Rattlesnake Crater Slope Soaring
Here is another option for slope soaring in the Cinder Cone area East of Flagstaff. Rattlesnake is a beautiful crescent shaped crater that is very flyable in SSW to SW winds. The views are fantastic!
This site is located about seven miles from the Winona exit on I-40. The roads are mostly graded dirt, but you will need 4WD to make the last half mile up to the top of the crater.
(You can also access the site via a good dirt road just East of our Flying field.)
Access:
Take I-40 to the Winona Exit. Turn Left (North) onto Townsend Winona Road and just after you pass over the Freeway take a Right (East) turn onto the Angell Road. This frontage road parallels the Freeway. The road is paved for the first mile or so and then turns into a graded dirt road. At about 2.5 miles take a Left (North) on the Turrell Crater Road. You will follow this road to Rattlesnake Crater. You will pass under the railroad at mile three (be careful at this blind and narrow set of curves). Later you will come to a "Y" intersection. Follow the Turrell Crater Road to the Left.
At about mile six you will intersect the road coming off the left side of Rattlesnake Crater. If you don't have 4WD you might want to try this route since it is less steep. Otherwise continue driving to an obvious saddle (Rattlesnake Crater on your Left) and when over the saddle look for a two-track road on the Left. Turn here and traverse around to the Left. Take the next Left up the slope to the Flying site. You will need 4WD to make it up this narrow, twisting and steep two-track road. Park at the "top" of the crater in the obvious level area. Walk to the SW and launch over the cliff face.
Download a printable map and directions to Sheba and Merriam Crater.(344 KB PDF)
Dynamic Soaring (DS)
The back side of this crater has some potential for Dynamic Soaring... in SSW-WSW winds.
The best spot is near the "top" of the crater, a little East of the Launch spot. There is an obvious clearing in the Juniper trees. Launch on the SW side and gain some altitude. Walk back towards the clearing and then attempt your first DS circle.
Good Luck!