Elk Mountain
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Map of Elk Mt.
North side launch, south side launch and the main LZ at Middle Creek Campground are marked with green dots. Most XC routes go south toward Clear Lake.
The alternate LZ is at the bottom of the map, in the creek bed where it is labeled "Plank Cabin Spring".
A dirt road crosses the creek here heading up Pitney Ridge, past Twin Knobs.
Do NOT land in this alternate LZ area. A landowner has put up power lines across the creek and other obstructions in the creekbed. Please refer to the Google Earth placemarks (on the site page for Elk) to see where creekbed obstructions are located (mainly power lines)
map © Delorme, Topo USA 2.0
Map, looking south, showing XC routes from Elk.
Most XC attempts go around the east side of Clear Lake (to the left). Flights to Middletown have been made around the west side of the Lake.
map © Delorme, Topo USA 2.0
Landing Area restrictions for Elk Mt.
There is one property, on the west side of Clear Lake, where you are NOT TO LAND.
Please respect the landowner's wishes. If you land here, you may be cited for trespassing. You have been warned.
Here is a set of maps and photos showing the DO NOT LAND field.
images © Delorme, Topo USA, Keyhole
Looking North at Elk Mtn.
Both launches and the main LZ at Middle Creek Campground can be seen.
In a northerly wind we like to land further down the creek to escape the rotor-y nastyness in the main LZ.
One alternate LZ has been the creek bed at the lower-right corner of the photo.
Do NOT land in this area. A landowner has put up power lines across the creek and other obstructions in the creekbed. Please refer to the Google Earth placemarks (on the site page for Elk) to see where creekbed obstructions are located (mainly power lines)
Photo © Vince Endter (photo from plane)
South launch parking area.
BAPA (Bay Area Paragliding Assn.) members ham it up.
In the background, Nancy Ferguson passes the time spinning yarn while Rich Sauer contemplates his flight plan.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
South launch setup area.
Take off area is to the right. The LZ is hidden behind Rob Blazer's glider.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
South launch takeoff area.
You can see why this launch is popular with PG pilots.
Hang gliders launch higher up, closer to the road at the tree line.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
South launch takeoff.
A tandem PG takes off.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March, 2002
South launch takeoff.
Kurt's ready for takoff and Ernie waits his turn.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March, 2002
South launch takeoff.
Vince Endter and his WW Super Sport are off. Camera is facing West.
Here's Vince's report on this flight.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
Rich Sauer ridge soars as he gets into his Carbon CG harness.
Camera is facing West. You can see the west knob at the end of the ridge. The North Launch is on the ridge-top road at the right of the photo.
Two other gliders are visible, fuzzily.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
A Paraglider climbs out.
Camera is facing South. You can see Clear Lake in the lower-left of the photo.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
North Launch.
Parking / Setup area along the ridge top.
Vince is ready for takeoff. Nancy, Tom, Roy & Bill look on.
Camera is facing East.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, April 1, 2000
North Launch.
Vince is in the slot.
Tom, Roy, Scot & Nancy are in the background. Middle creek and Clear Lake can be seen in the distance. The LZ is hidden behind Scot's glider.
Camera is facing SW.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, April 1, 2000
North Launch.
Bill Vogel, getting airborne.
Camera is facing North.
Photo © Nancy Ferguson, April 1, 2000
North Launch.
Scot Huber, working his way toward the point of the ridge.
Camera is facing North. Horse Mt. is in the background.
Here it is, the beginning of spring, and already the air is filled with smoke from wild fires.
Vince's report on this day's flying.
Photo © Nancy Ferguson, April 1, 2000
North Launch, as seen from the air.
Camera is facing South. Clear Lake is in the background.
Photo © Rich Sauer, 2002
South and North Launches.
Camera is facing South.
You can see 5 hang gliders and one paraglider in the air, and a truck parked at the south launch.
The LZ is above the upper-right corner of the photo.
Photo © Rich Sauer, 2002
Looking East at Elk Mtn.
Elk Mtn. is in the lower right corner of the photo. Snow Mt. (aptly named) is in the right-rear.
Rich Sauer, Albert Branson, and Bill Vogel are soaring to the N of launch, between it and Horse Mt.
Here's Vince's story about this flight.
Photo © Vince Endter, March 19, 2000
Looking South at Elk LZ and Middle Creek.
Elk Mtn. launch is off the left side of the photo. The ridge on the left is Pitney. The ridge on the right is Middle Mountain. The town of Upper Lake and Clear Lake are in the distance.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March 25, 2000
Looking North at Horse Mtn. and Lake Pillsbury.
This photo was taken from the same spot as the previous one, at 5000 ft. MSL, to the NW of Elk T/O. You can see Hull Mtn. in the distance, still covered in snow. We won't be able to fly there for another couple of months.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March 25, 2000
North of Horse Mtn., at about 9000ft., looking South.
Horse Mtn, Elk Mtn., Pitney Ridge, Middle Mtn. and Clear Lake are visible. Forest fires in the area are causing the smoke.
Here's Ralph's story about this flight.
Photo © Ralph Hyde, August, 29, 1987
Later in the same flight, Ralph is above the LZ, on his way to Lakeport.
Middle Mtn. comes in from the bottom right corner.
Ralph is at about 10,500 ft. here.
Photo © Ralph Hyde, August, 29, 1987
Rich Sauer going around the west side of Clear Lake
Here he's about half way between Middle Mt. and Lakeport.
The nose of his glider points back towards Elk Mt.
Photo © Rich Sauer, Sept. 24, 2000
Middle Creek Campground, the LZ.
Both the main LZ and the alternate LZ are marked. Actually, anywhere in the creek can
be used to land, and pretty much is, depending on the wind direction. You must know where the power
lines are before you fly!
The campsites are in the trees along the road to the right of the LZ.
Do NOT land in what used to be the alternate LZ. A landowner has put up power lines across the creek and other obstructions in the creekbed. Please refer to the Google Earth placemarks (on the site page for Elk) to see where creekbed obstructions are located (mainly power lines)
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March 25, 2000
The primary LZ, creekbed portion.
This campground is popular with, and caters to, dirt bike riders. You have to watch out for them as you come in.
This LZ has given many pilots their most-memorable approaches. In a northerly wind, or on a hot day, getting down can be a hand full.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
Main LZ, parking / PG breakdown area.
You can see the camp sites in the background. Both PG & HG land in the creek bed, behind the camera position. HG's also land in the motorcycle "kiddie" area off to the left of this photo. The fence that makes a nice bench here has been lowered to ground level in the HG landing approach path (where the people are standing at left of previous photo.
Photo © Kim Galvin, March 25, 2000
Main LZ, parking area.
The south launch can be seen in the background.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March, 2002
Main LZ, Creekbed.
The wind is coming up the creek so Charley sets up in the creekbed.
Charley is flying a Fusion. The parked glider is a Laminar.
Photo © Ernie Camacho, March, 2002
Chris Arai coming in for a landing at the main LZ, over the creek.
The alternate LZ is visible under Chris' control bar. It's the creek bed heading downstream behind the knob Chris' keel is pointing at.
Photo © Leo Jones, March 1999
