Description
Mountain Ridge and Thermal Site. This site is NOT managed by the Arctic Air Walkers, and this Site Guide is provided to assist pilots in making good decisions about flying at this site. Always seek out pilots with site experience to get an orientation to the site.
Bear mountain is the steep face above Mirror Lake in Peters Creek. The trailhead has limited parking so carpool to the trailhead from the Mirror Lake Middle School or other gathering spot. Follow the main trail approximately ¼ mile until you come to an obvious left branch. Following this branch all the way to the top of Bear Mountain which is an open rolling plateau. The face of the mountain faces nearly due west. Launch locations exist along the entire face and need to be selected based on the amount of south or north wind present. The site can also be launched to the extreme northeast if there is a E-NE wind. If launched in this direction, it will be necessary to cross the descending ridge line at some point in order to get back on the west side of the mountain. It is not recommended to launch in this direction in winds any higher than 10mph as the possibility for extreme sink and/or rotor is too high. Once a launch location is selected, pilots can choose to ridge soar and top land in moderate west winds, thermal in front of (or on top of) the peak and go X/C, or if it is not soarable, you can glide to the bailout LZ’s at Mirror Lake Middle School (summer) or Mirror Lake (winter) and land.
Some pilots also hike up to the knoll at the base of Eklutna Peak east of the Bear Mountain face. This knoll offers a better launch slope but increases the glide required to make it to the school. It also puts the LZ out of view of launch which makes it a P3 site. In a north wind the north buttress of Bear Mountain creates a significant obstacle to overcome in order to make it to the MLMS bailout LZ when launching from this knoll.
This map shows the route to the trailhead.
Bear Mountain is primarily an XC site. Mirror Lake, (when frozen) or Mirror Lake Middle School are bailout LZs, do not attempt to land in the field while school is in session or while children or other field users are present. There are 2 parallel fields separated by a low ridge. It is uncommon that both fields are in use at the same time, and obviously the un-used field should be chosen. This can be observed from launch and, if activities are occurring on the fields, then either consider not launching or landing at the Hill Top Airstrip to the SW or the Oberg ballfields further SW. (Note, these may not be reachable on glide without thermal assistance.) In the winter and spring, Mirror Lake itself is frozen and considered the primary LZ.
Mini-wings and speed wings can be flown from Bear Mountain. Mini-wings (defined as having a glide ratio better than 5:1) can make the bailout LZ at MLMS. Speed-wings cannot and therefore should only be flown when Mirror Lake is frozen.
Landing Zones
Mirror Lake Middle School
61.428899, -149.421863
Mirror Lake Middle School School has two fields separated by a berm that are suitable for landing. As with any school, landing here is off-limits during school hours and if children are present. As an alternative, consider the Hill Top Airstrip to the SW or the Oberg ballfields further SW.
Weather Considerations
Pretty much every direction except East and South East works.
This is a Mountain Ridge and Thermal site, requiring suitable weather evaluation, and pilot awareness throughout the flight.
Pilots need to keep a careful watch on weather conditions, both on launch and in the air.
Ideal winds are from West from 5 to 10 mph. Winds can be about 15 degrees to either side of that direction, or you can move to a different area to launch that faces more into the wind.
Speed wing or Mini Wing pilots should be accompanied by an experienced pilot until they gain experience and skills.
Requirements
Requirements:
Pilots are expected to evaluate the launch, the possible landing areas, the weather, and other conditions. Flights are at the Pilot's own risk.
P3 is the recommended pilot level, and it may not be suitable for P2 pilots. This site is not managed by the Arctic Air Walkers and there are no specific requirements to fly here aside from strong launching skills and good judgment. Pilots should have P3 skills, but because it is a remote site, with greater consequences for messing up, pilots should follow the USHPA recommended operating limitations for P2 pilots, which are:
- Maximum base wind of 12 mph.
- Maximum peak gusts to 15 mph.
- Maximum gust rate of 5 mph in 5 seconds
- Should not fly in thermal lift where peak climb rates exceed 200 fpm.
- Launch from slopes steeper than 4:1 with the wind within 25 degrees of being straight up the slope.
- Mini-Wings may be able to make it to the Mirror Lake Middle School Bailout LZ. Speed wings cannot.
- Speed wing landing zone would be Mirror Lake during the winter, on the ice. Know if the ice conditions are safe before launching!
Hazards
- Bear Mountain can be a dangerous place to launch from during peak heating in the summer months because of the large thermals that rip up the face of Bear Mountain.
- Do not linger too low at the base of Bear Mountain unless you are finding lift. While it is a 3:1 glide from the top, it can be a deceptively long glide out to Mirror Lake Middle School from lower down, and there is no good place to land near the lake. Of the last two pilots that have tried to land here one nearly drowned and another suffered significant injuries. Do not try it.
- In the winter and spring, the lake itself is the primary LZ but pilots must know and understand the condition of the ice and snow cover before committing to this.
- If Mirror Lake Middle School and/or Mirror Lake are suitable for landing at the time of launch, then this is technically a P2 site. However, most alternate LZ’s make this a P3 launch as they are not visible from launch nor are they reachable on glide and would require thermal assistance to make the LZ.
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All tundra areas have rocks, bushes, sticks, etc. that are a tripping hazard at launch. Avoid landing in active play fields at the School.
WARNING: The descriptions of typical flying conditions listed in this Site Guide reflect the experience of the authors of the guide. The conditions that you encounter at the site may differ, sometimes substantially, from those described. These descriptions may not be relevant to the possible experience of any other pilot, particularly one who is relatively inexperienced or new to the Site.