- Site Rating: Not officially rated but a minimum of a P3 is recommended
- Launch Elevation: 4,610'
- LZ Elevation: 3,100'
- Best Time of Year to Fly: August & September
- Best Time of Day to Fly: 4PM to Twilight

An extremely scenic mountain site with areas that produce both thermal and mechanical lift. If conditions are right you can soar the rock cliffs behind and to the north of launch. Once over the cliffs you'll have views of several small mountain lakes, Snoqualmie Pass, and Mt. Rainier.

This is an unregulated site, however, a site orientation from a knowledgeable paraglider and/or hangglider pilot is highly advised.

The local paragliders have built a rock slope just wide enough for a single glider. Due to a very steep cliff in front of and to the south of launch you have about 4 steps and then you have to launch or abort. There is VERY little margin for error.

There are two LZ's located along the North & South shores of Keechelus Lake. Located just east of Snoqualmie Pass's summit, Rampart can be subject to high winds that develop quickly and rotor from Hyak Moutain. As such "active piloting" keeping the glider loaded while landing is very important.

This is a ridge and thermal soaring site.

Heading east on I-90 take exit 54 just past Snoqualmie Summit. Off the exit take a right and then your first left onto NFD2219 Trail. Shortly after the road turns right (south) and follows the dry lake bed. There are several turn offs to the left (east). The LZ is coverd by a lake in the winter. Water must be below 2,400 feet

The primary LZ is at the north end of Lake Keechelus, however this is talk that landing on the south end, near the dam, has much smoother air. However retreival from here is a bit more difficult.

- Google Maps
- GPS Coordinates - 47º 22.853N    121º 22.840W
- Google KMZ file
- Kevin Cosley has a picture of the LZ and notes attached

Going east on I-90 take the Hyak exit and follow the road north under I-90. Turn east on the frontage road that parallels I-90 on the north. Drive east on the frontage road which reduces to a single lane paved road after about a mile and then turns into a maintained, two-lane, grvel road.

Take the second left onto a single-lane, gravel road and follow this road to the next left turnoff road. This road travels up the southeast side of Rampart Ridge to the launch.

Initial access is good via the paved two lane road and maintained gravel road. Further up the access road is reduced to a single lane a 4WD is strongly vehicle is recommended as the road is rutted and rocky.

– GPS Coordinates - 47º 22.961N    121º 21.966W
- Google KMZ file

It is approximately a 30 minute drive from the highway to launch.

- MM5 Soundings 1pm 4pm
- Panoramic (interactive) image of the Rampart Ridge

At Saddle we are flying in EA-6 and C-17 military training routes (MTRs).

Before flying, phone Whidbey Naval Air Operations 800.360.3050 or 360.257.2877. Tell them you are a citizen pilot flying paraglider and are checking on scheduled flights on VR 1355 MTR.

IMPORTANT
Base Operations close at 16:00 Friday. If you're planning a Sat/Sun/Mon flight, phone on Friday as their schedules are done. (If you forget, try their number on the weekend anyway.) Ensure the person understands what you are asking. They might give you ZULU times, so double-check. If you fly xc, invest in a Seattle Sectional Aeronautical Chart. Washington is cross-crossed with MTRs.

MOST IMPORTANT
You will only be told scheduled flights that are public. That is, there could also be other scheduled flights, plus "unscheduled" flights. EYES AND EARS!! They have the right-of-way.

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