Map of St. John Mtn.
Green dots mark the main launch, Potato Hill (the paraglider launch), and the Dolphin LZ.
Take a trip along the North XC route or along the South XC route
Scot Huber's route north to Yreka through the mountains
map © Delorme, Topo USA 2.0
Landing Areas in Stonyford.
Red area is NO LANDINGS. Please respect the landowner's wishes. If you land here, you may be cited for trespassing. You have been warned.
Yellow areas: Land here only if you must. These are not regular LZ's, however the landowners are understanding.
The Dolphin is the designated LZ, next to the lake (East Park Res.).
Here is a complete set of Landing Area maps and photos.
map © Delorme, Topo USA 2.0
Setup area to the left of Launch.
There's more room behind launch and into the trees towards the road, enough for 25-30 gliders.
The launch ramp, after improvements in spring '98.
It is now longer and wider (and safer).
You can see the Boys Ranch / Potato Hill bailout at the top left of the photo (the bare patch).
In line for take-off.
Taken during the 1998 St. John meet in August.
photo © Albert Branson
Leo Jones with two steps left of his launch run. Your launches have to be spot on. There's no room for error since it's a long, flat glide out to the clear air.
photo © Albert Branson, 1998 St. John meet.
With a good run you're into the air before you get to the end of the ramp.
As you can see, if you mush your launch you'll be into the rocks pretty quickly.
The setup and launch area, as seen from east of launch.
You can see a couple of trucks parked in the shade by the road, and the launch ramp in the clear area to the left. Takeoff direction is to the south, towards the left edge of the picture.
Another view of launch from the air.
It's a bit hard to see, but in the middle of the picture you should notice the ramp, a couple of gliders in line for take-off, and about three other gliders in the setup area. The takeoff run is towards the bottom-left corner of the picture. The road snakes past launch up the ridge towards the secondary southwest-facing launch.
Looking north, back at launch and the peak.
Launch is at the top of the lower peak, beneath the glider.
The best bet for getting up is to turn left after launch and work the ridge (the switchbacks) all the way down until you have to bail. The switchbacks always seem to work.
The West Launch.
Camera is facing NE. The launch is directly below the vertical part of the pitot tube on Vince's wing. Launch direction is toward the camera. The Peak is at the left edge of photo.
photo © Vince Endter, June, 2000 (photo from plane)
The West Launch.
Here's a closer view of the launch - in the center of the photo. The launch run starts from the light-colored spot just this side of the bushes, heading straight toward the camera. Glider setup is along this side the road, and parking is along the far side of the road. Camera is facing NE.
photo © Vince Endter, June, 2000 (photo from plane)
The East Launch.
Launch is from the side of the road, along about the middle of the photo, with the launch run toward the bottom-left corner of the photo. The backside of the West launch is just off the right edge of this photo.
Camera is facing WSW. Snow mtn. is in the background. Don't land on Snow. It's a wilderness area - you'll have to hike out.
photo © Vince Endter, June, 2000 (photo from plane)
Leo Jones climbing out over the peak.
You can't see St. John in this shot, but you can see Hull Mt. in the background (the bare-looking peak just touching the horizon to the right of Leo) and Lake Pillsbury peeking in from the left side of the picture.
Only a few pilots have flown over this dinasaur country to Hull.
Camera is facing West.
Abreast of Elk Creek, heading north.
At this point you're about 15 miles north of T/O, with Sanhedrin Rd. (CR309), in the line of trees beyond the lake, your next decent landing area.
Panoramic view of the hills abreast of Elk Creek.
The camera is generally facing west. You can see the route from St. John to Red Mt. From Red, you go away from the hills and onto
the flats toward Paskenta.
photo © Ken Petlock, 2005
Looking southeast from launch towards Stonyford and the lake (East Park Reservoir). The closest bailout is by the "boys ranch" at the base of Potato Hill (bare spot at bottom right of photo). A glider is working the switchbacks. To get out to the valley, he'll have to get over Black Diamond Ridge (in line with his nose), then follow Stony Creek out. Once past the ridge, he can land at the "visitor center" (bare patch just above line of the ridge) or a few other bail-outs along the left of the road into Stonyford. Don't land on the right of the road.
Mr. Williams' field, the first bailout that's next to the road going to Stonyford.
It's a small field but you can make it. Robert Moore is already on the ground, parked under the trees. The next bailout down the road is the "bee field" - much bigger.
Stonyford, about 7 miles southeast of takeoff.
If you land here, use the field across from the grocery store. It's at the top-left of the street grid. Watch out for power lines.
The normal LZ is at the lake. Stonyford's main street points straight at it.
If you're going XC to the south, you'll have followed the hills showing under my keel toward Gilmore Peak and beyond.
One of the LZ's at the lake (East Park Reservoir).
You can see St. John Mtn. in the background, 11 miles away. To the left of it is Snow Mtn.
ALERT! As of 6/1/01 The Dolphin LZ (and all of
East Park Reservoir) is OFF LIMITS!
The county enacted a law prohibiting any flying activity over the
Bureau of Reclamation property, which includes the reservoir.
Do Not land at the Reservoir!
Sonoma Wings is working on this issue. We'll let you know if there
is any change.
Looking back at St. John from the "Dolphin" LZ.
The dark hill in the middle distance is Black Diamond (That's what we call it. My Delorme map calls it Auk Auk Ridge). Between it and St. John you can see Black Diamond Ridge. In the foreground is the bane of this place: star thistle and tar weed.
ALERT! As of 6/1/01 The Dolphin LZ (and all of
East Park Reservoir) is OFF LIMITS!
The county enacted a law prohibiting any flying activity over the
Bureau of Reclamation property, which includes the reservoir.
Do Not land at the Reservoir!
Sonoma Wings is working on this issue. We'll let you know if there
is any change.
photo © Leo Jones
Breaking down at the Dolphin LZ.
Jon James, Albert Branson, Leo Jones and their gliders.
photo © Jon James
The Sonoma Wings semi-official campsite at the lake.
The main LZ (the dolphin) is about 50 yds behind the camera, towards the mountain.
