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USAGE: Hang gliders - All launches. Paragliders - not recommended, but can launch from Timberline Rigid wings - Timberline, foot launch. There is an airstrip that has been used for truck tow and aero tow but check with the USFS first.

SEASON: Opens when the snow melts, usually in April or May, closes when sled rides predominate in late October or November.

REQUIREMENTS: Good judgement is required. There are no stickers or ratings required to fly at Hull. Hang IIs should be accompanied by instructors or guides, and fly early or late.   Hang III is adequate for most summer conditions. XC from here takes Hang IV skill.

HWY. DIRECTIONS: Hwy. 101 north past Ukiah. Hwy. 20 east past Lake Mendocino. Turn left at Potter Valley Exit. In Potter Valley, turn right at store. At top of grade, turn right, down to river. After crossing Eel River, turn right onto county oiled dirt road and go 9 miles to Soda Creek Store. Turn left at store, climb hill, take right fork (straight ahead) down to lake. Cross airstrip, pass by Navy Camp and Oak Flat. Take last right before trees end, onto dirt road to LZ next to lake.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO LAUNCH: From the LZ turn right onto M1 (the main road that crosses the airstrip). Head east, past the road to Sunset Campground and climb the mountain. At the first real intersection, turn left and go up Boardman Ridge (M1 still). You will pass Timberline and Lower launches. Stop at Timberline if you like, or continue to the top. The turn-off to the peak is obvious.

PARKING: Room for 10 vehicles at Timberline, 10 on top, but it's a big mountain.

SETUP: Room for 50 gliders at Timberline, 10 or so on top, depending on launch.

ELEVATION: LZ - 1800'.   Timberline - 5800'.   Hull peak - 6800'.

FIRST TIME PILOTS: This site is a great place to gain altitude and thermalling skills. But, you must keep safety uppermost in your mind. Before flying Hull for the first time, read this page thoroughly. Print it out and bring it with you to Hull.
If you are a Hang 2 or Hang 3 pilot, read the
First Flight Requirements and Procedures at Hull Mountain for H-2 and H-3 Pilots page.
Print it out and bring it with you too.

LAUNCH:
Timberline (main launch) - faces SSW, nice slope, 4000 vertical.
Top Launches - Rockpile faces SW, steep, nice setup area. The Propane Tank (tank is gone) faces SE, good for morning launches, very steep - be careful on this launch.   All top launches 5000 vertical.
Lower Takeoff - should be used only in special circumstances involving large groups of people. It does have a fair SE launch.

WINDS: South to west best (southwest most common). Northeast to northwest possible, north impossible.   Winds should not be very strong.

HAZARDS: Long glide out, pilot must follow ridges and allow for sink. Typical mountain big air and rowdiness. 5-to-1 to the first good LZ, 6-to-1 to the primary LZ. Sometimes there is a strong lake breeze (over 20 mph). Gravelly Valley airstrip gets busy occasionally. Avoid it if you can. Paragliding not recommended because of long glide out to nearest LZ. The thermals can get very rough, especially in August. The strong lake breeze can be a hazard if you get really low on the way out. Forest fires bring out borate bombers and big helicopters. Forest service really doesn't like gliders in the air during fires or fire-fighting. There are often strong SW winds below 500 AGL in the LZ. You can land anywhere in the huge grassy strip (the slot) if you're short, but it will often be turbulent if you're behind the trees.

FLYING: Thermal flying, 10,000 feet MSL common, 12,000 feet MSL is exceptional. House thermals are the Peak, Lower Launch, Red Spot, and the House. XC is unusual here; just boat around.

RESTRICTIONS: Floor of controlled airspace, 9500 over launch, 8500 over the lake. In Maxwell 2 MOA, floor 11,000 weekdays, closed weekends.

LANDING: Best to land by the lake at about 1800 MSL. The lake shore is a wide, flat, grassy area. In the spring the lake water can come up to the tree line, forcing you to land further back in the "slot" toward the road. The high water leaves behind lots of drift wood. Watch for it on final. By mid-summer the main LZ target circle is dry and clear of driftwood. With the afternoon lake breeze, many pilots tend to land short of the spot. Watch for rotors generated by trees (one in particular) on the approach through the slot. Don't land on the airstrip itself if you can at all help it. Power pilots use it often enough, and final approach can be a bumpy rodeo ride because of thermals. If you can't make it to the lake, it's OK to land south of the airstrip in the vicinity of the windsock.

FACILITIES:
Developed campgrounds: Fuller Grove, Pogie Point, Navy Camp, Sunset. Restrooms, picnic tables, fire pits, water, paved roadways. Boat ramps at Fuller Grove and Sunset. Swiming, boating, fishing, sailboarding on the lake.
Undeveloped (free) campground: Oak Flat. Restroom, no paved road, no water, limited number of camp sites.
Resort: Pillsbury Resort is on the west side of the lake, accessed via the road to the west of Soda Creek store. Cabins, groceries, boat dock, boat gas.
Soda Creek store has basic groceries, ice, vehicle gas, phone.

GENERAL: Launch is on USFS land (Mendocino National Forest), LZ is private PG&E land. Sonoma Wings chapter #88 keeps in touch with the Rangers on an irregular basis. Radio: 2M simplex - 147.495

Hull is a great place to fly in the summer. It is soarable almost every day. The lake is very nice for swimming, but the wind may get strong in the afternoon in the LZ. This is a very good vacation destination, although crowded on Memorial Day and the 4th. XC out of here is very difficult because of the strong winds blowing up the Eel River from the south, and the near total lack of LZs of any kind over the back. It's a big mountain, 5,000' high, six miles to the lake.

EMERGENCY:
Willits Repeater - 145.130, offset -600kHz, CTCSS tone 103.5. Key 911 to access emergency services. End call with your call sign and # key.
Soda Creek Store - 707-743-2148

RECORDS: The first pilots to fly Hull were Dave Mason (who discovered the site), Glen Woodbury, Ric Lee, and Wally Anderson, in the spring of 1975.
First flight to Elk: Stretch Strachan, 8-7-82, 17 miles.
First flight to Potter Valley: Sharol Strickland, 6-5-83, 17 miles.
First flight to Central Valley: Dave Thor, to Elk Creek, 84(?)
First flight to Willits: Joe Baltz.
Longest flight: Rich Sauer, 67 miles to Pope Valley, 85(?).
Highest altitude, Roy Wormington, 16,000 MSL, 8-30-87.

As with every new site, PLEASE check in and get advice about the conditions from a local pilot before flying here. Most weekends during the summer you'll find anywhere from a few pilots to 30 or more. There are no site monitors, but the following pilots know the site well.

Jon James 707-823-9743
John Blacet 707-869-9164
Leo Jones 707-537-1913
Charley Warren 707-527-8091

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