Soaring from the base of a cliff

[dariiusbullet]

There's this perfect stretch of soarable coastline near me with plenty of safe bottom landing options at low tide, but no safe high launch spots. I'm curious, has anyone had luck launching from the base of a sloped cliff and climbing up into lift from there? Wondering how doable that actually is.

 

[silentskysurfer]

Last summer, I gave something like this a shot by a coastal cliff. Taking off from the bottom and hiking up to catch the lift can really work if the wind is consistent and the slope isn't too steep. But it can be tricky, steep or rocky areas can create some challenges. It's definitely easier if you've got some experience with ridge soaring and a wing that performs well at slower speeds. Don't forget to look for safe landing spots, and it's a good idea to have someone on the ground to lend a hand.

 

[dariiusbullet]

Last summer, I gave something like this a shot by a coastal cliff. Taking off from the bottom and hiking up to catch the lift can really work if the wind is consistent and the slope isn't too steep. But it can be tricky, steep or rocky areas can create some challenges. It's definitely easier if you've got some experience with ridge soaring and a wing that performs well at slower speeds. Don't forget to look for safe landing spots, and it's a good idea to have someone on the ground to lend a hand.

That's really helpful, sounds like its doable with the right conditions and gear. I'm guessing wind direction and strength are everything here. When you did it, how consistent was the lift once you were in the air?? And did you find the terrain affected the airflow more than expected?