JJ - was at Mtn Home 09/70-09/72. Would have been more fun except we provided medical care for so many MIA/POW families.
Was, however, great to be able to be in the Sawtooths less than an hour from Base.
Learned to downhill ski at Bogus Basin where I remember one sunny Spring afternoon when someone in a yellow K6 kept soaring down over the main run, climbing back up, and doing it over and over again.
25+ years later, I was shaking off the Pacific NW dark and rainies at Minden. Was able to do the same over Heavenly Valley. Could climb back up in a thermal kicked off from the pond near East Peak Lodge. Nest day, talked to a guy in the rental return line at Reno airport. I asked how the skiing had been. Great, but all afternoon, he was watching this glider - seemed to be having more fun. I asked if the glider had red paint on its nose. He exclaimed "So, you saw it too?" Nah, I replied, that was me in the glider and it was fun!
P.S., safety patrol alert gliders on both occasions were flown with appropriate clearance.
How about a Thursday dinner at The Santa Fe Hotel - on me, buddy, for your service to our country and soaring.