The planets were aligned properly yesterday for a perfect flying day around here. Around 50 degrees, 5-7 out of the west, and blue skies with about 90 miles visibility. Could easily see the Owyhees to the west, the Matterhorn to the southwest, the mountains southeast of Burley, and the mountains around Sun Valley. All from the ground! Everyone had the bug yesterday here. I caught around six or seven planes out (including a converted two hole open cockpit Ag-Cat) enjoying the day. I managed to get away from pre-Christmas operations (did end up getting busted though) for about an hour. After the two days of rain and all the snow melt it was really muddy around here! Trying to keep it on the down low and not having much time I went to my local shred-fest playground and managed to put another six or so landings in the book. I even landed a new spot on one of the reservoir shores I do! Sweet! It was so muddy though I felt like a redneck at mudbog! The bushwheels did their job fine but the plane is covered from front to back! Splashed on the windshield, the cowling, wings, struts, horizontal/elevator, and even half way up the rudder!
I wish one of you guys could break loose to come and play. I've got mud ,sand, rocks, brush, off-camber, slopes, roads, mesa tops, reservoir shores, dry creek beds, old strips, ag strips, flat desert, mountains, all from 3000' to 8000'.

You need to post a picture of that muddy plane. There's a lot of us off-road types who'd get a kick out of it.

Up in North Idaho it is wet and foggy. One day I had about 5 inches of snow on the ground.The next morning it was melted and muddy.It is now looking like last winter.Lots of rain and low ceilings. It will take a little longer for the strips to firm up. Lots of water and warm temps.

Strata, I don't have the capabilities right now to upload pic's. Unfortunately all of that tech. is still packed away while we are living in the camper awiating the home completion. I do have the camera though so I'll snap some shots to load later in the spring.
Squaretail,Where are you up there? I may be on the Nez Perce plain later in the winter.

You guys won't believe the weather here. 75F and blue skies yesterday. Looking out over the San Joaquin Valley it was completely socked in the entire day. In the mean time, we basked, applied sunblock, ran the AC and drank plenty of water. Well,,, maybe not water. Short lived I suspect as the high overcast is moving in this am and weather says cold front moving onshore later today and rain by tommorrow.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's to all...

Mark and Kathi

I am up here by Ruby Ridge. Not far from the Cheese Curtain.

N6EA, I had heard that it has been nice thataway. The guy I'm buying my Thrush from lives up the road from you in Plymouth. Definite benefits to the "hill billy" livin' in the winter. That is if you don't like 50 car pile-ups on I-5 in the fog! When are you comin' to Idaho next to play?
Squaretail, What have you got to fly around in? I would like to play a bit while I'm up there.

Have not flown in two months.What I have is down for winter repair modifications or rebuild.I have other chapters in my life right now.I will be in no hurry to be airborne again,But hope to be flying when the ground dries up.
I love reading the forum here on BCP. Keeps you in the air while in your PC chair.

Roger that. Let me know when the sled's ready to ride.

Hey G3 I would love to see the places you fly to. Perhaps one of these day's I could follow you around in my M6.

Roger that Mike-Mike,
What kind of sneakers are you runnin' on that sled of yours? 8.50's or larger are fine for most of the places I go depending on the rain factor. I've finally made contact with some of the BOI Super Cub crowd that are into off-airport fun so I'm actually going to be up that way in the next few weeks, wx permitting. I've got a helluva local shred down here though if you want to come on over. The only unfortunate part as of late is that I'm losing some of my beach strips due to the water levels coming up in the reservoirs. PM headed your way with the ATIS.

My shoes are 8.5's. I am looking to get into something a little fatter though so I can land in area's a little more fun!!

Well, you know Joseph, Oregon is just liiiiittle short hop over the Snake and the Wallowa. Even better with that HUGE cargo door that Maule has you could get those Bushwheels in there to fly home with! Zane even has them as a link here.

I know !! I am trying to justify the purchase. Honey it's too dangerous to fly Idaho without big tires! Or If we have to ditch in the drink somewhere the plane will float. Or if nature calls we can land just about anywhere!! ECT.ECT.ECT.-----------------------------------------------------------------
I think 29's would be about right! [/b]

Use the force, don't try,just do. Here it is and it's reality and it's safety related. If the engine quits over most parts of the desert in the intermountain NW BW's will allow for an unscathed recovery no matter the sagebrush or the mud or the rocks, period. I've landed in 12 inch rock with no problem so I figure that in an emergency in 14-18 inch you would stay upright. Might suffer gear failure but you'd be upright and safe.
There have been some used sets for sale over at SC.org might be more affordable for you. 29's would work but as I said in an earlier post, now that we have flown the 31's we can see our way to the 35's! It all depends on how hard you want to play. Excuse me, how safe you want to be
It is unfortunate that the cycle works in reverse, you have to jusify before purchase. Because the first time I landed you in Big bowl (one of my shred spots with mild rock and lot's of mud now) and you saw the mud flying all over and mildly felt the ten inch rock getting absorbed by the tires then stepped out to hear nothing but silence and not see another person but be able to look over at the herd of 35 or so Elk wintering down low you'd say "why did it take me so long to buy these things?". Because we wouldn't go there with eight and a halfs right now, even when it's dry the rock makes it sketchy in places.
There are many ways we blow 3-4k in aviation real fast but this purchase will open up a whole new side of flying to you and allow you to utilize the Maule in the way it was intended. I must say it's fun to land a spot in the middle of no where, a place no one has landed before to step out and hear the wind and enjoy the isolation.
Get on down here and I'll take you out in the cub so you can see for yourself. It makes them seem cheaper!

I know I was mostly kidding.
Large tires are a priority on my list.
Landing in places no one else can get to is my kind of life. We would enjoy the isolation and solitude that bushwheels would give us. I will get in touch with you soon so we can plan a get together, M