Met a friend in ANC and he took me up in his PA12..

Practiced some turns on the ice first... i was surprised how sharp you can turn with a little practice... then again i was just on ice not deep snow.

Took off of lake hood and did a few touch and goes before heading to campbell lake. Jumped out for some coffee before doing a few more touch and goes at Campbell.

All I can say is.. I am HOOKED! As soon as I slid down the ramp onto the Ice i knew it was going to be fun.

I have to head back up once there is more snow on the ground!

We have skim ice here, on our lake in N-W Ontario and are now starting to get a regular sprinkling of snow. The temp is 16F this morning and forecast to be down to -2 by Tuesday. Some have their skis on already, but it will probably be another month and a half until most lakes will be safe enough. Depending on snow depth, we will have 3-4 feet of ice by spring.

It is great fun ski flying and up here, an excellent way to get to the remote lakes to ice fish. I had agonized over putting the Cessna on skis this year, but in the end, decided to pickle it for this winter and let it sit in the hanger, still on floats. If the plane was on wheels, skis would be on in a flash. I have access to the flying club's PA12 on skis and will use it instead. For those that have not flown skis and are in a climate that allows, you should go out with someone and try it. Steve

Yep, ski flying can be some of the most fun, and the hardest work you'll ever do around airplanes.

On days when the snow is great, it is just plain a hoot.

On days when there's overflow, and/or you misjudge the snow depth, or any of a dozen other factors, you're going to get a workout, or spend a night of winter camping....

But, that's all part of the fun--the challenges, the decision making, associated with true off airport flying.

MTV

Flew 1.9 on skis yesterday. Plenty of ice thickness around here. made one of those beautiful landings in powder where if you weren't looking outside, the only way you'd know you're on the ground is that the VSI stops descending

-DP

Climbs like a motherF*&$% when its 30* out.... but leaves much to be desired as far as heat goes!