RecentEvents

Recent Improvements at Hat Creek Rim
(Courtesy of Shasta Sky Sailor volunteers and supporter donations!)

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In 1993 and 1996, significant changes occurred at Hat Creek Rim. A new landing area was created two miles south of the main launch area, below the highest section of Hat Creek Rim, along with a second launch area near the abandoned fire lookout. The new LZ greatly enhances safety for those who fly south along the highest section of the ridge. In 1996, the site began operating under a Forest Service Special Use Permit. After 21-years of being unofficial users at the site we became official, securing the future of flying at the Rim for decades to come.

Over the last 3+ decades the Shasta Sky Sailors have donated more than $4,000, and thousands of hours of time in the development of Hat Creek Rim.

1/19/2008 - an early visit to Hat Creek this year resulted in finding leftover garbage, fireworks debris, a tarp, plastic, R/C fuel, buckets, beer cans - basically just a bunch of shit left over from a fly-in in the LZ a week earlier - we bagged it up and hauled it off. While we at the site we used a comealong to move a huge rock back in position at the main launch. Someone had moved one of the rocks from the barrier the Forest Service had put up to keep vehicles out of the launch and setup area. It took some time but we finally got the rock back in place!!

At left is garbage and debris left over from a fly-in, in the #1 LZ. At right, we removed a fire ring and wood someone had put in the #2 LZ. The fire ring and wood pile were in the designated part of the #2 LZ

A lot of work but the big rock finally moved!!

Memorial Day Weekend 2008 - The annual work party gathers again. This year we almost had assistance from another Northern California club but their offer to help never materialized. Special thanks to those who did volunteer their time and fuel costs to improve Hat Creek Rim!!!!!
As usual we did maintenance to the Buttonhook LZ to keep it in safe landable condition. The large barrier rock at the Main Launch that we found displaced in January was again moved to allow vehicles into our setup area - we moved it back to block access.

The LZ clearing crew! Hand tools and a couple of chain saws cleared a lot of small brush. The Buttonhook LZ remains a very safe and viable landing option while flying at Hat Creek Rim.
'Old Yeller' had seen better days. A new windsock also went up in the Buttonhook LZ.
At left shows where the barrier rock had been moved to - and on the right it's back in place an hour or so later.
It was a good old game of tug-of-war to get the huge rock back in place. Often we thought the rock was going to win the war. This was not an easy task.
We cleaned and raked the area after getting the rock back in place. The setup area was also raked to repair the damage from vehicles driving in the area. Brian is wearing one of the new Hat Creek Rim shirts
4th of July weekend 2008 - The rock barrier has been vandalized again! What's even more troubling is the only tire marks behind the barrier lead directly to the shady setup area used by hang glider pilots!! Please don't drive behind the rock barrier...
If you look closely at the picture on the left, or click to enlarge it, you can see how far the huge boulder was moved this time. With no tools with us we replaced the boulder with smaller rocks (photo on the right).
The setup area was full of gliders. The Burney Mountain lookout looks good...

The main objective of this year's site maintenance weekend (Memorial Day weekend) was to replace the older porta-potty at the main launch with a newer more spacious one and to place the older toilet in the #2 LZ. The flying was great and a good time was had by all. Thanks to all who helped out!

We reconditioned the porta-potty on the left in 2005 - it's now in the #2 LZ and a newer porta-potty is in its place at the Main Launch.
A new porta-potty (in the background on the left) at the Main Launch and the old one headed to the #2 LZ. The toilet in the #2 LZ (right) saw plenty of use by those camping in the LZ during the Memorial Day weekend.
UV claims another windsock - only the frame remained. This is exactly why it is recommended to check the LZs before flying! A very nice pilot (I think his name is Ray) had placed streamers on the pole when he found the sock missing. Thanks Ray!
Brian Bokkin touches up the painted rocks that designate the private property on the north end of the #2 LZ.

The Hat Creek Volunteer Fire Department (HCVFD) contacted the Hat Creek Committee about helping them update their aging rope inventory. As many of you know the Hat Creek area, including the Volunteer Fire Department, support flying at the Rim. The HCVFD has always been responsive to the flying community, so helping out seemed like the reasonable thing to do. On behalf of the flying community, members of the Shasta Sky Sailors personally delivered 300 feet of search and rescue rope this Memorial Day weekend. At nearly a buck a foot this stuff is not cheap, this was a substantial donation. The funds for this project came from user donations (shirts and stickers), club membership and web sponsors. From all of the Hat Creek Rim volunteers and club and committee members, we offer a very sincere THANK YOU for supporting Hat Creek Rim and making this donation possible.

On May 27th, Club members Brian Bokkin (Hat Creek Committee Member), Steve Kozloff and Mike Hunter (Hat Creek Committee Member) present Chief Randy with 300' of rescue rope. At right, a reporter for the Intermountain News covers the event!
On the list of scheduled maintenance this year was the line of white rocks that indicate the private property line splitting the #2 LZ in half. Originally, the landowner wanted a fence erected, but the Hat Creek Committee negotiated this rock compromise instead. Can you imagine a fence across the middle of the LZ?!? - not a safe option! Remember - if we want to keep the rocks (and not a fence) don't breakdown, drive or camp on this private land. If you accidentally land on the private side (north half of the LZ) move to 'our side' right away.
A box to distribute site guides was added to the bottom of the Forest Service sign at the main launch area. If you happen to find this box empty, feel free to pick up some extra guides at Fireside Village and restock the box on your next flight! Thanks.
The bush on the left (along with a bunch more) is history... The Buttonhook LZ looks much different today than in 1993 when hundreds of menacing stumps littered the entire area. Some of you may remember the 'adopt a stump' fundraiser, it funded the clearing of the stumps! How many LZ's were created in California in 1993 or even since then? This was a project well worth the effort!
Steve Kozloff with his weed-eating machine! He made short work of the brush that grows so well in the Buttonhook LZ. The Buttonhook LZ is maintained in a safe and landable condition as a bailout LZ for those who know the pleasure of soaring the highest section of Hat Creek Rim.

Our toilet was full of holes (shotgun blasts) and had many serious cracks. The cracks and holes were all repaired and the porta-potty painted. Also, the large lava rocks right in front of the door (trip hazards) were removed for easier access. The final touch was 'tagging' the outhouse with our para/hang gliding emblem.
This was a pretty simple fix, we just replaced the wind streamer with a windsock - much easier to see from the ridge!
In an effort to keep the Buttonhook LZ as clear as possible, brush is being removed by hand each year. The work party meets every Spring and volunteers from other clubs are welcome.
Here's the before and after view looking off of the South Launch - note the large bush on the left side of launch in the picture on the left - on the right, the view with the bush removed. This was a potential side wire snag! See a MPEG video of launching here - 4MGs
The old pile of rocks that had held the sign up for years are gone - replaced by a cement foundation. This was done on Memorial Day 2005
On Labor Day we found the USFS sign vandalized or run over. It's missing from the old location on the left. We repaired and moved the sign behind the rock barrier that leads to setup and launch- hopefully for safer keeping.

The pictures below show the Main Launch (first set of side by side pictures) and the Buttonhook LZ (the remaining pictures) and illustrate the dramatic difference recent maintenance and improvements have made at Hat Creek Rim. For far too many years the main launch has been responsible for annoying red volcanic dirt deposits on our gliders. With the club's recent purchase of 27 tons of gravel, and an equal amount donated by the Forest Service, the ultimate solution to keeping the 'red' out was finally reached... wall to wall ground cover!

The Buttonhook LZ was cleared of hundreds of stumps back in 1993. Ten years of encroaching brush along with sparse debris left over from the original clearing were causing safety concerns and needed to be removed. On 04/24/04, a large road grader made short work of cleaning up the area. Special thanks to Bob Thompson, owner of Hat Creek Construction. Bob bent over backwards to make his company and equipment available and affordable to do the work (the Thompson family has a very long history in the Hat Creek Valley and have been more than fair with our club - they fully support flying at the Rim and are great folks too).

Main Launch, Before

Main launch before (left) and after... The rock barrier seen in the picture on the right was put there by the Forest Service to keep vehicles out of the setup and launch area. Over 50 tons of gravel was spread throughout the area to smooth the irregular surface and to rid the setup area of the nasty volcanic dust that once clung to our wings!

Main Launch, Now

Before The view of the Buttonhook LZ looking northeast. This manmade LZ required hundreds of stumps to be removed by our club in 1993. Returning brush and leftover debris from the original clearing were removed on 4/24/04.

#3 LZ, Now!

Before, Looking Southeast Here's the before and after view looking southeast.

The windsock (not shown) is located at the western edge of the LZ.

Now!

The recent improvement to the Main Launch greatly improve the convenience of setting up your glider and the maintenance to the Buttonhook LZ improves safety for the increasing number of pilots who fly south along the highest part of the rim! This recent work was made possible by an agreement with the Forest Service (and their willingness to help), the volunteers who work diligently on the site, and most importantly, the awesome support of the flying community!! The donations that come from the 'Friend of the Rim' decal made all of this work possible. If you are one of those who has supported the Rim, reach over your shoulder and pat yourself on the back!! Hat Creek Rim is an all volunteer effort that is working!! THANK YOU!!