|
|
|
|
Mt. Tamalpais
The Marin County Hang Gliding Association (MCHGA) and The Bay Area Paragliding Association (BAPA) are designated by the State of California and the County of Marin Department of Parks and Recreation, through special use permits, to administer hang/paragliding activities on Mt. Tam. Mt. Tam is located north of San Francisco, between Mill Valley and Stinson Beach. There are three launches facing south to northwest (~2000 ft. MSL). The landing zone is near the north end of Stinson Beach. Check a tide table for high tides; especially during the winter and spring. The best season for Mt. Tam is during winter and spring as the storms bring instability for good soaring conditions. The conditions can become extreme due to the Pacific to the west and the Delta to the east. WARNING: Funnel clouds and associated systems have developed rapidly after what seemed to be good starting conditions. Mt.
Tamalpais Paragliding Rules and Policies (9/99) The
State of California and the County of Marin Departments of Parks and Recreation
designate the Bay Area Paragliding Association (BAPA) through special use
permits to administer paragliding activities on Mt.
Tamalpais. Each pilot flying
this site is expected to uphold and enforce the flying rules established for the
site. Any pilot errors made while
flying, such as endangering other pilots, spectators or destruction of
government or private property, could result in the revocation of the County or
State use permits, with consequent loss of Mt.
Tamalpais as a flying site. 1. Pilot Qualifications a.
All pilots must be current members of the United States Hang Gliding
Association (USHGA). b.
Pilots must possess a minimum of a USHGA advanced rating (Para IV) or a
USHGA intermediate rating (Para III) and be sponsored and accompanied by a BAPA
approved advanced rated pilot, unless the intermediate pilot has successfully
completed the prerequisite requirements and has been issued a Mt. Tamalpais
sticker. c.
Pilots must have a current Mt. Tamalpais sticker attached to the left
side of their helmets in order to fly from Mt Tamalpais.
The purpose of the helmet sticker is to identify qualified pilots to park
authorities and other pilots. Sponsored
pilots must carry a sponsor card obtained from their sponsor. Stickers
may be obtained in person. To
obtain a sticker a pilot must: 1)
Present a current USHGA advanced rating membership card. 2)
Complete and sign an application form. 3)
Read the Mt. Tamalpais Paragliding Rules and Policies. In
addition to the helmet sticker, pilots will receive a copy of the rules. Helmet
stickers are available from the BAPA Mt. Tamalpais site director. d.
All pilots must fly with a reserve parachute. e.
Sponsors must be USHGA advanced rated pilots and obtain a sticker sign
off from the BAPA Mt. Tamalpais site director. They must be present with the
sponsored pilots. The sponsor will review the rules for flying Mt. Tamalpais
with the intermediate pilots. The
sponsor will show the intermediate pilot the landing zone. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to judge the conditions
and make the decision to fly. The
site director can revoke sponsorship rights for any negligence of the Mt.
Tamalpais rules as determined by the park authorities or BAPA officers.
This may result in the loss of the sponsor’s own flying privileges on
Mt. Tam. f.
Intermediate (Para III) pilots may fly unsponsored
if and only if they have met the following requirements and have been issued a
Mt. Tamalpais sticker. 1)
They
have completed at least five sponsored flights, on five different days, all
without accidents or incidents and all ending in the designated landing area. 2) Prior to each of these flights they have briefed their sponsor as to their choice of launch and flight plan and the reasons for these choices, and they have executed their flight plans to the satisfaction of their sponsor. 3)
They have completed and signed the
Para III sticker application form, including sponsor(s) signoffs for each
qualifying flight, and submitted it to an authorized sticker-issuing agency. 2. Before Flying
Pilots must fill out a registration card (once yearly) and sign in at the Pan
Toll Ranger Station (once daily). Maps of the launch and the landing zone will
be available at the ranger station. 3.
Launching a.
There are three designated take-off sites on Mt. Tamalpais, shown on the
attached map as #1, #2 and #3. All
launches must be made from these sites. b.
Only one pilot launching and one setting up are permitted on each site. c.
There is to be no flying when winds exceed 15
m.p.h. at the launch site. d.
A pilot familiar with the site must accompany pilots
flying the site for the first time. 4.
Flying a.
The Restricted Flying Area,
indicated on the attached map, must be observed!
Do not fly over the town of Stinson Beach. b.
There is to be no flying when the beach is not visible from the take off,
or when the cloud ceiling is dangerously low. c.
There is to be no flying when the landing zone is crowded with people,
which is usually at the discretion of a State Park Ranger. d.
Motorized Paragliding is
forbidden. e.
No glider shall be flown in any manner, which intentionally exceeds its
manufacturer's maximum recommended limits (wing placard).
a.
The landing zone is on the beach at Walla Vista, as indicated on the
attached map. All landings must be
made in the Designated Landing Zone.
When working off excess altitude, work down over the beach or water, not directly over the houses along the beach. b.
The first pilot to land in a group should keep the landing zone clear of
spectators for the rest of the group. It
is the responsibility of the pilots to avoid the people using the beach. c.
Pilots must fold their canopies immediately after landing and clear the
landing zone. d.
Pilots must walk to their vehicles via the Walla Vista public access.
All other roads in the area are private roads and are not to be used. Drivers
should park in the area indicated on the attached map. 6.
Pilots Responsibilities
a.
Pilots
must comply with all State Park and County Beach regulations governing visitor
use (parking, littering, overnight camping, etc.). b.
Safety:
Pilots are responsible for their own safety and the safety of other
pilots and spectators. Each pilot
is ultimately responsible for avoiding people in the landing area. c.
Judgment:
Good judgment is a necessary part of aviation.
It requires a thorough knowledge of the limitations of your aircraft,
your abilities and the prevailing conditions (such as sufficient altitude
and penetration to cross the
houses, etc., and whether the landing zone is dangerously crowded). When
deciding if you are going to fly, take all things into consideration. d.
Self-Regulation:
It is each pilot's
responsibility to uphold and enforce these rules and to cooperate with the Park Rangers.
A pilot observing another pilot in violation of these rules is obliged
to enforce the rules as follows: 1)
Explain to the pilot that (s)he is in violation of the rules; request
compliance. 2)
If unsuccessful in gaining compliance, politely inform the pilot that you
are obligated to report him/her to a Park Ranger if the violation continues. 3)
Report the pilot to any Park Ranger.
Contact the site director and make a verbal report. A
pilot violating the rules or witnessing a violation without intervention will: Be
issued a citation by the Park Rangers. Be
subject to revocation of his/her flying privileges at all sites regulated by
BAPA. Risk
losing his/her flying privileges at other USHGA regulated sites. Risk
losing his/her USHGA rating. 7.
Site Advisories a.
In the winter months, high tides can completely cover the landing zone. b.
On hot summer days, the landing zone may be extremely crowded. It always
looks less, crowded from the mountain than when you arrive over the beach. It's
a good idea to check the landing area with binoculars if you have them. c.
Post-frontal conditions can be extremely turbulent, especially in the
canyons when the prevailing winds are more northerly. d.
There are often light winds on the mountain, but there may be strong
dense laminar marine winds near
the beach. These winds commonly
reach 25 knots. (29m.p.h.), about the top speed of most paragliders. Always
check the wind signs on the ocean and lagoon before launching and during flight. e.
This site is a long glide to the LZ, especially from launches #1 and #2.
Always leave the mountain early allowing plenty of altitude to reach the beach.
One should plan on having at lease 500’ left when arriving over the
beach in order to allow for errors in judgment and unexpected marine winds.
Older canopies may not have the glide ratio to make it over the houses from
launch #3 and should not be flown from launches #1 and #2. f.
Advisories for launch #2:
This launch works when it is blowing over the back at launch #3,
however if the wind will almost always come up at this launch even if it is
strong over the back. If one
launches in these conditions (s)he will encounter strong turbulence and sink
through the canyons and finally a headwind across the mesa. You
will not make the LZ in these conditions!
It is a good idea to drive to launch #3 first to check out the
"true" wind before using this launch. g.
Advisories for launch #1: This
launch is best when the winds are southerly, but is a very
long glide to the LZ otherwise.
In prefrontal conditions it can be soarable but often the ceiling lowers
and the wind gets strong as the front approaches. 8.
Emergency Assistance On the mountain, stop
any State Ranger vehicle for assistance or contact the Pan Toll Ranger Station
at 415.388.2070. There is a public
telephone there also. On the beach
use the Stinson Beach Fire Department emergency number, 415.868.1616.
Bay
Area Paragliding Association, P.
0. Box 1809 |
|
Home About Zephyr New & Visiting Pilot Info Useful Info For All Pilots PG & HG Flying Sites Our On-Line Magazine Links Guide To Our Website Kim
Galvin |
Mt. Tamalpais (Mt. Tam) is one of the most scenic mountain sites in
California. It is has unobstructed panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, San
Francisco, and the Bay and Delta waters. There are many popular hiking trails
all around the mountain, and Stinson Beach is below.
5.
Please
remember that flying Mt. Tamalpais is our privilege - not our right. Use
common sense and sound judgment. Fly safe!
USHPA Advanced Paragliding
Instructor & Observer