SEL 'FIRM' landings

Confession time & a learning moment -

Picture my then nearly new C172M on the ground at Philipsburg MT, with
a runway 16/34, and a strong hot wind from what seemed like WSW at
maybe 25 knots. We had been camping with another couple that had
driven from from Idaho Falls & was time to shift the vacation back to
IDF. We loaded all the gear and the two women into their truck & us
guys were to fly to IDF. Obviously a better decision would have been
to wait, but I reasoned that since we were light.........

What runway to use? Well it was downhill slightly to the south so I
chose that one.

For some stupid reason (thinking a short/soft field situation because
of the elevation and the heat?) I tried to raise the nosewheel early in
the takeoff roll while using full right aileron. Things quickly
deteriorated into the rubbity-scrubbities as the gear protested being
dragged sidewise. Acceleration was slow, and it seemed like an
eternity to get to flying speed. Once horsed into the air, we cleared
the barb wire by a couple of feet.

It was pure chance that I took the crosswind from the right. Had it
been on the left, I'm sure we would have rolled it into a ball. My X/W
technique was awful & it took the next biennial to straighten that out.
Lessons:

1) In any choice situation, take the crosswind from the right. Be
especially wary of left crosswinds. (I have not seen this published
anywhere)

2) Recognize that in any marginal short field/soft field situation,
the presence of a crosswind takes precedence over everything else.

3) Plan your takeoffs. It is too late to start planning them once
initiated.