11/05/01Eagle Butte and Kiona Butte
11/05/01
Eagle
wind
Kiona wind
Area weather station map
Mid-Columbia Soarer's Website
Located near Richland in Eastern Washington, Eagle Butte and Kiona Butte are two of the premier slope sites in the state. Richland is reached from Seattle by driving east on Interstate 90 past Ellensburg, then exiting on I-82 to Yakima and on to Richland. It's about a 3.5 hour drive. See maps below.
Please read and observe the following statement from Wil Byers, who has worked tirelessly to make Eagle Butte available to us slope flyers:
"It does, however, come with some responsibility. First and foremost, you MUST be an AMA member, and have your card with you when you visit the site. Second, it means you MUST follow the AMA rule book and safety code. Third, there will be no alcohol consumption allowed while flying at the site. Forth, you MUST observe the necessary frequency control to avoid accidents. Fifth, please limit the number of vehicles at the site and where they are parked. Parking is allowed only on the slope side of the road. Lastly, use common sense!!! Don't start a fire or leave trash laying around. Please pick up after yourselves and etc.
One last thing, Mid-Columbia residents will be required to join the Mid-Columbia Soarers, an AMA sanctioned club. Also, if you are MAAC member your card is good at Eagle Butte. Non Mid-Columbia residents wishing to fly at Eagle Butte we will be required to pay an annual $10 site preservation and maintenance fee!. The $10 fee will give the Mid-Columbia Soarers the money we need to improve the site and maintain it. Also, all flyers will be issued a Mid-Columbia Soarers membership card that they can present to the land manager; should he come browsing around trying to verify your right of trespass. Take care and remember this is not a right, but rather a privilege afforded us by the land manager!" -Wil Byers
The property on which Eagle Butte is situated is privately owned. We are allowed to use it as a courtesy of the owners. Please do not abuse their goodwill. AMA or MAAC membership is required to fly at Eagle Butte. Also, a once per year fee of $10 must be paid to join the Mid-Columbia Soarers, who sponsor the agreement with the property owners. Send check or money order to the Treasurer, John Reck, 1913 Forest Ave., Richland, WA 99352, phone 1-509-946-3264.
Kiona Butte is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Please do not abuse the privilege of flying there. Do not leave any trash, and take no chances with fires. Unlike Eagle Butte, parking at Kiona Butte is along the side of the road opposite from the slope. Please, do not park on the slope side of the road.
FROM Seattle:
I-90 East to I-82 East.
I-82 to Exit 109 Badger Road North
Take a Left at the fork onto Leslie
Take a Left onto Reatta
Follow Reatta, take another left on to Burmuda.
Make a right on Sagebrush. Follow this around to the slope.