We're at it again!  We all broke out of ....Ehhh......our jobs, prison, the house...Whatever!  The Northwest Sport Pilot Association (http://www.northwestoutdoors.com/nwspa) is hosting the 23rd Annual Easter Fly-in at Asotin, Washington, April 20-22.  You'll notice the dates are a week after Easter - two of the local pilots will be in Florida.  We don't want to leave these pilots out - therefore the change.

This year, we do not have any epic flights to pass along (at the time of writing) originating from the LC Valley - We NEED your help...

Psssst....don't tell anybody, Ten Mile was re-opened in the year Y2K.....  We throw this site into the mix for 2001 of possible launches.  Bring your wing and camera to capture a piece of free flying history - this site has been a part of foot launched flight for over 25 years!  Puffers Butte at the Fields Springs State Park of Washington awaits the arrival of the first batch of pilots for the year 2001.....The "C" beckons...last time we traveled this high road, it was too wet to pass - don't fret - the site is certainly accommodating for a hike ...Overall, for the past couple of years, the weather has been...shall we say, sub-par.  We're due for nice weather this year......

From I-90 (Spokane), take 195 South toward Pullman/Lewiston/Boise, or from Coeur d' Alene, take 95 South toward Moscow/Lewiston/Boise. Come down Lewiston Hill. Stay to the right when arriving in Lewiston (don't head toward Boise). Go through stop light and over the Clearwater River. Once across the bridge, stay to the right. Approaching downtown, and before you get to the first stop light (BlackSheep Sporting Goods store on corner), take Highway 12 to the right to bypass downtown. Go all the way to Snake River Avenue (going under the old bridge). Take a right. Go through stop light (Southway) and go up the on ramp of the new bridge. Take the second exit toward Asotin, along the river. Once in Asotin, take the first right after you cross the small creek. Go to the end of this road, and turn left, which wraps around the Asotin County Fair Grounds. Turn right, go all the way up the Asotin grade. Once on the top of the grade, turn left as the road straightens out - this is the road to launch. Drive around corner and down the slop a bit until you see other vehicles, or the windsock (or a big pole sticking out of the ground, overlooking the city, if the wind sock isn't up yet), if others have not arrived yet.

Camping

Tent camping and small to medium RV camping can be achieved on top of the Asotin Hill with a group of locals if you wish, or you can go to Hells Gate State Park on and across the river in Lewiston. There is also the Fields Springs State park in Anatone, about 19 miles to the south. Beautiful place to camp, but kind of far away from the locals....which might be a good thing! :-)

Other Lodging

Normally, pilots are on launch by 10 am during this event.  When the last pilot leaves is open to debate - it things get wild, perhaps not until late Sunday night. Lodging arrangements might be obtained through the following means: Comfort Inn - Lewiston  (208) 798-2090 Red Lion Inn - Lewiston  http://www.redlionlewiston.com/ Quality Inn - Clarkston  (509) 758-9500 Chief Timothy State Park http://www.parks.wa.gov/chieftim.htm Field Springs State Park - Anatone (19 miles south west of launch) - http://www.parks.wa.gov/fieldspr.htm There is the possibility for Friday afternoon/evening soaring conditions either from the Asotin Hill or the 'C', but please phone one of the contacts above before arriving.  Perhaps a call the night before would be appropriate to make the necessary arrangements and to generate excitement for a Friday afternoon flight.  Some of us have to bed and plead at the feet of our bosses to get the afternoon off in such short notice.

Vittles

Generally, we have cooking equipment (BBQ's) on launch to cook your own food.  The big party is Saturday night.  Go grocery shopping for your own food and beverage, then come join us for stories, laughter and celebration.

4/16/01 - UPDATE

Hi all.

Due to lack of financial assistance from the NWSPA membership and time constraints, and after hearing comments from some of the NWSPA members, I believe it would be best to go with our original plan of having a bring your own bar-b-que Saturday night.

I believe it would also be best to have each group who is planning on attending the Saturday night bash bring a dish to pass. We will make this a potluck type affair.

I plan to talk with Scott as soon as he returns from Florida to confirm that his shop will be available to host the Saturday night event, as the weather forecast is looking pretty sad for this weekend. We may all need to pitch in Wednesday night or Thursday evening to help make room in the shop and to tidy up a bit. Please confirm with myself or with Scott if you will be able to help clean up the place.

Flying this past weekend was awesome....we dubbed it the 'Secret Fly-in', since it has been the traditional date for the event. 'Ol Mo was around Saturday night, and tried hard to show itself last evening.

I hope to see you all this coming weekend. I am not going to be on the hill that much, as there is a softball tournament in Lewiston that I will be playing in. I will be on the hill as much as possible during the days, and each evening after the softball playing is over, trying to get some good flying in.

For those of you who have access to some of the other mailing lists, if you would please forward this message to those lists, I would appreciate it.

Just a reminder to out of town pilots, the frequency the LC Valley pilots use is 146.420.

Take care.

For a general picture of the location of Asotin, click Submit (address is arbitrary):

Again this year, we invite or friends from the West (Seattle area) to join us again.  We look forward to sharing your company.