US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

FRIDAY, JULY 21 through SUNDAY, JULY 23:
It could be flyable this weekend, especially at Dry Canyon. But bring an umbrella. (Wait - isn't that what we're flying under?) Temperatures are a whole lot nicer than they were a few weeks ago, with daily highs around 90 degrees F. Winds are mostly south/southeast, but in Alamogordo, south/southwest, and moderate to light in strength. Looking good for Dry Canyon! Except for the daily thunderstorms, that is. It looks like we're going to have a lot of those this weekend. Now, usually they build up in the afternoon, so you might try to fly by late morning or by noon. On Sunday, with a southeasterly flow, Anapra might work in El Paso for PG's, or even Torrey Paso. And towing at Hwy 9 and the Sod Farms should be OK, as long as the storms don't pay a visit. Watch out for outflows from these storms, and of course the lightning, rain and general chaos associated with them. Good luck! I may hold off on flying until early next week when the rainfall chances are reduced. Be safe!
-Robin

FRIDAY, JULY 28 through SUNDAY, JULY 30:
Not a bad weekend for flying, if you're at the right site. Summary: It looks like we'll be dry this weekend, warm but not roasting (high temps in the range of 90 degrees F) and light winds throughout. (Look for some strong rains late next week, however, according to the GFS model.) On Friday expect light winds that are south/southwest in Las Cruces, east in El Paso, and southwest in Alamogordo. On that day I'd expect some flying at Dry Canyon and La Luz, possibly Torrey Paso and Anapra for PG, and Matt's Mountain (Magdalena Rim) for PG's late in the day. (I think I proved on Tuesday that light winds at Mag Rim lead to hang glider sled rides there.) On Saturday it looks to me that the winds get even lighter. They should be southeast in Las Cruces, east/northeast in El Paso, and southerly in Alamogordo. Your best bet that day for foot launched flight is probably Dry Canyon. Maybe PG's can soar Anapra. For towing, go for the Sod Farm and Highway 9 in El Paso, and the Exit 16 site west of Las Cruces. They should both work pretty well, though winds will be light for towing up a hang glider. On Sunday I expect similar conditions and options with winds slightly stronger. Dry Canyon might be good, Anapra and Torrey Paso might work for PG's (too light for hang gliders) and maybe Exit 16 will work for HG towing. Again, the Sod Farm and Hwy 9 should be viable for PG towing. Looks like a fairly good weekend for aviation, but don't expect the winds to make ridge soaring an epic endeavor. My own flying might be on Saturday or Sunday at Dry Canyon, if the thermals look good. Enjoy the weekend, and be safe!
-Robin

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 6:
Like last weekend, I expect this one to be warm and dry, with daily high temperatures about 90 degrees F. Forecasted moisture should stay to the north of us this time around. Winds will be a little stronger than last weekend, but still nothing to get worried about, except in Deming where I'd expect a blowout in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. It looks like light winds on Friday, mostly from the south. On Saturday, they should be a little stronger (tops about 18 to 20 in Deming, milder elsewhere) and westerly. Sunday, they start out light north/northwest, then go west and southwest later in the day. I'd recommend looking at Dry Canyon on Friday. On Saturday we should have flyable conditions for Dry Canyon, La Luz west launch, Nelson's Launch, Agave Hill, and the Little Floridas (go early). On Sunday Dry Canyon should be working once again, at least in the afternoon. La Luz might be OK if you launch while it's still northwest. And maybe Nelson's Launch will be good in the afternoon for PG's. Towing on Hwy 9, going west, might be a good bet on Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. I don't foresee anything crazy this weekend, so take advantage of the respite in the rain. I hope to go out flying at Dry Canyon Saturday or Sunday; give me a call if you feel like some airtime! Be safe and have fun.
-Robin 575-541-5744
PS - A club campout at Gray Hill is a possibility for next weekend. Long range forecast for conditions don't look too bad up there - and it's certainly cooler than here in the south.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 13:
It looks like a flyable weekend again, but choose your sites with care. Alamogordo could be pretty rainy on Saturday and Sunday, and there may be some thunderstorms for the rest of our area, too. Winds will be light, as usual for this time of the year, and temperatures in the LZ will have highs of low 90's F on Friday and Saturday, high 80's on Sunday. It looks like some east and southeast winds on Friday, except in Alamogordo where they may be southwest. On Saturday, more southerly than easterly, and Sunday, mostly southwest throughout the whole area. Deming should be west winds on Sunday. Recommendations? Dry Canyon and Anapra on Friday, Mag Rim on Saturday, Little Floridas, Mag Rim, Nelson's Launch and Agave Hill on Sunday. Towing at the Sod Farm all weekend, as long as thunderstorms don't come into the region. Drink water, wear a hat, and don't forget that it's still summer! I'm hoping to fly on Friday at Dry Canyon, meeting in the LZ there about 10:30 am. Come and join us if you'd like some summer airtime!
-Robin

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 20:
It looks like Friday should be dry and fairly hot, with Saturday and Sunday likely to have thunderstorms and be a bit cooler. Light winds on Friday, southwest in Alamogordo, south in Las Cruces and east in El Paso. Later in the day, the east winds in EP may get strong enough for PG soaring at Anapra. On Saturday it looks like light east in El Paso, east/southeast in Las Cruces, light southwest in Alamogordo. Mostly south by late afternoon. On Sunday, the winds should be light southerly all over our region, then light south/southeast later, and light south/southwest in Alamogordo. So, where to fly? I'd say on Friday, try Dry Canyon. Like a week ago, it might be good at the launch ramp, and flyable if there's no thunderstorm barreling in from the east. Try flying Anapra in a PG after work. On Saturday, it looks like Dry Canyon is again your best bet - except for possible thunderstorms. The forecast winds don't look good for Agave Hill or Nelson's Launch. I'd say the same for Sunday.

For the partial solar eclipse on Monday, I'm not real hopeful for clear skies. If they are clear enough to see the event, DO NOT look at the sun! Even partially eclipsed, it's plenty bright enough to burn out your retinas. Use only REAL eclipse glasses (sunglasses certainly won't do it, nor some of the fakes you might buy on the internet.) I just plan to use an index card with a pinhole in it, and see what kind of image the sun will make onto a second index card. Good enough for what we might, at best, be able to view, which would be the sun looking like a thick crescent moon. Good luck!
-Robin
575-541-5744

If your are concerned about the safety of different shades you will be safe if you go to a welding supply store and buy an affordable #14 welding shade or you can put two #7 shades back to back (stacked) to view the sun whether eclipsed or not.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 27:
This does not look like a real optimal weekend for our foot-launched sites. The good news is that temperatures are starting to cool a bit, with highs in the high 80's F instead of the 90's. Friday and Saturday look like they'll have afternoon thunderstorms, and winds light and variable (mostly east) when it isn't stormy. Sunday looks more clear, with no real significant precipitation forecast. However, the winds will still be easterly. Upper level winds will be northeasterly and fairly strong, but winds at our lower levels should be light and east. I'd say the best bet for soaring is at Anapra, probably with PG's. And when it isn't storming, the Sod Farm should be excellent for towing, with consistent light winds from the east. I think I'll be keeping my glider in the shed this weekend, but if you go out to fly, be safe and have fun. Keep an eye out for the lightning...
-Robin

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st through SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD:
It looks like the monsoon season might be coming to an end, right on schedule. This should be a clear weekend. Maximum temperatures should be in the high 80's fahrenheit, and winds should be light to moderate. Direction? Southwest in Alamogordo, east/southeast elsewhere in the area, thanks to a hurricane at the north end of the Sea of Cortez. For foot launched flight, try Dry Canyon, and maybe Torrey Paso or Anapra. Towing at the Sod Farm might be good, and possibly along the Exit 116 road near Las Cruces. Certainly Highway 9 is worth a shot, as well. I plan to be out hunting, but if anyone else wants to fly, this is not a bad weekend for it. (And they should start getting better from here!) Be safe.
-Robin

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8 through SUNDAY, SEPT. 10:
Yes, we can fly this weekend. (Some parts of the country, like Florida, may not be thinking this...) We should be dry, in Southern New Mexico. Temperatures will be warm, with daily highs about 90 degrees. Winds? For most of the area, light to moderate east and southeast; in Alamogordo, light to moderate south to southwest. Upper level winds are mostly southeast. I'd recommend, for foot launching, to fly PG's at Anapra and Torrey Paso. Towing should be good at the Sod Farms, and possibly at the Exit 116 road if the winds are strong enough. Highway 9 might work well, too. For hang gliders, it looks to me like Dry Canyon and La Luz will work this weekend, especially on Sunday. If the thermals are good, the winds would be ideal for cross country flying from Dry. Does anyone want to fly? I'm thinking of Sunday at Dry Canyon. Give me a call!
-Robin
575-541-5744

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 through SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17:
Our weather seems to be edging towards normal autumn conditions again, with the autumnal equinox only a week away. We might have clouds, but little chance of rain this weekend, and temperatures should max out at the low 90 degree range. I expect south to southwest winds all weekend, fairly strong on Friday, light on Saturday, moderate on Sunday. Flying sites: Friday, La Luz, Dry Canyon, Matt's Mountain, Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch should all work. Little Floridas, too. For all of these sites, get there early, otherwise expect a blowout. Kilbourne Hole might work, though, as the winds get strong up high - it is at ground level, after all. On Saturday the same sites should work, but you can afford to sleep in a little, as the ground winds should peak at about 10 mph throughout our area. Dry Canyon should be ideal. Sunday, I'd scratch La Luz off the list, as the winds will be more southerly that day, and possibly Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch might have winds too cross. Matt's Mountain (aka Mag Rim) might be good that day. I think that the Sod Farms will have consistent winds for training all weekend, and little chance of thunderstorms. It should be a good time for foot-launched aviation in our area, so take advantage of it! Early next week, I expect some outflow from a hurricane that is approaching the tip of Baja California this weekend. We may get some welcome moisture from it as the storm breaks up over the Sierra Madre Occidental. I'd be available for flying or driving on Saturday, or on Sunday afternoon, so give me a call if you want to try some soaring.
-Robin
575-541-5744