Décollage – Kernville Slabs
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- Direction
- NNEESESSOONO
- Coordonnées
- 35.8172, -118.4540
- Altitude
- 1051 m
- Région
- California, US
- Atterrissage
- à 0.5 km du décollageVoir sur la carte ↗
Description du décollage
From the campground underneath the Kernville slabs start hiking up for about 20 or 30 minutes until you find away around all the bluffs. This may require some minor scrambling, watch out for critters like snakes and skunks, I saw both up there. Once you get above the slabs you'll come to easier grassier terrain. Launch is quite wind sheltered and very misgiving as to actual conditions. One launch is to head WNW, you will probably have to run for quite a bit and then dodge a few trees on your way out. I had to get rid of a smaller bush the first time I was there as it was right in the way. There is lots of sticks and debris around so do your best to keep your lines clear. It took me a few tries to launch here due to high wind shadowing from trees in front. Also the conditions felt almost lee side or catabatic as cycles seemed to be getting weaker and less frequent and even flipping my leading edge over once as I waited. Regardless, conditions in the air were quite the opposite.
Accès
Head to Kernville and then head North along the Kern river. There are several campsites along here. We camped at the one beneath one of the main rock climbing cracks that is an area classic.
Météo
High winds during the middle of the day. Even during the evening it was quite gusty with some moderate amounts of turbulence. This ain't your local coastal ridge soaring site!
Réglementation / espace aérien
None that I know of
Commentaires
This is a pretty sweet ridge soaring site and I bet there could be some XC potential if you launched earlier in the afternoon or in the morning. The middle of the day is not advised due to strong winds. I flew right before sunset and was only expecting a sled ride but as I cleared the bluffs I instantly hit some amazing lift that allowed me to cruise the ridge there till after sunset. In fact I believe this was my first experience with true glass-off as I was able to fly far over the river to the West and still maintain altitude with no problem. The only reason I came down was due to fading light. I was able to bench about halfway up the ridge but couldn't make it any higher then that. Flying earlier may allow for thermals and XC flying. When I fly again I'll post more info.