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Dick, I envy your fine WX in New Mexico. I love warm weather. I also enjoy the winter. And the fall. And the spring too, come to think of it. While I enjoy your gloating at all of our expense (:-), and no doubt you have more & better flying days in the winter than we do, 'tain't all bad here in snow country. Take my December 30 Flight in the Cessna 182, case in point. I had 1.53 hours to "use or lose" in my (big airplane) flying club-- had to be flown before the New Year. As the 182 is the lesser of the $$ evils ( we also have a 206) at a mere $85 per hour, I took it for an impromptu flight over the Western edge of the South Fork of the Boise River drainage, from Lucky Peak and Arrowrock Reservoirs just above Boise, South to Bennett Mountain near Mountain Home, Idaho. Once I climbed up thru the local inversion layer hanging over Boise, I was treated to the view to the East of the total snow covered expanse of mountains that make up the bulk of central Idaho, set against a deep blue sky. From the air, it was stunningly beautiful. The fog and low cloud layer below me was a puffy white carpet to fly over, which dissipated as I flew South. I flew along the mountains for a ways. Upon reaching a line of hills in a remote area that I have studied in past flights as being a potential paragliding spot, I circled them. I thought they might be paraglide-able in the spring. However, dimensions get distored from above and I wanted a better look. I circled a lonely frozen gravel jeep trail that ran along the base of the hills. It had a straight section for about 1/2 mile that looked like it might be do-able. Powerlines ran nearby but were at an angle to the trail, crossing it near the "approach" end. I had passed over a 4x4 with some coyote hunters but otherwise no one was around. One circle, one low pass, and I came back around and touched down, the surface firm and smooth. I rolled out and thru a low gulley, narrowly missing some tall sagebrush with the wingtips, coming to a stop on the other side. It occurred to me I hadn't recon'd the strip quite as thoroughly as I might have, but it was fine... I turned the plane around, stopped & shut down. I hopped out and hiked a short ways and took some photos with the digital camera of the hills, to run past my paragliding flight instructor for his evaluation. As I headed back to the plane, a middle aged guy on a dirt bike came riding up at a fairly rapid pace. "Did your engine quit!?" he queried, wide eyed. "Yep, when I shut it off", I replied. He was fairly excited about the airplane having landed on the road. I explained that I grew up flying off of some places other than airports... He was pretty fascinated by this. I expect it may have been the high point of 2001 for him... After our visit, I fired up and climbed quickly out solo in the cold, clear, clean desert/mountain air. I flew up to Bennett Mountain and buzzed a circle around some snowmobilers who had stopped at the peak to have some wine and cheese, it looked like. They waved, I waggled. A fuel stop in Mountain Home (gas is cheaper there than in Boise) and flew back to BOI... I was told to make a short approach; dropped 40 degrees of flaps and swept it in, in true mountain-strip approach fashion. As I pulled into the tiedown to pull the mixture, I checked the tach. 1.53 hours, on the nose. Couldn't do THAT again if I tried. It was a fine flight. I do love the Ercoupe, but flying that Cessna by yourself on a cold day--ahhh, like a homesick angel! Happy New Year, All Coupers, and let us not be overly concerned with Airport Security, dumb teenagers, et al. Vigilant and watchful, yes. Ready to fight for our right to fly, yes. But... this too, shall pass, in time. John Barsness Boise, ID ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
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