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Mount Ascutney South Launch
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Mount Ascutney South Launch
Spot Info
Spot Details
PPG friendly
Not marked
Authorization
Not marked
Club / contract
Required
Launch faces
S
Forecast point
Ready
Access notes
This VHPA South launch is reached through Mount Ascutney State Park. While the park is open, meet and park across from the entrance, sign in with the ranger, show current USHPA/VHPA credentials, complete the annual waiver, pay the fee, drive to the summit lot, and hike about one-half mile to the launch. In the closed season, vehicle access exists only through the club's standing special-use permit and an authorized VHPA Apostle shuttle; the gate key is never loaned. P4/H4, Restricted Landing, and XC credentials are required, plus the current site introduction. A mandatory site-director check confirms whether the South bailout LZ is available that day.
Site rules
- Maintain current USHPA and VHPA membership and the annual state waiver; this launch is strictly P4/H4 with current RL and XC skills.
- Follow the ranger sign-in, fee, summit-road, dusk vehicle-removal, and current park closure procedures. In the closed season use only a club-authorized special-use-permit shuttle.
- Before every South launch, check in with the site director so the private bailout LZ owner and current livestock/field availability can be confirmed.
- Treat climbing and going XC as Plan A, the club's west-side designated LZs as Plan B, and the small South bailout at 43.415080,-72.450880 as Plan C.
- Keep hikers clear, do not trim trees, leave no trace, do not camp, and use a live GPS tracker with a known communication plan.
- Do not infer PPG permission. This row documents foot-launched PG only.
Launch directions
S
Direction notes
Official ideal sector is approximately 170-195 degrees. Light east or west components may appear launchable, but crosswind thermal movement is a primary hazard.
Safety notes
- The natural rock launch is brushy and constricted at the top of a forested bowl. Strong glider handling and a square, fully pressurized launch are essential.
- Crosswind thermals can sweep across launch, and the bowl funnels both meteo wind and thermal cycles. The published PG range is about 5 mph minimum, 8 mph ideal, and 12 mph maximum.
- The South bailout is a small sloping hay/pasture field, may be unmowed, may hold livestock, has no maintained windsock, and requires about a 4.7:1 glide.
- A 300-plus-foot communications tower and difficult-to-see guy wires stand roughly one-quarter mile west-northwest of launch and can interfere with radios and instruments.
- Cell service is poor. Spring instability, rotor, venturi, active sink, valley-flow differences, and forested terrain demand conservative glide and emergency margins.
Additional notes
The approximate Mount Ascutney automated candidate resolves to this exact current South launch. This is operationally distinct from the Northwest PG and lower T-Bar launches, with a different aspect, access branch, rating, flight plan, and required bailout.
Map pin (exact launch)
Exact South Launch coordinate published in the current VHPA Mount Ascutney guide.
Official website
https://vhga.aero/flying-sites/mount-ascutney/Reviews
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Airspace status