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Home > Flying Sites > Mount Watatic Mount Watatic Slope Site[Courtesy of Jan Kansky, May 1999] Guys, here is the info I promised on my slope soaring outing to Mt. Watatic in Ashburnam, Massachusetts. On a good day, you can see downtown Boston from the peak of Mt. Wataic. It's roughly 45 miles from my place in Concord, Massachusetts. I can reach the peak in roughly an hour and a half if you include the hiking time. About the same as driving to the Cape from Concord. The following map shows it nicely. The coutour intervals are 3 meters, and I counted about 800ft of vertical. This used to be a ski area, but that is now closed. The place to fly from is not the main peak, but the bald secondary peak to the south-east of the main peak. The bald area is not level so there is a good chance a landing may be into the side of solid rock. This place is only acceptable for flying foamies. I wouldn't risk your balsa or composite plane, besides hiking up the trail with a large plane would be silly. The best wind direction is from the south-east. 5-10 mph as reported by NOAA weather radio in Worcester is plenty exciting. Winds anywhere east to southwest are also good. Winds on the peak are often much higher than reported by NOAA... beware.
To drive there go on Rt. 2 West, exit onto Rt. 140, and then soon there after onto Rt. 101 North. On the lower left hand corner of the topographic map you will see where Rt. 101 connects. Turn left at this intersection (ignore the Mt. Watatic sign telling you to turn right). If you prefer a steep/strenuous 20 minute hike to the top then park in the small asphalt pull off that will be on your right at the point on the map labeled Wapack trail. If you prefer a longer 45 minute and less slightly less strenuous hike continue to point labeled 381.0 on the topo map, and follow the hiking trail signs to Mt. Watatic. I have hiked both ways and prefer the steep short way, but trust me I've done a lot of hiking and am in good shape and I still think it's a real haul. It follows an old abandoned power line for the fire tower that used to be on the top of Watatic, so it goes straight up the hill with some rocky 45 degree sections. Plan on having all your gear in a backpack and you plane in one hand, or possible strapped to your pack. Even if you are not flying, this is a great area for hiking. It is the start of the Wapack Trail. Here's a trail map:
The series of ridges heading north make this a greak place for the annual hawk migration (mainly September and October). I wouldn't fly here during the migration because the bird-watchers will probably not appreciate it.Here is a picture I spliced together from the main peak looking at the bald lower peak to the south-east.
Here is where you throw your plane if the wind is from the southeast. Note the terrain. This place is for foamies only. I wouldn't want to land anything that doesn't bounce back into the side of one of those rocks!
Enjoy! |
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