong the creaked throws off turbulence and thermals like to let off in this area.
The Spot: You'll see this on the hike up after the first incline of the hill there's a spot where the cows have wallowed or lain in the grass and cleared it a bit. We don't use this as often just because it is a slightly longer walk to the cars.
Sometimes this is preferable to the runway if the wind is strong.
Flights |
- Long evening flights are typical in the spring-fall.
- The training hill above the runway continues to be used by a school for training in the morning. Please be considerate of their operations if landing nearby.
- This site works in WNW-SSW winds. Best is W-SW as the BR meter reads.
- Hike to the upper launch when the wind is calm at the bottom and use the lower launch if you feel a good breeze while hiking up. Either way, you'll rise quickly after launch.
- Please be considerate -- don't monopolize the ridge -- land and let others fly if it gets crowded.
- Keep your head on a swivel. There are some pilots that don't know/don't care about the right of way rules for whatever reason.
- Typical flights include the main ridge, and in south conditions go pretty far down to the golf course/park area.
- Crossing from the main ridge to the "castles" is usually the move for people thermalling or just trying to push their flight a bit. If you sink out on the way over it can be easy to land almost anywhere. Watch for rocks and cardoons though.
Directions |
Take I-80 to the "Napa-37/Columbus Drive" exit in Vallejo. Proceed East on Columbus Drive for a little over a mile. The ridge will be on your left.
Weather |
There is a wind meter on top of the ridge hidden in the tree line. This is the best indicator of wind at ridge height since it is literally on the ridge. Look for WNW-SW, averaging 8-15 mph and gusting less than +4 mph. Winds stronger than 18mph in any direction tend to make the landing areas pretty turbulent.
Other wind meters for the area:
Sandy Beach: https://tempestwx.com/station/103812/
Channing West: https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCABENIC82
Dashboard for live aggregate wind data and a flyability measure: https://grafana.ethereal.net/d/vb
Other wind meters for the area:
Sandy Beach: https://tempestwx.com/station/103812/
Channing West: https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCABENIC82
Dashboard for live aggregate wind data and a flyability measure: https://grafana.ethereal.net/d/vb
Photo Video & Track Links |
April 2011 7 wings in fat air
09/17/2009 Ron Lee's video (Joel circling after glass-off and landing into the sunset)
09/16/2009 Steve Maher's photos (from upper launch, at sunset)
09/09/2009 Steve Maher's video
09/03/2009 Joel McMinn and Chris Robbins (landing)
09/02/2009 Ron Lee (flying into the sunset)
08/30/2009 Joel McMinn (flying low in the afternoon)
08/30/2009 WHACK
07/21/2009 Joel McMinn (flying tandem with Shane McAffee, Ron and Rob)
07/21/2009 Video (Joel McMinn and Mike flying)
05/17/2009 Sati Shaw's video (light breeze, with wings clinging to the ridge)
05/10/2009 Joe Cruz's video (Joe Cruz and Chris Robbins' flights)
05/10/2009 Chris Robbins' flight track
05/10/2009 Joy Black's photos
05/06/2009 Ron Lee's photos (as the moon rose over the ridge)
05/06/2009 Chris Robbins' first flight track
04/26/2009 Joe Cruz's photos and videos (and a photo of his XC at Cronnin Ridge, near Placerville, on 04/25/2009)
09/17/2009 Ron Lee's video (Joel circling after glass-off and landing into the sunset)
09/16/2009 Steve Maher's photos (from upper launch, at sunset)
09/09/2009 Steve Maher's video
09/03/2009 Joel McMinn and Chris Robbins (landing)
09/02/2009 Ron Lee (flying into the sunset)
08/30/2009 Joel McMinn (flying low in the afternoon)
08/30/2009 WHACK
07/21/2009 Joel McMinn (flying tandem with Shane McAffee, Ron and Rob)
07/21/2009 Video (Joel McMinn and Mike flying)
05/17/2009 Sati Shaw's video (light breeze, with wings clinging to the ridge)
05/10/2009 Joe Cruz's video (Joe Cruz and Chris Robbins' flights)
05/10/2009 Chris Robbins' flight track
05/10/2009 Joy Black's photos
05/06/2009 Ron Lee's photos (as the moon rose over the ridge)
05/06/2009 Chris Robbins' first flight track
04/26/2009 Joe Cruz's photos and videos (and a photo of his XC at Cronnin Ridge, near Placerville, on 04/25/2009)