Parapente Pine Mountain training hill, 'upper launch'

Pine Mountain, located in Oregon, USA, offers a unique paragliding experience primarily suited for training and some thermal soaring. The site has a launch altitude of 1623 meters with a height difference of 170 meters. While it is regularly used for training, some cross-country (XC) flights are also possible. The region has two notable site records: one at 318.9 km and another at 64.7 km. These records highlight the potential for longer flights under the right conditions. For those interested in learning or improving their paragliding skills, Paraglide Oregon offers training and courses. You can find more information about their services on their website: [Paraglide Oregon](https://www.paraglideoregon.com/). The Mid Launch and Rock L, also known as "The Training Hill," are situated on a mix of public and private land. The area requires adherence to specific rules, including having a current USHPA membership and a P2 or higher rating, or P1 under direct supervision of an instructor. Mini-wing pilots need M1 or M2 special skills. The site is exclusively for paragliding; hang gliding and powered paragliding are not allowed. Key rules include: - Recreational flying only; no commercial instruction. - Dogs must be on a leash at all times. - No smoking, open fires, or BBQs; E-cigarettes/vaping are permitted. - No motorized vehicles off-road. - No drones allowed. - Speed limit on private property is 10 MPH. - Parking is only allowed along the Rock L, starting west of the pea gravel. The Rock L parking and landing area has three distinct zones: - Pea gravel: Mainly for folding gliders but can be used for landing if it's mostly open. - Parking: Inside the 'L' along the rock wall. - Landing zone: Cleared area north of the 'L' and west of the road, marked with orange traffic cones. Directions to the Mid Launch and Rock L area: From Millican, take the road marked towards the Pine Mountain Observatory. Drive to the 'Y' (a couple of miles from Hwy 20) and take the first major right turn. Follow the rocky road for less than a mile, then take the first left turn towards the mountain. You'll arrive at the Rock 'L' parking area, the preferred landing zone. From there, look across the road to see a trail leading up to the mid launch at 5000' and the upper launch at 5200'. The Mid Launch is most commonly used in the evening, especially during the last 2-3 hours before sunset. The site is ideal for evening flying when daytime conditions are blown out. Pilots typically hike up the hill (10-20 minutes) and wait for the air to smooth out. The launch faces NW, so N, W, or NW winds are good indicators for evening flights. On good nights, pilots can enjoy a couple of hours of flight and potentially bench up to the summit. The ideal wind direction is between 310-360 degrees. For more detailed information, you can refer to the [Google Document](https://docs.google.com/document/d/17eNwgcEzoAyrTJLESKELOqp9eNICrVljCQ-aHkrY4Gg/edit#heading=h.i43agkoapj20).