Blanchard Hill, located at the north end of the Skagit valley, is an excellent site for P-2 + pilots. Overlooking Samish Bay, the view from the west launch includes the San Juan and Gulf islands. Moving to the south launch two hundred feet away, completes the panorama from the blue waters of the San Juan Islands to the ever-changing patchwork quilt of farmland tucking in the northern Skagit Valley. Blanchard Hill is the head poking out of the quilt. It's a great area to explore in the unlikely event you are unable to launch. There may not be a more relaxing place to fly.

There is a prickly little porcupine who may come out to hassle you on launch. Ignoring this Garden Gnome-like creature is your best tactic. If that doesn't work, try complements, which work for even the prickliest of creatures. Do not feed him, whatever you do. He seems to be attracted to paragliders more than to hang gliders, and to be quite territorial about the remaining stump at the base of the west launch slope.

There is a dip between the top of the west launch and “the lip” at the bottom. In light air, beware of “hitting the lip” caused by sitting back in your harness too early. In light cycles, “run it out”.

The LZ is private property, but the owner has given permission to land there, except when the hay is tall and ready to cut. Please be sensitive to the concerns of this property owner, which means: don't block the driveway, stay away from the house, don't block the road, and don't bother the neighbors. Keep the number of parked cars to a minimum. There is additional parking along the road near the organic garden a quarter of a mile - at the first intersection - to the south. If you were to upset this very gracious property owner, you would also incur the wrath of many pilots.

If you have to bail-out in any of the other fields, we do not have permission, so bunch up and get out of there as quietly as possible. Beware of crisscrossing power lines to the various farmhouses.

Blanchard is a thermal as well as a ridge-soaring site. It is good in anything but a strong east or north component. Because of its easy access and short 20-minute turn-around, Blanchard is good, even if only for sledders. With a driver you can do sled rides all day, so it's a good place for newer pilots to practice launches and landings.

The site is home to a few birds of prey which, on occasion, will mark the lift and fly with you.

From Seattle

From Seattle
- Take Alger Exit #240 off I-5
- Head west on Samish Lake Road for approximately 1/2 mile.
- Take your first hard left (more than 90 degrees) onto Barrel Springs Road.
- Approximately 6/10 of a mile, turn right on Blanchard Hill Road. It's a dirt road marked by a large "clear cut."
- On the gravel road you will pass by trailhead parking for Lizard and Lily Lakes. After approximately 1.6 miles, turn left on gravel road. (T intersection) There is an old, rusty-looking barrel gate, swung back on this road. We've never seen it closed.
- Go approximately 2.2 more miles to the end of the road.

From LZ
- Go south from LZ on Chuckanut, take your first left
- Go to stop sign at two carved bears on a stump. Turn right onto Colony Road, Stay on Colony a few miles until you come to Woods Road (a T intersection across from a blue barn with a white corral fence). Turn left onto Woods Road and go to first intersection. Bearing right onto Barrel Springs Road, continue on to Blanchard Hill Road, a DNR maintained gravel road. Follow the earlier directions to launch.

By car only. From LZ to launch takes about 20 minutes.

coming soon

To get to the Longhorn Tavern in Edison, go south from the LZ to the gas station/post office intersection called Bow (Approx. 2 miles). Turn right (west), go a couple of miles to Edison. If you don't take a left once in the limits of Edison, you will run smack dab into the Longhorn Tavern. It's also a touring motorcycle destination.