This west-facing launch bowl is located beneath Ruthie's chair lift, approximately 100 yards below the unloading station at the top. A windsock is positioned on the north side of the launch area. Requirements: - Rating: USHPA P-3 or equivalent - Parapente Aspen Membership: $50/year or $25 for a 30-day visitor pass - Site briefing from a Parapente Aspen Club member - Helmet, radio, and reserve parachute - Paraglider with a minimum performance of 5:1 L/D Restricted Air Space: All flights from Ruthie's require clearance from the Aspen Airport Tower before entering the Restricted Class “D” Airspace. Pilots must call the airport tower to close clearance after landing: 970/925-6898. Weather: For weather updates, contact AWOS at 970/920-0759. Access: - Shuttle: $10 via Aspen Paragliding, contact 970/379-6975. Check the website for shuttle schedules. - 4x4 Road: Take Original St. to the foot of Aspen Mountain, continue up Richmond Hill Rd (CR 14 – dirt road) to Bonnie's Restaurant, turn right and continue straight to the launch. - Chair Lift: Parapente Aspen credentials and a lift pass are required to board chair lifts and must be available for inspection by SkiCo employees. Access to both launch sites is available via the Silver Queen Gondola during winter and summer seasons. Further access is available via a 4x4 road in the summer. Aspen Paragliding has special access through the ASC (Aspen Ski Co) in the early season before public access is available. Parapente Aspen members can ride on the school truck for a fee, provided space is available. Aspen Paragliding’s shop is located at 426 South Spring St. during the summer months, where members can pay/renew their dues and get weather information from local instructors or club officers. In the winter, club officers are available by phone to provide club paperwork, take fees, and provide site and weather information. Aspen is a high alpine area with thin, dry, and occasionally very active air. Launches are about 3000 feet vertical from launch to landing. There are two launch sites: Walshes (east-facing) and Ruthie's (west-facing), both requiring a minimum of a P3 rating to fly as a visiting pilot. Mini wings are only permitted on Walshes with proper USHPA M2 signoff. P2 pilots can fly but only with Aspen Paragliding instructor supervision. Landing Zones (LZ) include the Northstar Nature Preserve on the east side of town, which has limited access for paragliding and other activities, and the Marolt Ranch Open Space on the west, which has a portion designated as a flight park/memorial for the late hang glider pilot Scott Bloom. Some mountain bike traffic goes through this area, but signage advises users to be aware of flight activity. Visiting and New Pilot Requirements: All visiting pilots are required to obtain a membership in the local club and provide proof of USHPA rating. Visiting pilots must check in with a club officer or local tandem instructor and demonstrate an understanding of, and willingness to follow, all local site rules, in addition to national SOP set by USHPA. Acceptable Flying Conditions: Aspen is a high alpine flying site with 3000 vertical feet flights. Thermal conditions are common in the summer, and some ridge soaring is possible. Parapente Aspen provides a weather station ("Debbie") accessible via the internet, offering extensive weather data. Tandem instructors monitor airport frequency for current wind speeds, gusts, and direction. Large-scale weather services can also be checked for radar, winds aloft, and current winds to the west of the location. Monitoring conditions is crucial for safety. Conditions at high altitude can change quickly, so parameters for flying vary depending on wind speed and direction. Generally, wind gusts should not exceed 12 mph, with gusts no higher than 18 mph. A southerly component is usually not favorable, so these numbers are reduced as gust factors increase rapidly. Aspen’s valley winds are also a concern due to the Venturi effect from multiple valleys, so winds at the airport should stay below 15 mph. Flying is highly discouraged when winds increase to these levels. All pilots in the air are requested to land when conditions reach these levels. All launches and LZs have wind fins and multiple streamers. Obstacles: There are few natural obstacles at the sites as they are in open space, but trees and ground imperfections exist. The Marolt LZ has power lines and trees on the east side around 75% of the open space. Historically, hang gliders have been landing there for over 30 years, making the Marolt LZ sufficient for paragliding operations. No Fly Zone: Gondola The gondola has a No Fly Zone extending 1,000 feet horizontally on all sides of the lift line. At 13,000 feet, the No Fly Zone angles inward until it bisects the gondola plane at 14,200 feet. If you think you are too close, fly away from the gondola! Violating the Gondola No Fly Zone results in a 3-month suspension of flying privileges for local pilots or one year for visiting pilots. Pilots are prohibited from flying over the gondola regardless of altitude. Any violation of these rules may result in the loss of your ski pass, flying privileges, and/or your USHPA rating. Winter Season No Fly Zone: Chair Lifts When the chair lifts are running, pilots must fly outside the ski area boundary as soon as practical for the duration of the flight. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in effect over the lift for its operation duration, requiring pilots to maintain a flight path 45° away from the lift line. The horizontal distance must be greater than the altitude above the lift. If Walshes ski run is closed, pilots must receive permission from Ski Patrol before going to launch. If permission is granted, access the launch via the summer side trail to avoid leaving tracks that other skiers will follow. For more information, visit: - Aspen Paragliding: [Aspen Paragliding](https://www.aspenparagliding.com/visiting-pilots/) - Facebook Group: [Aspen Paragliding Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/536682599707340/) - Site Guide: [Aspen Paragliding Site Guide](https://www.aspenparagliding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/siteguide_aspen2019.pdf)