1. Conditions
2. The club supporting the site / Le club supportant le site: Soboba Soaring.
   Related Task List.
3. Events / Evénement: Soboba Soaring > Events.
4. Bulletin board / Tableau d'affichage: Soboba Soaring > Forums.
5. Articles
6. Schools / Ecoles
7. Lost and Found / Object perdu ou retrouvé: No info.
8. How to get there / Comment s'y rendre: Google Maps.
   From the LZ to launch: Short way, Long way, Long way (real path), Long way (schematic).
9. Maps / Cartes
10. GPS coordinates / Coordonnées GPS
11. Paraglider Kiting Places / Zones de Gonglage Parapente
12. Shuttles / Navettes: Continuous rides on demand.
13. Site frequency / Fréquence du site: 144.925 .
14. Insurance / Assurances
15. Lodging / Hébergement
16. Restaurant: Google Maps: Local restaurants.
17. Car rental / Location d'auto: No info.
18. Image
19. Video or Animation / Vidéo ou Animation
20. Cross Country / Vol Voyage
21. Hazards / Dangers

Conditions

We are hoping for light-moderate South West (225 degree) winds.
But if wind is from North East (directly behind) the launch: Launch and LZ are in wind shadow and with sunshine there will be an upslope breeze allowing to soar/thermal up but beware of wind shear at 150 m (about 500') over the ridge if the over-the-back wind is significant.

By order of interest:

• Forecast:
  • Jérôme's late afternoon soaring forecast.
  • San Jacinto forecast (Weather.com): Today, 10 days.
  • Surface wind speed and direction, at 3 hour intervals - NOAA. Definition: Wind Barb.
  • RASP (Regional Atmospheric Soaring Predictor) for Southern California. The mouse wheel changes the opacity of the RASP data.
  • Soaring Predictor (updated daily at 7:30 AM).
  • Wind forecast - San Jacinto (Intellicast.com).
  • Look for a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction):
    • FAA / TFR. Set "State" to "California", then click "GO" next to it.
  • Prediction by other pilots.
• Current:
  • San Jacinto station (in San Jacinto): Wunderground / Today's charts.
  • XC Skies.
  • Visible Satellite Loop + InfraRed Satellite Loop by Intellicast.
  • Radar animation - San Jacinto (Weather.com).
  • Radar animation - San Jacinto (IntelliCast.com) shows relief map.
  • Web camera in Hemet looking towards Mt. San Jacinto. Soboba is behind the two leftmost palm trees.
• Averages:
  • Monthly averages: Temperature & Precipitation (Weather.com) .

Articles

• Path to the Sky, by Kenny Klein, 2006/7/1.

Schools / Ecoles

Ordered alphabetically / Ordonné alphabétiquement:

• Jérôme Daoust.
• Speedfly Soboba.

Maps / Cartes

• Google Earth: Local points of interest. A great way to explore this flying site in 3D. Snapshot image of launches & main LZ.
• Google Maps: Satellite. Road entrance.

GPS coordinates / Coordonnées GPS

Description	Latitude	Longitude	Altitude (ASL)		Alt over LZ		Comment
Landing Zone	N 33° 49.087'	W 116° 57.698'	473 m	1552'	0 m	0'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. SW of clubhouse middle of LZ width.
Top of training hill	-	-	507 m	1663'	34 m	111'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Highest area where a wing can be laid out.
250' launch	-	-	551 m	1807'	78 m	255'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of area before slope steepens.
500' launch	-	-	618 m	2027'	145 m	475'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
650' launch, highest quad ride	N 33° 49.255'	W 116° 57.439'	675 m	2214'	202 m	662'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
800' launch	-	-	722 m	2368'	249 m	816'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
1000' launch	-	-	777 m	2550'	304 m	998'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
1300' launch	-	-	867 m	2844'	394 m	1292'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
"High Tension" launch	-	-	892 m	2926'	419 m	1374'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
1500' launch	-	-	934 m	3064'	461 m	1512'	Altitude measured by GPS in ft on 2013/2/15. Middle of launch area.
Top drive-up launch	N 33° 49.159'	W 116° 56.336'	1128 m	3700'	655 m	2148'	Altitude obtained by Google Earth

For a great way to explore this flying site in 3D, see Google Earth's Local points of interest in the Maps section.

Time to hike from LZ by an average guy (2013/4/7, Jérôme, moderate pace, decent shape, 51 years old, 76°F at hike start) with his full PG gear (45 lb):
to 650' launch: 21 minutes.
to 800' launch: 26 minutes.
to 1000' launch: 33 minutes.

Paraglider Kiting Places / Zones de Gonglage Parapente

By distance from the LZ...

• 0.0 miles: Kiting hill at Soboba Flight Park. Location. 95% score: Grass, 10% turbulent, 10' raised terrain, 80'x60' size. Pictures: Close-up on 2013/2/17 + From above on 2013/2/17.
• 1.0 miles: Mount San Jacinto College, East field (East of main football field). Location. 90% score: 10% turbulent, 1' raised terrain, football field size. Dry at 1 pm. Football practice: Wednesday at 4 pm.
• 1.2 miles: Sagecrest Park. Location. 30% score: 40% turbulent (W wall), 2' sunk terrain.
• 2.0 miles: Granite Park. Location. 50% score: 30% turbulent, 5' sunk terrain.
• 2.1 miles: Col Lewis Millett Park. Location. 20% score: 50% turbulent (trees around park), 6' sunk terrain.
• 2.2 miles: Warneke Park. Location. 75% score: 15% turbulent, 1' raised terrain, 300'x500' size. Dry at 1 pm, water ON around 10:45 pm.
• 2.8 miles: Aaron J. Ward Park. Location. 25% score: 70% turbulent (bad for SW wind), 8' sunk terrain. Dry at 1 pm.
• 3.1 miles: Lynden Trail Park. Location. 10% score: 50% turbulent (N wall), 1' raised terrain. Wet & muddy at 1 pm.
• 4.0 miles: Tamarisk Park. Location. 10% score: 80% turbulent (W wall and moutain, N wall, E & S houses), 3' sunk terrain.

Insurance / Assurances

• You will need to become a USHPA member and it's not expensive for the 1 month membership. Just contact one of the Schools so you can take the one month membership for 10$. It is good all over the US for the 30 day period.
• Tu devras devenir un membre de l'USHPA et ce n'est pas cher pour être membre pour un mois. Tu as juste à contacter une des Ecoles afin de prendre le membersip d'un mois pour 10$. Ce sera bon pour tous les sites aux Etats-Unis pour une période de 30 jours.

Lodging / Hébergement

• Camping at the site, $5 per night per person.
• Google Maps: Local motels.

Image

Pictures I took (click thumbnail to open full size image in a new window)
Photos que j'ai prises (clique la petite image pour ouvrir la photo pleine grandeur dans une nouvelle fenêtre)

	2002/10/19	The "S" launch. Requires hiking.
		Le décollage "S". Requiert de la marche à pied.
	2002/10/19	The drive-up top launch.
		Le décollage au sommet accessible par voiture.
	2002/10/19	The towers and the launches.
		Les tours et les décollages.
	2002/10/19	The towers.
		Les tours.
	2002/10/19	The landing zone.
		La zone d'atterrissage.
	2006/5/20	Views of each direction.
		Vues dans chaque direction.
	2006/7/1	Arriving at Soboba from Elsinore.
		Arrivée à Soboba depuis Elsinore.
	2008/10/18	Flying to the casino. Flight details.
		Volant vers le casino. Détails du vol.
	2008/10/18	Convergence over the valley. Flight details.
		Convergence au-dessus de la vallée. Détails du vol.
	2008/10/18	Out-thermalling a sailplane. Flight details.
		Grimper plus vite qu'un planeur dans un thermique. Détails du vol.
	2013/2/17	New grass areas: Packing & Social, Kiting (not for landing). Jeff Sanchez flying. Jérôme folding on the kiting area after a good flight.
		Nouvelles zones en gazon: Repliage & Social, Gonflage (pas pour atterrir). Jeff Sanchez en vol. Jérôme replie sur l'aire de gonflage après un bon vol.
	2013/2/17	The mountain, far and close.
		La montagne, loin et proche.
	2013/2/17	The golf course to the SE.
		Le terrain de golf au SE.
	2013/2/17	The casino to the SE.
		Le casino au SE.
	2013/2/17	Jean-Noël Michel with his new wing.
		Jean-Noël Michel avec sa nouvelle aile.
	2013/3/2	650' launch, shade structure and bench. Over the ridge, facing NW.
		Décollage 650', structure pour ombre et banc. Au-dessus de la montagne, faisant face au NW.
	2013/4/16	Big convergence. The mountain, from far and Jean-Noël Michel.
		Grosse convergence. La montagne, de loin et Jean-Noël Michel.
	2013/4/30	All hike & fly: I hiked from my house (45 min to LZ) to launch, then flew back home.
		Tout par marche ou vol: J'ai marché depuis ma maison jusqu'au décollage, puis revenu en vol à la maison.
	2013/5/15	Massacre Canyon and Hwy 79 (Lamb Canyon). Over the ridge, facing SE, with Gold Base at bottom right.
		Massacre Canyon et Hwy 79 (Lamb Canyon). Au-dessus de la montagne, faisant face au SE, avec Gold Base en bas à droite.

Pictures/Images from others (click thumbnail to open full size image in a new window)
Photos/Images des autres (clique la petite image pour ouvrir la photo pleine grandeur dans une nouvelle fenêtre)

221 kB	2004/1	Picture by Darrel Wood, taken over "Wild West" paint ball area.
		Photo par Darrel Wood, prise au dessus de "Wild West" paint ball.

Video or Animation / Vidéo ou Animation

• My own collection.
• The Valley Connection: Interview.
• Speedfly Soboba - Opening Day of the "1050" Launch + Discussion.
• Dave Turner, 2013/1/26-29: A Soboba SpeedFlying Weekend! + Discussion. I'm on at 3:40.

Cross Country / Vol Voyage

• Good altitude and convergence flying over the valley (2008/10/18). Got good altitude over Soboba then glided to the casino in company of Joe and Bob (picture) and returned. Detected convergence over the valley (picture), glided to under a sailplane (picture) and out-thermaled him while drifting back to Soboba (picture). Then enyoyed more convergence flying (picture).

Hazards / Dangers

• Power line dividing the Wash LZ (picture).
• Power line going up the mountain to the right of launch (as if launching) going to the summit's towers.
• Shear layer about 60 m (200') above the LZ. Because of the LZ being close to the base of a steep montain side, LZ can be in catabatic flow, while above is still favorable for soaring. Must look at the LZ windsock for the direction of final glide, otherwise you will provide the entertainment.
• About going over-the-back (OTB):
  • Alan "alDpal" writes on 2003/11/10: The area behind Soboba that you thought about going over the (OTB) to sounds like Silent valley which can be distinguished by the large RV storage and campsites. This is the route that has often worked for me to get over the top of San Jacinto (in a sailplane), and or to make the crossing of the Banning pass to or from Gorgonio. The windmill farm you saw starts at the eastern side of the Banning pass. I would highly recommend that both HG and PG show extreme caution on entering this end of the Banning pass or working the North face of San Jac, because you are right, those windmills are there for a reason. Winds there can make for some hairy landings. It is advisable to have a chase crew leading and reporting ground conditions if you are going OTB.
  • "stebbins" writes on 2003/11/11: Please be careful when going over the back at Soboba. The Banning pass has killed at least one hang glider pilot due to winds, and I am told that there was at least one other death from the same cause. I have driven through it before, and I can vouch for the fact that 10 mph winds at the mouth become 40-50 sometimes inside the pass.