Potato Hill Flying Site

Maps and Directions to Potato Hill

Directions:

• Take I-5 north to Maxwell, about 40 minutes North of Sacramento
• Exit at the first Maxwell exit and then go west on the main road (At the first split, Sites, turn right toward Lodoga.). At Lodoga, turn right and continue to Stonyford (total of 1/2 hr – 40 minutes driving time from Maxwell to Stonyford).
• When you arrive in Stonyford, turn left at the stop sign.
• Go about 1/4 mile and then turn left on Fouts Spring Road (This is the 2nd left).
• It is about 20 minutes on this road to the LZ. The road will wind up over the hills, then descend down to a valley. When you reach the valley continue and look on the right for the Fouts Spring Youth Facility.
• The LZ is the dirt parking lot directly across the road from the Youth Facility.
• To go to the launch from the LZ continue on the same road.
• Watch on the right for the sign for Dixie Glade campground, about five miles past the Youth Facility.
• The road to launch is the first turn-off on the left after you pass Dixie Glade. You take this left and follow it up until it “T”s into a road at the top of the ridge.
• Turn left and follow this until it makes a 90 degree right turn and becomes steep. There is a trailhead and room to park at this elbow. The Trail at this elbow goes to the Potato Launch.

Potato Hill Flying Site – Basic Flight Plan
Below are some photos of Potato Hill. The Yellow and Blue paths are the two most common flight paths used at this site. Most of the time, I prefer to use the yellow path, but either can work. Both primary paths target higher terrain where lift will be better and increase the chances of reaching the LZ with extra altitude. The spine of the left is very easy to see from launch and any thermals that rise up the slope below the top of the ridge will release above the spine.

On flights where lift and thermals are encountered, a pilot can climb and have a little freedom from continuing towards the LZ. But, whenever a pilot starts to lose lift and begins descending again, the flight plan dictates to stay on the flight path. Once well up in a thermal, moving around a bit above the general area is fine. Once a pilot moves back down toward launch level, moving back to the primary path comes back into play..

Potato Hill – Two Common Primary Paths
I normally find better lift on the yellow path, but either can work good for flight. Many think the Hay Bails is the best thermal, but the most consistent thermal at Potato is the one on the ridge to the left of launch. Also, this path usually provided easier ability to reach the LZ with some extra height.

Click on pictures for larger images …

View from launch

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