We had, are having, a near record melt off here in SE Idaho. Strong south winds and near 50 degree temps, and I got up this morning, and my runway was missing, at least my ski runway. Can't use the tires yet, I'm just grounded until it dries out or we get snow again, anything can happen this time of year. I feel emasculated, half a man, just 3 days ago I was feeling like Superman!
Nobody told me ski flying has this downside, this no man's land, at least for my turf hillside strip, that even the Datum's retracts can't handle. I can't plow my summer runway to expedite the melt off and get it ready for wheels ops, as I don't want to risk creating a runoff erosion situation. The one good thing is...the WX is total crap flying wise, so I wouldn't be flying anyway. Here's a pic from the bottom of my 400' long runway, (taken this morning, it's worse now) note that there is plenty of snow up high, one reason why I don't want to put the 29" Airstreaks back on just yet. That's another thing no one told me about ski flying:there is nothing worse then taking them off too soon, and then to be flying over lots of snow you can only look at!