As a general rule of thumb, Elsinore is not recommended for “new” or inexperienced pilots (HG or PG), and it is advisable to hook up with (competent) locals or other visiting pilots that have experience there.  Doing sled rides early in the day from Edwards or within Edwards bowl and landing at the primary LZ usually should not involve much unusual risk, unless there are strong cross winds from (relatively) North or South winds. Strong Cross winds will result in rotor behind either of the two spines that make up the Edwards bowl.  Overall the entire Elsinore ridge has a lot of spines and irregularities that make it NOT a laminar flow ridge like much of the flying at Crestline or Marshall.  Edwards typically has morning updrafts from the valley that build up thru the morning, but then are reversed into a downhill (tailwind) launch conditions due to the normal onshore flow reaching Elsinore, and that typically happens mid-day, but can be affected by the bigger or overall weather or wind patterns that may be passing thru.  Despite this brief overview, I strongly recommend you hook up with someone with experience flying Elsinore for your first flight(s) there.  And later in the day beware of passing sailplanes, especially if they are flashing the Claw out of the side vent 😮.  See you in the air, Alan.

By the way we are just coming into the best months of the year for ridge soaring Elsinore due to off shor “Santa Ana”winds.  Great fun flying, but again seek out experienced pilots before you try to fly in Santa Ana conditions

Elsinore is really a P4 site.. work on your chops, get closer to 50 flights then reply. For reference, I (10 year pilot) took a 100% collapse last week on a light non thermic day and went into freefall only about 200 feet up and recovered after losing about 70 feet. I was going for reserve when I reinflated.

This was due to a NNW direction, causing rotor and I recognized it and was leaving that ridge when it happened. Like Alan said there is a lot of rotor due to the complex geography, rapid shifting winds, and also the large amount of proximity flying we do. It’s a scratchy site in many ways.

Mornings aren’t all that safe they’re weird and lumpy as catabatic gradually becomes anabatic among different portions of the rugged terrain. It isn’t like a morning flight off the 750. That’s West facing. Elsinore is East (really NE) facing, this greatly affects how mornings work.

If you are at AJX you are at the best training site in the world. Focus on your kiting, launching, spot landing, and rack up some hours with great people you can learn a lot from 👍 when you’re ready for war, Elsinore is waiting. We can teach you how to fly it as safe (as possible) and it will improve you as a pilot everywhere.

Focus on your foundations for now.