SUGAR HILL

California, Modoc National Forest Lookout.

Soarable: Yes, Ridge/Thermal, SW predominant wind in a.m. straight in at launch, excellent X-C potential to the N-NE. See Records.

Access: 11 mi. 2WD dirt road from U.S. 395.

Route: Take U.S. 395 13 mi. S. from Lakeview, OR, to New Pine Creek, OR, on the OR/CA border (gas, food, camping at Goose Lake State Campground, $10/night 1990 rate). Continue 7.3 mi. S. on 395, turn left (E) on “County Road 47/FS Road 30”. (46N30). At 2.3 mi. continue past “9 mi. to Sugar L.O. sign. At 5.4 mi. cross Lassen Cr. Bridge onto 46N06 and continue past nice Lassen Creek campground. Continue 4.0 mi. up N.E. flank of Sugar Hill. Turn right on 46N06, Sugar Hill L.O. 2.0,” continue 1.6 mi. up to launch in saddle just past Gaston Spring (on left, good water).

Launch: 7,180’, 2,400’ AGL, SW-facing, moderate sloped hillside, setup on road between launch and lookout tower (7,267), sheltered outhouse near N side of tower, ticks in bushes in the spring.

Landing: Very good X-C site, huge private fields W of launch between Goose Lake and 395, 6 mi. S of 395/Co. Rd. 47 turnoff, 3:1,4, 700’ MSL. 26-mi. flights N to Lakeview and beyond common.

Protocol: Unregulated, USHGA H3 with Turb. Recommended, especially in the afternoon. Sugar can be a rough ride until you give up or leave.

Camping: Goose Lake, OR State Campground at New Pine Creek on OR/CA border, $48 elect./water/hot showers /grass and trees, $10, no reservations, is popular Lakeview area camping, especially for Sugar area flyers. Lassen Creek Campground (Forest Service), along Lassen Creek on Road 46N06 in the meadow, looks very appealing too.

Records: 40 mi. N to top landing at old Abert Rim L.O., by Ron Enck, 7-88, from lower Sugar Hill. “ Sweet and Low” launch at Ramers. 43.3 mi. N-NE to Priday Reservoir, 11 mi.N. of Adel, by Doug Hildreth, 7-4-89. Record is 85-mi. flight N along U.S. 395, by Dave Hopkins, 7-90 Hopkins and Terry Taggert (7-91, 69 mi.) have flown NE past Doherty Slide. Ray Berger flew a 79-miler to Rock Creek Reservoir (N of Hart Mtn. towards Frenchglen) in 9-91. Get to 10,000 MSL before trying X-C the first crucial 5 mi. crossing N-NE over Fandango Valley.

Maps: USGS 15-min. (1”=1mi.) Willow Ranch, 1962; Alturas NK 10-9 1:250,000 (1/4”=1mi.), 1971; Modoc National Forest Pacific Northwest Region (3/8”=1 mi.), 1986, from Modoc N.F. Supervisor’s Office, P.O. Box 661, Alturas, CA 96101. (916) 233-5811.

Nearby Sites: “Sweet and Low” also possibly known as “Lower Sugar” or “Ramers”, Sec. 15, T. 46N R. 14 E., 1.7 mi. NW of Sugar Hill launch, 5,600’, 1,000 AGL, used when Sugar is blown out, see Records. Also Fandango Pass, Sec. 1, T.45 N., R.15 E., 6 mi. E of Sugar Hill E-facing site overlooking Ft. Bidwell and Upper Lake, see USGS 15-min. Fort Bidwell, CA-OR,1962.

Misc.: Drivers: Be sure to stop at the unique Stringer’s Orchard Wild Plum Winery, in New Pine Creek, OR, on the way back to camp.