Mont Adstock

Mont Adstock, in Quebec's Chaudière-Appalaches south-east of Thetford Mines, is a versatile winter-and-summer site with two launches — the wooden North platform and the natural south launch 'La Défi', each 305 m top-to-bottom. Very good XC potential runs towards Thetford Mines, still barely tapped. Flying here means dynamic and thermal soaring, and thanks to the two orientations you can work most wind directions. Fly the north launch on N wind (workable arc 330°–30°), and La Défi on S wind (workable arc 165°–210°). No windsocks at either launch, so bring your own read.

Launch & conditions

North launch: wooden platform, orientation 0° (workable 330°–30°), 35 m carry, no windsock, setup for 5 wings. South launch 'La Défi': natural surface, orientation 180° (workable 165°–210°), no carry, no windsock, setup for 10 wings — surface is uneven and doubles as a ski run in winter.

Getting there & local rules

Coordinates N 46°01'53'' O 71°11'25''. Exit 228 then Route 165 south to Black Lake; left to Thetford Mines. Or Exit 81 to Vallée-Jonction, then Route 112 west to Thetford Mines (or 112 east). From Thetford, take Route 267 south — Mont-Adstock is signed, 15 km from town. Landings: the mountain-end landing is a small field beside Route 267 — impeccable approaches only (small for a high-performance HG); parking is in the field along the public road. The golf-course landing is winter-only, subject to owner agreement, and has power lines around it — accessed from the ski station car park.

Local rules & hazards

Notify the Thetford Mines airport manager before flying. Anyone doing XC must hold the HAGAR certificate. Respect the landowner agreements at both landings — the small mountain-end field is only workable with clean approaches.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Mont Adstock, 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 Mont Adstock with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.