02/11/12

Lee's Lookout 31°52.676'N 106°30.015'W 5,520 MSL 1,000' AGL

Introduction  Lee's Lookout continues to be our best west-facing site for flying in the Franklin Mountains State Park.  It is named after local pilot Lee Boone, the discoverer of the site.  It is a (12) minute hike from the Transmountain Pass highway (SR #375).  As pilots will enter the Park, they must be registered and have paid the daily use fee (or have a Texas State Park pass).  For more information on registration, go here.

This is an advanced H/P3 site.  Pilots must have expert kiting and reverse launching skills. 

Lee's Lookout should be flown when: 1.) It is too weak to launch from Agave.  2.) Wind direction at Santa Teresa (the National Weather Service location in our region) is west to southwest (PG only).  PG pilots should not launch if winds are northwest -- the site is too small to safely inflate a glider with this wind direction.  If winds at the surface are west/southwest and greater than 8-10, launch from Agave is much safer.  HG pilots can launch in any direction.  Lee's Lookout has the advantage of being just above the daily inversion which reaches about 5,000' MSL.  It will have sufficient air to launch when Agave is calm.  Its proximity to the Dragons Mouth (DM) ensures that any west component in the wind will be almost southwest at launch due to the strong vortex at DM which makes launch easier when conditions are weak everywhere else.  Launch is tight (10 yd x 10 yd).  If PG pilots walk down the steep slope a ways and lay their wing out near the edge, inflation is easier.  The downside is that the pilot cannot see his lines until the glider comes up -- someone helping can scan them.  HG should not have any problems as the launch to north/right has a sheer cliff in front.

PG pilots should always launch to the left (facing almost south) and follow the ridge out.  The stronger the conditions, the more the pilot will ascend immediately after launch.  In weaker conditions, he may have to follow the ridge out and hunt for thermals -- there are always plenty of them!  Remember that the geography of Lee's Lookout ensures that winds at launch will be from the south (strong conditions) or southwest (weaker conditions) because of the vortex at DM.  That is, if winds at Santa Teresa are west, the winds at launch will be southwest or south.

The northwest portion of the site can be very thermic due to its dark color and west face, even at the end of the day.  But as the pilot is launching to the south (and left), it is safe to launch during a lull as the thermals moving up the northwest part of the site will not affect the air out in front to the left.  When winds are west to southwest miles out front, the vortex of the DM causes the air to swirl around the ridge and up the northwest part of the launch area triggering thermals in the process.  Accordingly, the air to the south or left will be smooth all the way out if, for example, it is late in the day.  Otherwise, thermal strength out front will be the same as elsewhere in the range.  The weaker the conditions, the less pronounced this effect is.  This has been proven many times by actual flights from the site.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Launching from the steep slopes and cliffs in the desert mountains requires expert kiting skills.  It is dangerous to inflate and then immediately turn before stabilizing your glider overhead for a few seconds or more.  Many pilots have damaged their equipment and been banged up attempting to launch in the often turbulent air that characterizes the jagged mountains we fly in the desert southwest.  You must have the skills to kite your glider overhead under complete control before attempting a launch, especially in strong air.  In addition, all pilots must master inflating their gliders with the A's in one hand and the C's or D's in the other.  You may have to de-power your glider at any moment and this is the only way you can safely do it while attempting a launch.  Pulling deep on the brakes does NOT de-power your glider!  In addition, you will not have time to go searching for the correct risers if things start to go wrong and you do not have the correct ones in your hands.  Jamming the brakes will only make things worse.  If you need training on how to do this, we can help.

LZ Info  The main  LZ is the area around the Tom Mays Park entrance 2.6 miles NW of launch.  Park a vehicle just outside the entrance gate of Tom Mays Park and drive another to the top of the Pass.  It is somewhat easier for PG pilots to land on the Tom Mays access road east of the gate as they can set up a mile away.  As there are often thermals popping off everywhere around the roads, using the access road east of the gate allows for plenty of margin.  The access road slopes down for a half a mile and is clear on both sides.  HG pilots should land at the normal LZ for Agave Hill which is 6/10ths of a mile NE of the PG LZ.

Landing in the desert is often more complicated than coastal or other inland sites because of the very hot ground at the surface (+140°F in the summer) which causes small but powerful thermals to pop off near the surface.  They can dramatically change where you land. 

The PG LZ near the entrance of Tom Mays Park.  The access road faces SW and is a 1/2 mile long so pilots can relax and setup without worry if they encounter thermals while landing.  The vehicle in the photo stopped and waited for the pilot to get out of the way.

Bail LZ Info  If you do a sled ride from launch, just follow the ridge straight out and then make a 90° turn either direction at the end (left for HG/PG or right for PG only).  If you go left (south), head for the dirt road that goes from the top of the ridge down the canyon to a housing development.  It is plenty long and slopes down at first and then becomes almost level near the housing development.  If you go left, remember that it is at least (30) minute drive one way from the pass to pick you up.  To get to the main bail LZ from the Transmountain highway,  go west down the hill for about (5) miles and turn left (south) on N. Resler. j Go 3.4 miles, turn left (east) on High Ridge drive and then go 1.9 miles to the end (at the time of this writing, there is some unimproved road at the end).  Make a quick jag right and then left onto Calle Lago for 0.4 miles where there is a gate (it's a gated community).  If it's open, you're in luck.  If not, you will have to walk up and find your pilot somewhere.

If conditions at the DM are not too strong, you can fly out to the end of the ridge at launch, turn right (north), and cautiously go in front of the DM at low altitude (<5,000' MSL) while watching your speed over the ground at all times.  Stay well in front of the DM and land on the top of one of the finger ridges near the highway.  It is an easy hike from the alternate bail LZ to the highway and then to the top of the Pass.

The view here is to the west.

Below - view looking northwest.  Lee Boone is the discoverer of this excellent site.

Site Hazards  Launching from this site has two dangers.  Be extremely careful of getting sucked into the DM.  It is unlikly to happen if you check the wind velocity at the Pass before you hike up.  If it's blowing more than 18 at the Pass, be extremely careful when launching - go straight out and keep left of the ridge in front.  Better yet, pack up and launch from Agave.  If the air at the Pass is less than 18, you are safe no matter where you fly but note that lift disappears at the DM.  Landing on the highway is not only illegal but dangerous.

The second danger is the presence of power lines that go east - west along the side of the canyon to the south of launch.  They are almost invisible.  Make sure that you get a few hundred over launch before you head south and up.  In general - STAY AWAY FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CANYON NEXT TO LAUNCH UNLESS YOU ARE HIGHER THAN THE RIDGE BEHIND.  The power lines, fortunately, turn south after leaving the canyon and the poles are easily visible.  Below is an image of a recent flight from Lee's Lookout.  The pilot was higher than the ridge behind launch when he flew south. View is looking east.

View of South Mt. Franklin (Radio Peak) after a successful trip up from Lee's Lookout.  You want to smile, too?  Fly year 'round in the Franklins with us!  From here, this pilot went over 1,000' above the top of the range.

View 1/2 mile above and just south of launch.  From here a pilot can fly all the way to the end of the range.  HG pilot Dick Moody once flew from here to Ascarate Park many years ago.

Launch Info   The site's rating (H/P3) is due to the following:  1.)  It is a very tight launch area -- less than 10 yd. on each side.  2.)  There is a shear cliff just north of launch (good for HG).  3.) You can be blown over the back or sucked into the Dragon's Mouth.  4.) There are numerous desert plants in the vicinity of the launch area that can snag the pilot/glider.  (It is a safer HG launch than PG.)  Despite these hazards, the site is the best we have for flying in the Franklins.  Those who successfully launch are virtually guaranteed to get up and out.  The bailout LZ is easily reachable and safe for both HG and PG.  Pilots should not fly this site alone because a minor problem at launch could easily cascade.  A helper can assist with layout, the inflation of the glider, look for any potential problems, and help the pilot in the event of a failed launch.  Expert pilots regularly fail to launch from this site because of its difficulty.

Lee Boone (photo below) is standing about where a PG pilot should launch from.  When launching, follow the top of the ridge out.  At the end there is plenty of lift with thermals galore popping off the power lines at the base of the mountain.  (The poles can just be seen near the dirt road.)  If you launch at the right time of the cycle, you will get in strong lift right at launch and go straight up.  You should always turn left, bench up the ridge behind launch, and get high enough to safely pass over the power lines.  Follow the ridge south until you get to S. Mt. Franklin and work your way up via thermals and ridge lift.  It's an easy task for most pilots.  Then you are in the magic airspace above the range and can fly for hours in any direction.  For more info on safely flying in the Franklins once you are above launch, go here.

Below is a view looking out from launch to the SW.

Lee Boone parked in front of the Franklins above Lee's Lookout at 7,500'.  Lift is everywhere....

Below is an image of a typical flight from Lee's Lookout.  Most P/H3 pilots should be able to do this without any trouble.

Pilot Registration

Please go here for info.  Solo pilots (not recommended) need to notify a Park Ranger before launching.

Below, Lee Boone soars above the range in the amazing lift that is above the Franklins.  Lift is everywhere once you pass 7,000'.  This was his first flight from Lee's Lookout and he had no trouble benching up.  Pilots can soar the front of these mountains for over 25 miles.