Doherty Slide

Doherty Slide, U.S. 140 near Nevada Border.

Soarable: Yes, Ridge/Thermal, popular as a great late afternoon glass-off site (to 11,000’+ until after sunset has occurred).

Location: 48 m mi. E-SE of Lakeview, Sec. 12, T. 41 S., R. 27 E.; 42*01’29”N, 119*28’51”W at 6,000’; launch from developed site near the top of Guano Rim.

Access: 60 mi. of paved highway from Lakeview, 27.5 mi. E. of Adel.

Route: Drive N from Lakeview on U.S. Hwy 395 about 6 mi. to U.S. 140, turn right (E) on 140 and go about 53 mi. E. The site is on Guano Rim, about 10 miles W-NW of the Nevada border. As you go east, after a cold drink at the Adel Store, 140 swings S-SE, climbs up Greaser Canyon and Blizzard Gap, then heads E. and drops down into Guano Valley. Guano Rim is a high, W facing basalt scarp on the E. side of Guano Valley. Highway 140 ascends steeply up a section of road known as Doherty Slide (also spelled Daugherty, and several other ways). There is a large pullout at the top of Doherty. From the pullout the BLM has constructed a gravel road access back to the W for 0.4 mi. that ends at the small parking area. There is also a launch pad built right at the edge of the rim. If the traffic is heavy, the parking area at the end of the road may not have enough room, so please ferry equipment down. (Stay on the gravel surfaces with vehicles!!!) Additional overflow parking is available about 400 yards E at a large gravel quarry above the rim.

Launch: The site was developed in cooperation with Oregon State Highways and BLM to provide a safe launch area that would not cause traffic safety problems. The launch pad is .4 miles down a dirt road, out on a point with access to winds from the SW through NW.

Landing: Usual landing zone is at the base of the rim, 1 mile N. of 140, along the dirt Beatty’s Butte road (BLM Road 6176). This area is all most devoid of sagebrush. A windsock is strongly recommended. A dirt road also runs S. from Highway 140 along the base of the rim with 2 good LZ’s for sled rides.

Protocol: Unregulated, USHGA H3 with Turb. and AWCL recommended H2 in early or late light wind, although it’s often to S. early. The late afternoon smooth but strong glass-off can be very hard to get down from and it gets dark fast in the uninhibited desert.

Camping: Adel Store on the way out to Doherty on 140 has several R.V. spaces, plus a restaurant and gas station. Plush is North.

Records: Chris Price briefly held the world record for a flex wing on a
Rogallo here, in 1974, with a 13.5 mile flight along the ridge! See “On My Way Down The Wind”, Nov., 1974. This is a good lace for your Lilienthal Gold 6.2 mi. out and return too. Nevada is easy.

Maps: A highway map will do nicely. The USGS 7.5 min. Antelope Butte, OR, shows the beautiful contours. The similar Rocky Canyon is next N. The USGA Adel, OR, NK11-41:250,000(1/4”=1mi.), 1970, is necessary for flights NE 51.1 mi. to Frenchglen or further.

Other Nearby Sites: Black Cap & Tague’s Butte are closest Lakeview sites.

Misc.: This site is magic! One can fly Sugar Hill in the morning and Doherty in the evening. Prepare for visual overload near sunset. Black Cap’s new launches have reduced the afternoon flying here. Spaulding Wilderness Study Area runs from the north edge of 140 N. for 17 mi. to Buckaroo Pass. There’s no X-Country vehicle use allowed in Wilderness Study Areas.