Home
It was the mid 80s when the landowner agreed to letting us use his property for launching that little ridge, and although ownership has changed several times, the launch may still be used. What was essential was that we were NOT creating a site for the 100 plus members of Cloudbase, we committed to a self regulated 6 pilot maximum use at any given time. I gave the owner my personal guarantee that it would NOT become a party, a zoo.
We caught a lot of guff from lots of Cloudbase members about that site, and about Frailey Mt too, because they wanted our "good ole boys club" to open the sites to anybody, anytime, which would have ruined it for everyone, for ever.
Cloudbase couldn't see anything besides their "one size fits all" site negotiation and management concept, but that was so unnecessary, counterproductive and downright dumb. (Hear me talking about Mt Si, CJ:
how about Sauk, Davis?)
It's gone to a ridiculous extreme at Dog, it's just sad that Kool Aid was such a pretty pink color, but it matched someone's hair, y'know?
The point is, that many places, backyards in particular, are well suited to self regulated launching.
These owners understood the outdoor recreation liability act, and the regulatory burden was on us, personally, anyone qualified could access those places, it just could not be a free for all like Tiger. It worked, it still works. (Frailey was destroyed by stupidity at the state DNR)!
Often times there is NOT, NOT, strength in numbers, in comparison
to personal assurance.
In spite of occasional city and local opposition, the backyard launch is still viable a third of a century later.
