by courierguy » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:11 pm
I got stuck today, briefly, as in about an hour and a half. Off camber, side slope, sticky wet snow etc. At one point I realized I had left my cell phone in my snow boarding jacket (GREAT new snow today up at the ski area, and I always carry the phone where I can get at it quick in case it's a crane job, as I'm "on duty" 24/7, but sometimes I forget to move the phone once I'm done boarding). Once I realized I didn't have the phone it changed the seriousness of my getting stuck, as in spending the night, what to eat etc. (though I did have emergency gear in a real pinch). But anyway, after the 5 th. or 6 th time digging out and using most every trick in the book, I got moving finally, and got out of there, (and man does that ever feel good, once you start moving.) Then I realized, or remembered from other times, there is NO cell coverage back where I was anyway! I'm sure I'm not alone.... in that places where 5 years ago there was no cell coverage, but now there is...on the other hand other places quite nearby, by tricks of geography and population density may never have it. So, I went from thinking I had my butt covered, until I realized I had no phone ( I had a friend who lives 4 miles away I could have called, if I had been real stuck, and had a phone), to realizing I was on my own, to later realizing I was on my own all the time even IF I had packed the phone! The punch line is once landing at home, on wheels for the first time all year (the snow is going quick at 5400', plenty up higher), I got bogged down in the mud and had to leave it tied down overnight about 25' from the hangar door, tomorrow AM, it'll be froze up, and I'll just taxi it out.
My landing today back at my strip was 50/50, as in on skis or wheels? It was going to be messy either way. I chose to use the wheels, and didn't get bogged down, but I did spray mud all over the TOP of the wing, both sides of the hor stab., and of course the bottom of the wing. Tricky this time of year, and having the choice between wheels or skis with the flick of a switch, can be just another thing to have to decide, I do know my skis are heavily mudded over top and bottom, must be spring!
"Its easier to apologize then ask permission"
Tex McClatchy
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It doesn't say whether or not he took off on the grass? With maybe a little snow to help him gain speed?? Nah, that'd never work.
