Waggoners Gap

[pnadams]

Has anyone flown or know about flying Waggoners Gap above Carlile PA?

[Danny Brotto]

I've been there a number of years ago. South facing, great ridge, very technical launch with antennas around. Your launches must be crisp, clean , and spot on to fly there IMHO. Just below to the left is (was?) a shack that was owned by some ham radio guys. They claimed that they were the new landowners and we were welcome to fly. Don’t know what was used for the LZ. Story is that back in the day, some local HGers were very protective of the site and would run off (or do bad things to the car tires of) pilots dropping by to fly the site. (Talk to Steve Krichten for the details.) Wide open valley out in front. A ridge run to the mountains behind McConnelsburg is possible. Set up area is exposed and could accommodate only a few gliders. It’s been years and it’s likely overgrow. I fly over it all the time in the sailplane.

Danny Brotto

[hanging3]

I drove by there last fall. Many fences around all the antennae. Lots of no tresspassing signs. Narrow road with not alot of parking. Pretty view. Lots of ridge and apparent landing options. I talked with someone last fall about it but cannot remember what happened to the site?????

joe
(freezing in NC)

[lbunner]

I'd be up for checking it out. Anyone else interested?

[Spark]

Al Hobner knows alot about the site. PM me for his contact info.

[pnadams]

The Audubon Club has a plan to preserve a lot of land around there. By "preserve" I think they mean everybody stays out but birders.

[Danny Brotto]

The "birding" site is on the North side of the mountain and a bit of a walk away from the South (or was it SE) HG launch. Those ridges (that link into the McConnelsburg ridges) are prime migratory routes for various raptors. Last time I stopped by Waggoner’s it was a strong NW day in Autumn and there were dozens of birders scoping out the sky. They were very nice and friendly and even back then appreciative of our allowing them access to count from the ‘burg launch (which they acknowledged that we owned.)

Opening something up at Waggoner's would be tremendous. Having flown over it numerous times in the sailplane, the ridge is very good to the north. There is a gap to the south a few hundred yards but it would not be a big deal on a good day and then the ridge gets solid again. Lots of good open and flat fields out front too.

Danny Brotto

[pnadams]

I was up at Waggoner's Gap two weeks ago. The Audubon Club and PA DNR has a plan to spend a lot of money on an overlook. The launch looks like it has been used in the last few months. It is pretty intense, but a bow saw and a few hours could make it more comfortable launch.
The valley looks like an awesome thermal producer. The ridge faces a little east of south. I flew Sauratown Mt for years it has the same orientation and similar topography but it's only a mile long. Sauratown worked well in a SW wind up to about 220 deg. I expect Waggoner's will be similar.
The landowner is American Tower. I haven't talked to anyone there that knows the policy, but I'm still working on it.
I still haven't found the names of the local pilots, or anybody that has actually flown there.