Marc Ramsey wrote:

Doug Hoffman wrote:
I will never forget the time I off-field landed in a freshly plowed farmer's
field. Without 4WD I could not have made that retrieve as easily as I did.
Actually, I'm not sure what I would have done...

You would have done what most of us have done at times, to avoid ****ing
off a farmer, carry the glider piece by piece to the trailer at the edge...

Marc

Not a bad suggestion. What I actually did, since the farmer was nearby, was
to first apologize profusely and explain the situation. He wasn't upset as
I had caused no damage. His only concern was that I get the glider out
quickly because it was going to rain soon (which would have caused the field
a problem). Long story short, I got a ride back to the airport, returned
with trailer and single-handedly and quickly removed the glider in a manner
pre-approved by the farmer.

I'm not trying to say that 4WD is necessary for gliding. Here in Michigan
it can be handy during the winter and especially if one lives on some rough
back roads as I do. However, it *was* convenient on that retrieve.

Regards,

-Doug