Hello, pilots! 

The Rio Grande Soaring Association will host its annual Columbus Day Gathering in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Friday October 10th through Monday October 13th, 2025

The long-range forecast looks good. Should be pleasant temperatures, clear skies, winds light to moderate and mostly west and southwest. Very nice for Dry Canyon!

Camping is permitted at the freshly re-seeded, wonderfully green and smooth Hang Glider Park LZ and within 100 feet of roads in the Lincoln National Forest. The mountain town of Cloudcroft is just 20 minutes' drive away, where tall pines and golden aspens may please your family while you're soaring high.

The road is in decent shape, as far as the road to Dry goes. The forest service took a bulldozer up there in March 2023, it's still rough, but if you have a sturdy 4x4 you will make it. The RGSA has no organized 4x4s, so we are counting on pilots to help get each other to launch.

Hang Glider Park LZ improvements are 95% complete following the RGSA/Free Flight Foundation donation of $8000.00. The irrigation pump has been repaired, the sprinklers are working, the soil was turned and seeded and the City has resumed regular mowing of the field. It looks amazing, best in 30 years!

A porta-potty will be delivered to the LZ on Friday. Anyone who shows up early, please take possession of the Shade Structure; use of it is 1st come 1st served basis, so we need to occupy it. We are trying to provide some beer and food and a BBQ grill, but we are not certain when we can get them there. So, come prepared!

Dry always amazes - it can be blown out for a 100-mile radius and Dry will still work. The summer's heat is fading and our autumn conditions are making an appearance at last! Come and fly with us at Dry Canyon, where you can find big desert thermals, 100+ mile XC flights and evening glassoffs, right above a town full of friendly people, good hotels and plenty of eateries. No fees, although we greatly appreciate donations and pilots becoming members of the RGSA. Just come out and enjoy some of the best hang gliding and paragliding that this nation has to offer. Contact us for directions and conditions and any kind of assistance. We'll hope to be soaring with you soon!


The above sat image is dated – the LZ is now amazingly green thanks to the Free Flight Foundation/RGSA grant!

Turnoff to Main LZ, off of Fairgrounds Road  https://goo.gl/maps/b4qgBUWTwuiWtWfq9
32°55'38.4"N 105°56'48.1"W 32.927336, -105.946698

RGSA legacy frequency is 151.925, no DCS. Growing in popularity in the southwest, \we are encouraging pilots to use 151.505, DCS 025, TX and RX. (If your radio differentiates between R and N (normal) mode, choose N). We can help configure your radio for DCS if needed.

Although Memorial Day weekend is when the big XC flights are typically done from Dry, may pilots prefer the mellower autumn air on Columbus Day weekend. TOUL will be at 12-14k, no need to worry about Oxy. Come and fly with us at Dry Canyon, where you can boat in big desert thermals and relax in evening glass-offs, right above a town full of friendly people, good hotels and plenty of eateries. 

Details on flying Dry Canyon here: Dry Canyon Site Info  rgsa.info, sites.

Norm Bloom (RGSA President)  (575) 491-0456             

Steve Crye (RGSA Webmaster)  (915) 549-1631