New Mexico Slope Flying Sites
submitted by Richard in Albuquerque
Jemez River Dam
Location approx 3-5 mi N of Bernalillo, NM. A lava mesa suitable for flying foamies and other disposable aircraft in S to WNW winds. Top of cliff is about 150 ft above reservoir. Wear sturdy boots or hiking shoes in the event a retrieval is necessary. Best wind conditions are January thru April. Beware of the very nasty rotor!! Be sure to bring extra strapping tape.
Detailed directions: Take I-25 to exit 242. Go W on Hiway 550 to the intersection of NM528 just past the Santa Ana Star Casino. Turn N on hiway and continue past the Santa Ana Golf Course. Continue straight for several miles to Jemez Canyon Dam, an Army Corp. of Engineers project. At the end of the road is a picnic area. All along the west and south facing cliff is flyable. One caveat–the mesa is Santa Ana Pueblo land–it may be off-limits during Pueblo religious activities and driving off of the paved road to the south face may be prohibited (depending upon who you talk to). More details can be found at:
http://www.slopecombat.freeservers.com/custom2.html
A topo map of the area can be found at:
http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=13&n=3916822&e=359461&s=25
Local Pilots
These are locations we have had the privilege to fly. Some may have access restrictions.
Check with local flyers for information.
As of March, 2009, Jemez Dam is effectively off-limits, at least according to one tribal officer. We (Albuquerque Soaring Assoc) may try to seek formal permission to fly there, but don’t count on it. Stay tuned…