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"J. Dutch Revenboer" news:3CF3B7C6.437F7212@fullnet.net... > There are no hills in Oklahoma. I can stand on a beer can and see > downtown Toronto. > > Dutch > Edmond, OK > > Lee Willcox wrote: > > > > Once up on a time, there were a couple of hills in central Oklahoma that a > > person could > > paraglide off of. I saw the web pages a few years ago. Does anyone out there > > remember where they are and how to get to them? > > > > Lee@WillcoxWebs.com3 Go east young man, go east. Southeast that is. We have Mt. Scott in Lawton (southwestern OK), but I think its about the only one, and all by its self. Dont remember for sure, but I think its near a 1000 ft vertical drop. My favorites are in the southeastern part of the state. Buffalo Mtn at Talihina was still active a year or so ago. Its a 1000 to 1300 ft vertical ridge about seven miles long, 3 or four of which are usually easily soarable facing mainly south. Landing areas are the limitation here. You would want to check with some of the locals on specific details. About 15 miles ENE of Talahina on highway 1 is also Winding Stair Mtn. Its a north face with a 1500 ft vertical, maybe more, with a semi-bowl shape about 3/4 mile wide. I have never flown it myself, but it is was posted at to who to contact at the top. If your ever down that way, Winding Stair is at the west end of The Talimena Scenic Drive. Its about a 50 mile drive between Talihina OK and Mena AR. Highway 1 runs pretty much the top of a beautiful ridge line with several overlooks, camp ground and hiking trails. In some areas the vertical drop would be close to 2000 if you could find a place to take off and land. Its all part of the Ouachita National Forest, so there is plenty of trees and you cant cut any of them. Heavener used to be the best. It was the site of the 1977 (I believe) US Nationals for the USHGA. Its located 1 mile east of Heavner OK with a 750 ft west face, rapping around through a 900 ft southwest face, that continues to rap to about a 700 to 1000 ft south ridge that goes for several miles. If flying is still allowed there it will probably be on the south face. Poteau Mtn probably has more than one launch area, but I have visited the southeast face in the last year or so. I offers a vertical drop of about 1800 ft I believe, and is located a few miles north of Heavener. All these areas are located about 60 to 80 miles east of McAlester, and/or 40 to 60 miles south of Sallisaw (I40 near Fort Smith AR). You would have to check with the local flyers on take off and landing areas because its been so long since I flew them, I dont have a clue what the current policies are. But even if your just passing through Oklahoma on I-40, its a good place to spend a day or so. Certainly my favorite part of the state for more reasons than one. Its also interesting to point out that Sallisaw is just 25 miles or so east of last weekend bridge failure in I-40. Cheers, Tom |
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