![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEeIw97NSgwzu4R_GnKxhIUANn3iigAZlKVJE9PhqrkorPZQD_GgKU7qCE0RyVWdcjJgVzHDyKYR5ikseTQjCrqVCd4Qpj76RZfX58qEMtXCp0_qRvvuJtvFQhs00USmcfzh7vDiy9buo/s640/IMG_20180928_102619284.jpg) |
Kiona hiking trail, road up, and landing zone. |
I had never been to Kiona (next to Benton City in WA state) but was in the mood for trying a new site with all the north wind we've been having lately.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8M1YL_917aq0536JlMkznGLceoDa3-jriBwNwYKLEG5PkuKPTXZfY4tB7jvWdqfw48iC5lOelNEaNqJgYFiuoGrxYyoXO1xRpdkHR4alqiS5k6kpIsFwoc_ua0CSoA2kzkbw82-x8Qlz/s640/IMG_20180928_175557993_HDR.jpg) |
Kiona ridge looking east with the road access visible. |
Kiona is an easy hike up (1 hour) or 2-wheel drive to the top (it's toplandable), and you can pretty much launch anywhere depending on wind strength and finding a sagebrush-free spot on the slopes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eOWXaDPD1Bc4N92JccS-SD2uJVb3el8C6s-AyLawzQJlabjSfrTavCI4-yLu1XlApKhuR0wCQmg3tOrOM0hShORfTlKYkInFgO3CnxxwmBkpVNWQBTazfzYY2g2px45D9ms8_azBVHwY/s640/IMG_20180928_172945949_HDR.jpg) |
Kiona ridge facing NW. |
Wind was predicted to be on the stronger side, if not blown-out, but at the end of the day the wind dropped enough to launch safely. There's about 6 km of straight NE ridge, and an extra ~2km of more N ridge next to the antennas. Just pick a slope that faces into the wind!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMraw6wVhAfk3pvMlMvggmPpizYwQlOCqVrxrvPkHbzEMCScyEPdOny7zG4EQVrodEyMZyks8uNxjGQTKqkkK6sd2LhEFX84bdgPLYpPh-hqIgbxUSNp74M4DJZzEXgNs4JSWTV052nOcy/s640/IMG_20180928_172513698_HDR.jpg) |
Over-the-back is pretty flat and would make for interesting XC! |
Once in the air you can see that over the back the terrain is basically flat...kinda like flying at Chelan, but without the canyon crossing! I'm thinking that in a light north wind and on an unstable day it could be an interesting flatland XC site.
nice post keep it on
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