[Bob Kuczewski]

I changed my plans and will wait for the crowd to thin out at Mingus 4th of July and am now planning to show up after the holiday weekend.
Keep those videos coming on the US Hawks. Thanks again for the great video.
Bill C.

I'm looking forward to your report (and video? ) from your flight at Mingus!!!

[Bill Cummings]

Hey Bob,
I had what I thought were big plans for Mingus Mountain, AZ.
I had all my camping gear loaded in my Xterra and Left Las Cruces and went first to Santa Fe to visit with my wife, Terry, at the apartment. While at the apartment I called Ole June 17th and he had left Mingus since the wind was forecasted to be strong over the back for a full week. So I just languished at the apartment while Terry worked and attended after work meetings for awhile. Terry then decided she needed to do the semiannual doctor visit In Las Cruces Thursday June 25.
(WHAT THE HECK!?)
I wasn’t expecting that and since I had left the house in a typical bachelor pad wreck I headed home to shovel out the house before she got there.
When I realized all pilots that were in their right mind would be at Mingus for July 4th and into the weekend and making for a big crowd I delayed going.
So now I’m thinking of doing the same type of trip again and maybe be at Mingus for a week near the end of July. I’m still waiting on fate to stamp my permission slip. Hopefully Mother Nature will not be working in concert with Murphy (Of Murphy’s Law) to put the screws to me again.
I can’t guarantee pictures or video. My Cannon Power Shot 1000 has, “Gone Republican,” as my grandfather used to say.

[Bill Cummings]

Rule number # 1: Never plan a flying trip two weeks in advance. Always be ready to start out in one days time.

I left the house in Las Cruces, NM and went 280 miles north to Santa Fe, NM on Monday July 15, 2013 about a five hour trip.

In Santa Fe at just under 7,000’ msl I could get out and walk each day whereas It had been one hundred degrees or more for weeks on end in Las Cruces.

On the seventh day, Monday, July 22, 2013, I started on the 450 mile trip to Mingus Mountain, AZ to link up with John “Ole” (really Quinn) Olson.

My first nights sleep did not go well at 7,800’msl combined with a touch of central sleep apnea sprinkled with a mild dose of obstructive sleep apnea.

Completely un-refreshed the next morning and due to cloud base being at launch elevation Ole and the only other pilot Paul Evander drove off to Prescott and Cottonwood leaving me to stumble around in the fog “In a fog.”

Ole returned at 18:30 we each made supper and watched a DVD on the laptop on the picnic table.

The second night was another bad night for me. Ole launch just of head of the over development at two minutes after noon. He broke the horizon once but plummeted shortly after making me think that the wind was slightly over the back. Ole had a short flight to the Cottonwood Airport. A new H2 pilot, Rod, brought Ole back up to launch. It sprinkled on us and later thundered and rained.
Local pilot Kriss Thomsen (I think that’s right!) showed up but did not fly.

Four other pilots arrived, Rick, Joe, Sean, Andy and dog Charlie. Paul Evander returned but only two launched and Ole missed the short launch window. As the earlier pilots Rick and Sean took off I could hear thunder to the north.
It rained on us again.

Our local forecast was for wetter and stronger winds over the back.
With yet a third night of poor sleep I decided that I was not a happy camper and decided to break camp and go home. It rained on me before I was all packed up.
At least it wasn’t too hot on Mingus Mountain. With this weather pattern the flying wasn’t that hot either.

500.3 miles from Mingus to Las Cruces. Eight and a half hours drive.
Oh, well--If you don’t try you don’t fly. (And sometimes when you TRY you don’t fly.)
BUMMER!

[SamKellner]

Hi Sam, and thanks for the reply. You guys have such a spectacular place to fly, and a lot cooler than in AZ!! If you head to AZ just ping me and I'll be glad to orient you and host you at any of our sites.
best regards,
Greg

Greg,

Please excuse the delayed responce. Somehow I missed the last half of this topic, probably because I was on the road returning from an IP at that time.

Like BobK mentioned, I am a native of Reg11 but 'grew up' in Reg3. I've wanted to fly at Mingus since way back then too.

Thanks for your offer to host.

I'd be glad to return the favor if ever you are in SW Tx.

I think yesterday or today is the last day of WRE '13. Only one flight over 300mi this year. and on a day that was mostly blue

Bill, Thanks for the offer to host in your area also. It was a whirlwind trip to Albuquerque for sure. All the mountain launches were closed at that time, due to fire hazard. It rained the day I left up there, June 31 , and I had a tail wind and cloud cover all the way home. At least I got the IP completed with Mel.

,
Sam

[Bill Cummings]

Hi Sam, and thanks for the reply. You guys have such a spectacular place to fly, and a lot cooler than in AZ!! If you head to AZ just ping me and I'll be glad to orient you and host you at any of our sites.
best regards,
Greg

Greg,---------- At least I got the IP completed with Mel.
,
Sam

[Bob Kuczewski]

Congratulations to Sam on his instructor certification!!!!



Bill, after reading about your trip, I think you and Terry should come to Southern California. It's almost always flyable somewhere around here. We've got great mountain sites at Crestline, Sylmar, Elsinore, and Horse Canyon. And for a lazy day of flying and walking the beach with Terry, you can always fly at Torrey.