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Map of Goat Rock and Vista Point (launch at each marked with a green dot).
map © Delorme, Topo USA 2.0
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A view of Launch (in front of the parking lot) and the cliff face looking south. Peaked Hill marks the southern end of the cliff face we soar.
If you can't stand a tilted horizon, try this enlargement.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, June 1986
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Goat Launch.
John Blacet checks the wind speed while Kurt Bainum looks on. Scot Huber's aready in the air on his
hang glider, along with Justin Miller on his paraglider
Camera is facing north.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, 2002
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Looking to the west, you see Bill Vogel soaring Goat Rock itself.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, June 1986
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Looking north, you see the LZ, on the beach in front of the parking lot, and the mouth of the Russian River beyond. In the far distance you can see "the grade". Vista Point is at the near end of Meyers Grade.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, June 1986
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Here's another shot looking north. Leo took this one from the south end of the cliff, at Peaked Hill. You can see Goat Rock, the setup/launch area, the LZ, and in the distance at the very edge of the photo, Vista Point / Meyers Grade.
Photo © Leo Jones, Jan. 1997
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Another view from Peaked Hill.
John Blacet is between Peaked Hill and Blind Beach parking lot/trail.
This enlargement has a level horizon.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, Feb. 2002
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Bob Storms on his way to a beach landing.
When you land on the beach to the south of Goat Rock, you have a bit of a hike out, especially since the storms of 1998 knocked out access to the parking lot behind Goat Rock.
Photo © Leo Jones, Feb. 1999
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The breakdown area.
After landing, at the usual spot next to the parking lot, you
walk your glider across the road to a nice
grassy breakdown area.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, Feb. 2002
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More Goat Rock photos.
Three photos by Robert Janover that show Goat rock from a different perspective.
Photo © Robert Janover
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Vista Point flight entries from Andy Long's log book.
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Vista Point Launch.
The parking lot is at the left of the photo. You'll have to hike your glider up the foot path, to the T/O area so that you're out of sight of the highway.
The L/Z is behind the T/O. There's a bail-out further down the slope off the bottom-right of the photo. You MUST top-land here!
Photo © Charley Warren
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Vista Point Launch - up close.
A lot of time is spent on launch waiting for the wind to come in from the right direction (SW) and at the right speed (15-25 MPH).
While waiting, looking for whales on their twice-yearly migration helps pass the time. Albert, Leo, and Donna show how it's done.
Notice Goat Rock in the distance.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, Feb. 2000
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Vista Point Launch - from the air.
One glider is taking off. Another is in the air in front of the camera.
Photo © Andy Long, Feb. 2001
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Vista Point Launch - the big picture.
You can see a glider parked in the T/O area. If you sink below launch, the only bailout is the lower portion of the ridge, off to the right. To the south you can see the mouth of the Russian River and Goat Rock. Above T/O you can make out another glider, at the apparent edge of the cloud.
Photo © Leo Jones
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3000 ft. above Launch.
This photo is similar to the previous one, with Launch in the foreground and Goat Rock in the background.
Photo © Andy Long, Feb. 2001
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3000 ft. above Launch.
Here you're looking north, up the ridge. The switch-backs coming up from Russian Gulch are in the foreground.
Photo © Andy Long, Feb. 2001
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Vista Point, looking north from T/O.
Hwy 1 heads north along the face, towards Fort Ross. Meyers Grade Rd. climbs the ridge. The Takeoff / LZ is off the bottom-right of the photo.
Lots of car commercials are filmed along this scenic road.
Notice that there are NO beach landings here!
Photo © Leo Jones, Feb. 1998
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Vista Point, looking south.
The T/O / L/Z is about in the middle of the photo. You can see Goat Rock in the distance.
Photo © Charley Warren
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Vista Point, looking north.
This shot was taken from the same vantage point as the one above. You can land at the north end of the ridge if you're too low to make it back to the T/O.
Photo © Charley Warren
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Vista Point, looking south.
In this photo you can see Myers grade road on the left.
Can you see the other hang glider to the left of Andy's wing tip?
Photo © Andy Long, Feb. 2001
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Vista Point, looking south.
Here Charley is at the north end of the ridge.
Photo © Charley Warren
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Heading North.
Leo passes over a bailout as he approaches the north end of the ridge.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, Mar. 2004
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At the North end of the ridge.
Leo working his way up at the north end of the ridge.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, Mar. 2004
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Approaching Ft. Ross
Ft. Ross, and points north are visible as Ernie flies north.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, Mar. 2004
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Fort Ross.
This is about as far north as we've gone.
Photo © Andy Long, Feb. 2001
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Looking South from above Fort Ross.
You can see the entire length of the ridge.
Photo © Andy Long, Feb. 2001
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Vista Point.
And, once you've flown here, you'll have an expression like Charley's too!
Photo © Charley Warren
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