St Nicholas valley

St Nicholas valley is a coastal hill site in the Philippines, first flown in 2015 and well liked by the pilots who have been since. The launch that matters is the third and highest dome, at around 180 m: the ones before it give a misleading read on the wind, and the slopes around them are very steep. Just past the summit there is a dome with a gentler slope, and that is the one to use — it gives enough room to launch safely whatever your experience. It works through a wide arc from north round to northwest, with thermals and soaring both on offer, and there is no shortage of places to put down. As at Philippine sites generally, the advice from people who fly here is to travel with two wings, a normal one and something smaller.

Launch & conditions

Walk past the first two domes — the wind direction they show does not reflect what is actually happening — and continue to the third and highest at about 180 m. Just after the summit a gentler-sloped dome gives a safe launch for any level, while the surrounding slopes are very steep. In a genuine westerly the site works thermically, but the takeoff on the next hill is the better choice.

Getting there & local rules

Take the road towards St Nicholas. About 500 m before the village there is a bridge; 30 m before it, turn left onto a small path, park 150 m further along, and climb the mountain through the grass.

Local rules & hazards

There is an airport in the transverse valley beyond the western range, handling a handful of airline flights a day. The traffic does not come near the mountain, but treat that as a reason for care rather than comfort — there is no room here for an airmiss. The main landing is directly below the takeoff. Take care before landing out: a single line of trees can be surprisingly impassable.

Check conditions before you fly

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