Thanks to Ray Berger for providing such great info on how to access to the top of Cliffside's windmills (Goldendale, Wash) and also Mark Rabe for the transportation. It turned out being a very successful first time flying Cliffside with the west winds condition on top of the windmills. Mark and I found many launch spots on top of the windmills that allowed for launching at almost any direction. We arriving at the top launch (3100ft MSL/ LZ by the river 190ft MSL) this morning around 11am, the winds were too gusty for me to launch 25-35mph blowing from WSW so we drove further west and found another west facing launch spot at the lower altitude (2700ft MSL). There were plenty of room for top landing too. The launch was really flat, it more shallow than Newbreg and Oceanside launch pad. Winds later diminished to 15 mph so l decided to setup. When I ready to launch the winds were down to 5-8 mph very light from WSW (sometime coming from straight west). I was a bit nervous about the shallow launch and Mark decided not to fly. It took me 4-6 steps to get airborne and the air was buttery smooth. I didn't feel any lifts so I headed out to the river, l landed by the river in west direction. Zero wind at the LZ , no rain whole day just overcast skies. It was a fun extended sledder flying off from the top, as I was the only hang glider that flew.
I launch off west from the 2800ft
Landing by the river
Light east in the morning
The road to the windmills
This is the 3100ft launch
3100ft west side launch
25 to 35mph gusts at the 3100ft launch
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