The Whaleback

CA
41.5340°, -122.1530° Directions ↗

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Showing Paragliding — switch wings up top ↑
Not flyable
Medium confidence · · Run: HRRR
The sun has set — no daylight left to fly
NESW 283° WNW
Current conditions
Flyability score
100
/100 · paragliding
Wind
8
mph base
Gusts
13
mph
Direction
WNW
283°
Aloft
13
WNW @ridge
Thermals
Calm
base ~5773ft
Temp
64°
F
Cloudbase
13,168
ft MSL
Elevation
7,395
ft MSL
Sunrise
6:01 AM
local
Sunset
8:28 PM
local
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Where it is

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Flyable Caution / slim window Not flyable
What we look for at The Whaleback

Wind direction

W (260°) → WNW (300°)

The wind must blow from within this arc. Direction is the same for both wings.

Ideal speed

3–14 mph

Ceiling · Paragliding

≤ 19 mph base · gusts ≤ 23

Top of the range for paragliding (any rating) — switch wings up top to compare. Hang gliders hold roughly 10 mph more than paragliders.

High-altitude foot-launch (~7,400 ft) on the Klamath NF just north of Mt. Shasta, run by RVHPA. Flies on NW-through-SW winds; east is over the back and south days are better spent at Herd Peak across Hwy 97. Evening glass-off is the sweet spot, as midday goes strong and thermic with real density-altitude, overdevelopment, cloud-suck, and dust-devil hazards. P3/H3 minimum (P2/H2 only with a mentor); 5:1 glide to the NW LZ where winds strengthen near the ground.

Window data compiled from rvhpa.org, rvhpa.org, fs.usda.gov — public site guides and club resources.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Thursday Flyable flyable 7pm–8pm
6a
10g14
SSW
7a
8g14
S
8a
9g15
S
9a
9g12
S
10a
9g11
S
11a
6g8
S
12p
8g10
S
1p
5g7
SW
2p
4g8
W
3p
5g11
SW
4p
7g13
W
5p
6g11
W
6p
8g15
NW
7p
7g10
WNW
8p
8g13
WNW
Flyable 4pm–8pm — best around 2pm: 4 mph W, gusts 8. 2 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 6pm–8pm — smooth, light WNW ~7 mph (a touch cross), clear evening sky, the day heated up well.
✓ Light, smooth wind– Edge of the window– Wind dying off into evening✓ Clear skies (radiative cooling)✓ Day built a thermal layer
Friday Flyable flyable 3pm–6pm
6a
6g11
S
7a
7g11
SSW
8a
6g12
S
9a
7g10
S
10a
8g11
S
11a
7g8
SSW
12p
5g9
SSW
1p
4g11
SW
2p
6g14
WSW
3p
7g12
WNW
4p
8g12
W
5p
9g13
W
6p
9g13
W
7p
8g14
WNW
8p
8g15
WNW
Flyable 1pm–8pm — best around 3pm: 7 mph WNW, gusts 12. 4 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 6pm–8pm — smooth, light W ~9 mph (a touch cross), clear evening sky, the day heated up well.
– Light, smooth wind– Edge of the window– Wind dying off into evening✓ Clear skies (radiative cooling)✓ Day built a thermal layer
Saturday Flyable flyable 11am–3pm
6a
6g6
WNW
7a
7g8
W
8a
4g10
W
9a
5g13
WSW
10a
5g13
WSW
11a
7g10
W
12p
10g11
W
1p
10g13
WNW
2p
11g15
WNW
3p
13g17
WNW
4p
13g18
WNW
5p
13g19
WNW
6p
7g19
WNW
7p
6g19
WNW
8p
5g17
W
Flyable 10am–5pm — best around 6am: 6 mph WNW, gusts 6. 5 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Sunday Flyable flyable 6am–7am
6a
1g4
NNE
7a
1g6
N
8a
2g8
NNW
9a
3g10
NW
10a
4g13
NW
11a
5g15
WNW
12p
5g17
WNW
1p
6g18
NW
2p
6g19
NW
3p
6g19
WNW
4p
7g19
WNW
5p
7g18
WNW
6p
6g18
WNW
7p
6g18
WNW
8p
5g17
W
Flyable 6am–7am — best around 6am: 1 mph NNE, gusts 4.
Monday Not flyable no window
6a
3g10
ENE
7a
2g9
NE
8a
2g9
NNE
9a
2g11
NNW
10a
3g13
NW
11a
4g15
NW
12p
5g16
NW
1p
5g16
NW
2p
6g17
NW
3p
6g17
NW
4p
6g18
NW
5p
5g19
NW
6p
4g19
NW
7p
1g20
W
8p
1g20
SSW
No usable window today.
Tuesday Caution workable 7am
6a
2g8
SE
7a
1g9
SE
8a
1g10
S
9a
1g11
W
10a
3g13
WNW
11a
4g15
NW
12p
5g16
NW
1p
6g17
NW
2p
6g17
NW
3p
6g18
NW
4p
6g19
WNW
5p
5g19
WNW
6p
4g19
W
7p
2g19
W
8p
2g18
WSW
Borderline only 7am — best around 7am: 1 mph SE, gusts 9. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Wednesday Not flyable no window
6a
3g7
SE
7a
2g9
SE
8a
2g10
SSE
9a
1g12
SW
10a
2g14
WNW
11a
4g16
WNW
12p
4g17
WNW
1p
5g17
W
2p
5g18
W
3p
5g20
WSW
4p
6g21
WSW
5p
6g22
WSW
6p
5g22
WSW
7p
5g23
SW
8p
4g22
SW
No usable window today.
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Conditions are an automated estimate from public forecast models, not a go/no-go call. Always check the sky, talk to locals, and fly within your rating. You are responsible for your own safety.