Flying in to Big Bear Lake, California

One of my favorite fly-in destinations is the Big Bear City Airport next to the lake of the same name. The elevation is 6,750 MSL which makes for an interesting take-off on a hot, high density altitude day. In fact they have an electronic sign board at the departure end of runway 26 that continuously displays the correct density altitude.

One of the nicest things about the airport, besides it proximity to several ski slopes and a snow-play area, is that fuel is historically very inexpensive compared to the surrounding airports. For instance, last weekend when the price of 100LL was $5.40 at John Wayne Airport, the self-serve fuel at Big Bear was "only" $3.94. The other nice thing about the airport is the Barnstormer Cafe in the terminal building. The food is decent enough to support a regular crowd of local clientele.

Besides refreshing your mountain flying skills, you should know that inbound traffic is expected to arrive south of the lake, over the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski slopes at or above 9,500 MSL. The pattern altitude is about 7,500 and there is right traffic for runway 08, which means that all traffic patterns are flown south of the field. The airport is in a narrow valley between two 8,000+ ft. walls, which for me at least, creates an optical illusion that makes me fly my pattern a little too close in each time. The out bound traffic flys over the lake (for runway 26) at or below 8,500 MSL. Departures on runway 08 climb over (dry) lake Baldwin which is a 10 degree left turn after departure.

Before you go, familiarize yourself with the terrain and call the Big Bear AWOS at 909-585-4033. It is interesting to note that the temperature/dew point information on the recording is often given in Fahrenheit rather than Centigrade. More info at www.bigbearcityairport.com . Lodging information can be found at www.bigbear.com .

Mountain flying is an acquired skill and includes navigating strong up and down drafts - sometimes associated with mountain wave conditions, identifying and avoiding turbulence (often accompanied by lenticular clouds), and being especially alert for rapidly changing weather like afternoon buildups or fast moving cloud bases.

Plenty to do and good food to boot makes Big Bear a favorite destination. Where else can you take off from your home airport, climb to 7,500 feet and land?

Litchfield Hills Road Race

Running enthusiasts gather each June in Litchfield, Connecticut, an idyllic and archetypal New England town, to run a 7 plus mile course with a "killer hill" in the last mile. This year the winning time was 33:30 for the men and 39:33 for the women. It all takes place in and around the "green" in the center of town, bordered on one side by quaint shops and restaurants and on the other by a traditional, white steepled church. See more about the event at http://www.lhrr.com/ .

While in Litchfield, check out the Village Restaurant, the unofficial race headquarters since its inception in 1978. While parking on race day can be problematic, a short and pleasant walk through this town, which was founded before the U. S. was a country, will solve the problem. The entire green in the center of town turns into a picnic and bazaar. Speaking of bizzare, in addition to serious, elite runners, the race attracts the "less elite."

Another gem we found was the Bantam Bread Company. Who knew you could find artisan bread in a basement bakery in this bucolic burg? Its actually a little difficult to find, and they have no web site, but if you google it you will get the idea. Its become a tradition to stock up whenever we come into town.

You can read a New York Times article on Litchfield here (sorry for the long url):

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405EEDE103CF93BA25750C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

Sedona - Off Road in a 4x4

Sedona, Az is a magical place - literally. New Age visitors reportedly benefit from "swirling centers of subtle energy coming out of the earth" otherwise know as a Vortex. Personally, I prefer off-roading in a rented 4x4 jeep on one of the many trails deep into the Red Rock territory. One such place that treated us very well was at the Sedona Airport (SEZ), which is a paved plateau overlooking the city. If you fly there, be prepared for an exciting and visually stimulating approach and landing.

The Sedona Car Rental company, 800-879-5337, took care of everything even without a reservation. Having never off-roaded, we were apprehensive, but Dave provided us with a 3-ring binder with very detailed instructions on where to go, complete with tips for not getting stuck.

The tours are arranged by the approximate time it takes (at about 2 mph average!) so you can fit it into your schedule. I don't have a photo of the 45 degree, boulder strewn pass we climbed, but it was exciting for a novice!

After off-roading, visit the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. Besides plenty of shops where you can find everything you can't live without, there are five or six restaurants all shaded by large trees and located on the bank of Oak Creek. I have also eaten a few times at the Oaxaca Restaurant, which has great views and very good food.

Grand Canyon Visit

Arriving by air at Grand Canyon Airport (GCN) is highly recommended. For pilots, there are permitted lower level corridors over the canyon that allow flights below the 14,500 msl restrictions, although its a little harrowing in a single engine plane. Taxi to the Park is $5 per person. Expect at least a 30 minute wait, and longer during the season. Add to that a $6 National Park entrance fee if you don't have a pass.

The El Tovar restaurant and lodge is a classic turn of the century (the last one, not this one) structure perched directly on the South Rim. While the menu is fairly limited, the food was good and not over-priced. The Arizona Room is a dining facility about 100 yards from the El Tovar. It is "less classic" but with an acceptable menu. Within a short walk from both restaurants there are many craft and souvenir shops with an attractive array of authentic, but not bargain priced, goods. California condors, a nesting pair, were visible on the day we visited. While they're not pretty birds, they are massive and majestic while soaring on the updrafts near the canyon walls; effortlessly circling and swooping up and down without seeming to move their wings at all.

Things to note: Aviation Fuel is $5.50 per gallon (6/2007). There are several nice looking hotels and restaurants in Tusayan, AZ (right outside the Park entrance). While there is also Visitor's Center outside the entrance in Tusayan where you can buy Park passes, it does not seem to get you through the Park entrance any quicker. The line of cars waiting at the gate can be very long.