Pulpit

Pulpit is a Mid-Atlantic ridge site in Maryland, owned and maintained by the local flying club CHGPA on a well-kept, gravel-covered slope with rocks below launch and elevated hang-glider ramps on either side. It has a strong reputation as a good site for a first cross-country flight, since there are plenty of landing zones stretched out behind the ridge. The site is sensitive to wind: it's never flown in a north cross due to rotor, gets blown out quickly once conditions pick up, and paraglider pilots generally hold off if surface wind is already over 7 mph, since it typically runs stronger — often past 15 mph — at launch itself. Flying cross-country from here means paying close attention to restricted airspace around Camp David, plus the Class D airspace at nearby Hagerstown and Martinsburg. Camping at the site is allowed, and pilots should check the local club's site guide before landing, since parts of the area sometimes close for crops.

Launch & conditions

The slope is well-maintained and gravel-covered, with rocks below launch and elevated hang-glider ramps on either side. It's never flown in a north cross due to rotor, and the site gets blown out quickly once it picks up — paragliders generally sit out anything over 7 mph on the surface, since it typically runs 15 mph or more at launch.

Getting there & local rules

Reached via I-270 north to I-70 west to I-81 north, then local roads up to the mountaintop and a gravel access road to the site.

Local rules & hazards

Flying cross-country here means respecting restricted airspace around Camp David (P-40) and checking NOTAMs beforehand, plus the Class D airspace around nearby Hagerstown and Martinsburg. Avoid the area near the radio towers south of launch — there's a real microwave radiation hazard — and expect excessive turbulence in some conditions.

Check conditions before you fly

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