Parapente Daniels Mountain, VA

Daniels Mountain, located near Stanardsville, Virginia, offers a paragliding experience with a vertical drop of 880 feet (500 meters) and a horizontal distance of 275 meters. This site is regularly used and provides good thermalling opportunities for cross-country flights. Access to the launch site requires a 4WD vehicle, and it's crucial to obey local rules and be cautious of the nearby power line. The site faces SSW and is not suitable for west crosswinds. It features a grassy, steep slope launch in a narrow slot and a large, sloping grass field for landing. The launch coordinates are 38.31077, -78.51204, and the LZ parking coordinates are 38.299948249707164, -78.51085605917102. The launch is owned by the Flying Pigs Land Trust, managed by Roger Ritenour, and the LZ is owned by Wayne Powell. Pilots need a minimum rating of P2/H2 to fly here. The site is flyable from SW to SSE (185-210 degrees) with wind speeds for paragliders ranging from 5-7 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Hang gliders can handle winds from 5-10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. The glide slope to the LZ is approximately 4.6:1 over a distance of about 0.7 miles. The site is soarable with both ridge and thermal lift. However, spring conditions can bring strong, narrow thermals and significant sink, so pilots should ensure they have enough margin to clear the trees when landing. USHPA and CHGPA memberships are required, and new or visiting pilots must receive an in-person site briefing and walk the LZ to understand the preferred landing approach. Only 4WD vehicles are allowed on the gravel road (Old Mountain Rd) leading to the launch. It's important to drive slowly and avoid parking on or beside the gravel road to prevent damage and avoid conflicts with neighbors. Emergency help can be reached by calling 911 or the University of Virginia at (540) 924-2231. For more information, you can visit the Shenandoah Paragliding Facebook page or the CHGPA website. Useful Links: - [Shenandoah Paragliding Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/shenandoahparagliding/) - [CHGPA Weather and Site Info](https://chgpa.org/weather-and-site-info/) - [Daniels Mountain XC Info](https://www.wilderadventures.com/launch/1161/daniels-mt-stanardsville) For video content related to Daniels Mountain, you can check out the following YouTube links: - [YouTube Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjRquM9TSWxEcfpigG0m3qjfykNzKT5Ul) - [Video 1]( ) - [Video 2]( ) - [Video 3]( )