Saddle Mt., located near Mattawa, is a favorite ridge-soaring site that often works with a NE wind, when no other sites are flyable. Although a tower recently erected behind launch makes toplanding a bit more challenging than before, it’s still common for skilled pilots to make several flights in a day without having to break down their glider.

Photo by Kevin Cosley

Protocol: Insured site – USHPA membership required. Suitable for H-2s in most conditions.

Contacts: Peter and Naomi Gray, 509-925-9404, or Dave Norwood (PG pilot), 509-949-4377

Flying Season: Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter

Access: 2WD, dirt and gravel, rough in places.

Launch Elevation: 1800 – 2300 MSL

Type: Slope

Obstructions: None

Faces: N

Notes: The launch area is privately owned, but CBCC has a land-use agreement that allows all USHPA members access to the property to fly. There is a fee for this privilege; anyone who flies at Saddle is urged to contribute to the Saddle Mt. site fee fund via PayPal [Jeremy, the link to pay the Saddle fee is here on our old website: http://www.cloudbase.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=104], or by sending a check to CBCC, PO Box 629, Issaquah, WA 98027.

Soarable: Yes, R/T

LZ Elevation: 500 MSL

Type: Sand and sage

Obstructions: Brush, children on 4-wheelers

Notes: Managed by WA State as an ORV park.

Additional Notes: Long turn-around. Beware going cross-country to the S; both Hanford and the Yakima Firing Range are RESTRICTED. There are schedule military training routes in this area. Be sure to call Whidbey Naval Air Operations at 1-800-360-3050 or 360-257-2877. Tell them you are a citizen pilot flying a hg/pg checking on scheduled flights on VR 1350 and IR 329 MTRs. Also call McChord Air Force Base Operations 253-982-9925 or 9926 for IR 329.

Please contribute to Saddle Mountain

Our annual land-use fee for Saddle is $1200 due every March. CBCC writes the check, and counts on the pilots who fly Saddle to be sure we have enough funds in the account to cover it. If you fly Saddle, please participate in the ongoing “virtual fly-in” and pay a suggested entry fee of $30 (more is appreciated, of course) via PayPal, or send a check to CBCC, PO Box 629, Issaquah WA 98027.

Help pay Saddle Montain land-use fee

Saddle Mountain Weather