Red Mountain launch faces east with a slight southern aspect. On a typical morning, cold air drains from the south (Aspen/ Independence pass area) to replace warm rising air from lower elevations to the northwest. Red Mountain faces south slightly to scoop this drain upwards and provide ridge lift.

In addition to this, the early morning sun heats the Red Mountain Launch providing thermal cycles to compliment this drain. These conditions can produce reliable ridge soaring flights of an hour or so. Typically, if the weather is reported clear in the morning, Red Mountain is flyable.

Early morning flights are often smooth and well suited for students. Later in the day, Red Mountain does get thermic cycles, but it does not face the correct direction into the prevailing westerly winds for reliable XC flights.