Mount Zion

• Wind directionSSW (202°) → NW (315°)
• Ideal speed3–12 mph
• Upper limits≤ 15 mph base · gusts ≤ 18

Mount Zion (12,126 ft MSL) is a high-alpine hike-and-fly THERMAL launch in the Mosquito Range near Leadville, Lake County, CO — NOT the well-known low-elevation Mt. Zion/Lookout in Golden. Confirmed on ParaglidingEarth (Lake County cluster alongside Prospector Mtn, Mosquito Pass, Ball Mtn, Mount Arkansas, Chicago Ridge), which lists ALL EIGHT octants (N,NE,E,SE,S,SW,W,NW) as viable — consistent with a near-omnidirectional summit/ridge launch. No explicit speed numbers in any club/USHPA guide were found; speeds below are conservative high-altitude inferences. IDEAL arc biased toward the prevailing W/SW upper flow of the Colorado high country (SSW~202 through NW~315); other directions (the marginal arc, NW around through S) are launchable depending on which face/aspect you set up on, but become cross/lee on a given launch and degrade with any velocity. KEY HAZARDS: extreme density altitude means real groundspeed/true-airspeed is well above indicated — you get pushed back and penetrate poorly, so keep base wind genuinely light (treat ~12 mph as the practical ceiling, ~15 absolute, gusts past ~18 = no-go). Strong, punchy alpine thermals and rapid cycle cooking May–Sep; frequent afternoon thunderstorm/overdevelopment (build by early afternoon) — fly morning or evening glass-off, watch for rotor/lee-side rough air behind the summit and venturi acceleration through gaps/passes. Advanced/experienced mountain pilots only; strong ground-handling and altitude acclimatization essential. No formal LZ data found — scout retrieve/landing options before committing.