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Labor Day Monument Valley
Muley Point Fly-in

 

                              The Mittens at sunset in Monument Valley

Who:
Anyone who is up for flying over heaven on earth....Monument Valley
What:
The trip consists of flying some magical places rarely flown by hang gliding, paragliding or ultralight pilots:  Monument Valley and Muley Point.
Pilots should be at least strong Hang II's and must have tow experience with sign offs for aero and/or truck towing.   There will be no tow training available on this trip so have your tow sign offs in hand.
When:
Labor Day weekend '03.  We are leaving here late Wednesday afternoon and going to Gouldings Trading Post (click here for Gouldings info), which is two miles from Monument Valley Tribal Park.  Gouldings is a full service campground, hotel, showers, grocery store and a pool.  Hotel rooms are still available and reasonably priced for those who prefer a less noisy crowd and comfort.

Rooms
The rooms are $160 per night plus tax, camping sites are $15 per night.  If you have a trailer, camper or RV full hook ups are available.
Where: If my memory serves me correctly, Monument Valley is a six hour trip to the border of AZ and Utah.  (click here for map)  

Conditions permitting we hope to fly Monument Valley and  Muley Point
Plan A involves flying Monument Valley on Friday and Saturday conditions permitting.  Currently we have permission to use the private airstrip at Gouldings provided all pilots are current USHGA members and can show evidence of a towing sign off.   Please, tow rated pilots only. Sunday we will be flying Muley Point all day.

Monument Valley Flight Plan:
Aerotowing towing out of Gouldings airstrip and flying two miles directly over Monument Valley where you should be able to get up.  If the wind direction is wrong we will go out into the desert and tow there.   We are requested NOT to land in the park but five miles north in a flat field.  If you do sink out and land in the park you will be flogged with wet sticks in a smoke-filled hogan by naked Navajo virgins. . . (turn in sink)

Ultralights Welcome
If you plan on flying an ultralight to the Goulding's airstrip be sure you are rated and have an aircraft that is stable, can handle severe turbulence and is very  reliable.   Power-outs over the park would not be a good representation of the sport and may have unwanted consequences for future flyins.   Thank you.

  Contact Info:
 Brad Lindsay belindsay@earthlink.net
Corey Burke coreyb@commspeed.net

Laura Salamone ahgc@northlink.com

Pictures




                                  Photo by Jim Afinowich

Just on the horizon from Muley Point is Monument Valley.  For those trike pilots considering this adventure, it's a 30 minute, as the crow fly's XC from the road on Muley Point to Monument Valley...hour and a half by vehicle.  Flying there is beyond words....a spiritual experience that leaves one breathless upon landing.  The situation to fly there is a delicate one as there will be tourists in the park.

PHOTOGRAPHY
The Navajo's charge BIG peso's to photograph in the valley ($2,000 per day), and they should, it's unlike anything else on the planet.   The reciprocity of respect  has and continues to be something I enjoy with the Navajo Tribal Council.  I will be VERY upset if any pilot violates the trust I have established over the years with the Navajo decision makers.   Please, no published pictures.

Does it get better than this?

 

Thermalling over the Mittens

Looking North into the park with a view of the park center and Elephant Butte.




Mittens in the mist



Close up view of one of the mittens


Last years winners: Todd, Laura and Bob  (bitchin' trophies by Corey Burke)


Muley Point and Goosenecks State Park

Muley Point is located in the Valley of the Gods just north of the AZ border in Utah.   For map reference, look for Mexican Hat just north of the Utah/AZ border as the nearest form of life as we know it.   This shot was taken looking south towards Monument Valley.  Muley Point is the peninsula off to the left.   Muley Point overlooks the Goosenecks National Monument and is just spectacular from the air.  The road you see in the lower left corner runs two miles from the main road on top of the bluff to the cliff edge.  PERFECT for towing hang gliders: long, smooth and when you release you are above this:


                                         All photos by Brad Lindsay

Muley Point and the Goosenecks.  Although it doesn't look like much of an LZ, there are huge, flat, covered areas at the bottom next to the retrieval road.  Here again the tow road can be seen terminating at the cliff edge.

 


                                                                                        Corey heading for the top of Muley Point


 

Another angle of Muley Point taken from 7,000 agl.   Here the retrieval road is visible as a light colored, horizontal line at the base of the cliff.  The LZ's can be seen between the base of the butte and the  Gooseneck canyons.  It looks small from this vantage point but they are really big.  

The view from the LZ at Muley point.  Final approach is over this bend in the river. The San Juan River which carved the Goosenecks covers one mile of distance yet winds over five miles as it makes it's way through the park.


                                                                                  Photo by Doug Stiles

This is the road on top and can be used to operate ultralights from and truck tow hang gliders.  
Foot launching has been done but so have near death experiences.  Consult your current karma kouncil for details.


                            Photo by Brad Lindsay
This is the switch back road up the face of Muley Point to the Mokey Dugway.  On the left the paved road to Mexican Hat is visible.  It's about an hour drive from the top by conventional transportation, ten minutes by trike!  Monument Valley can be seen on the horizon and is a 40 minute flight as the crow flies.


Photo by Doug Stiles

This is the view from the launch and camping area on
Muley Point.  On the horizon is Monument Valley.



 

                                                                                     Photo by Brad Lindsay
This is looking up at the edge of Muley Point from the LZ.  The vertical is 1200'.  The sun pounds the face of this rock wall which generates thermals so strong it is difficult to set up your glider and makes foot launching quite demanding in mid day conditions.  It's much safer to truck/aerotow back from the cliff and release over it.

This is a great trip and weather providing we will have many memorable and safe flights.  It's just under seven hours to Monument Valley without stopping to have the gurls pee every 50 miles.  How many days we will be flying in the park will be contingent upon tourists and traffic.  In the past the Navajo police have stopped traffic on the main road so we can tow up on the road to the visitors center.   We have found many tow roads adjoining the park with BIG LZ's and great views
Drop me some email and let me know if you are going.  More info to come so bookmark this site.

Links:
Driving directions to Kayenta:  click here
Driving directions to Mexican Hat: click here
Camping in Monument Valley:   click here
The Navajo Nation: click here
Where to buy a Sabre Trike:   click here

Make sure your camera gear is ready and test it before you go.

Hope to see you at cloud base above Monument Valley
 



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