Fly Hills north

Fly Hills North is a recently cleared (2012) launch on the Fly Hills logging road west of Salmon Arm, British Columbia — about 4,300 ft ASL. It complements the other Fly Hills launches (Luke's, Mid, Upper). Thermals are good directly out front, but a reliable line is to follow the road south for 5–6 km to two small aspen groves that are almost always working. On a typical flying day the valley winds run up the valley, so the LZ approach is usually from the south or south-west.

Launch & conditions

Small newly-cleared launch (fall 2012), around 4,300 ft ASL, on the Fly Hills logging road roughly at the 14 km marker. Thermals out front are good; a reliable line is to follow the road ~5–6 km south to the two small aspen groves that almost always work.

Getting there & local rules

Turn west off Highway 1 onto Salmon River Road (look for skidoo rec signs). About 3 km in, turn right onto Christionson Rd; keep left up to the Fly Hills logging road (km signs start at the cattle guard at the end of the pavement). At 1 km is the skidoo parking lot (Luke's launch is a 200–300-yard walk due east from the SE corner). Continue up to 7.5 km to a second parking lot, then take the SE trail to the carpeted Fly Hills North launch. Landing: 6820 30th Ave S.W. (about 1,100 ft ASL). Continue on Salmon River Rd past Christionson Rd about 2 km to 30th Ave on the right (just before the first river crossing); 6820 is 1 km down 30th on the left — log house with green tin roof. LZ is the field south of the house. Ratty windsock in the NE corner.

Local rules & hazards

If upper winds are from the W or NW, watch for rotor over the trees at the Fly Hills South launch — watch your ribbons. On a typical flying day, valley winds run up the valley — approach the LZ from the south or south-west.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Fly Hills north, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Fly Hills north with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.