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

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