Flying to Ashland/Medford Oregon

[Ron Rosenfeld]

I'm thinking of flying myself there from the east coast the beginning of
October.

I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what sort of weather or other problems I
might expect getting into (and out of) that area.

Thanks.
Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Don Tuite]

On Sat, 04 Sep 2004 20:02:49 -0400, Ron Rosenfeld
> wrote:

>I'm thinking of flying myself there from the east coast the beginning of
>October.
>
>I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what sort of weather or other problems I
>might expect getting into (and out of) that area.
>
>Thanks.
>Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

One fond memory is crossing the Siskyous from California at 10,500,
which gives you about 2- 3,000 feet clearance, calling the tower, and
getting a straight-in. KMFR is at 1335 feet. That was a bunch of
altitude to burn off in 20-30 miles. Ashland is closer to the
mountains.

Don't miss flying over Crater Lake. Don't miss driving around it if
you get a chance.

There used to be a Yreka Bakery in Yreka, CA. That'd be worth a visit
if your friends are into palindromes.

The weather will probably be gorgeous if there are no forest fires.
That's absolutely the best time of year, weather-wise in the Pacific
Northwest.

Don

[Bob Gardner]

Choose Medford over Ashland. Ashland is a neat little town that you should
visit while in the area, but it does not have an approach.

Bob Gardner

"Ron Rosenfeld" > wrote in message
...
> I'm thinking of flying myself there from the east coast the beginning of
> October.
>
> I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what sort of weather or other problems I
> might expect getting into (and out of) that area.
>
> Thanks.
> Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Sat, 4 Sep 2004 17:54:26 -0700, "Bob Gardner" >
wrote:

>Choose Medford over Ashland. Ashland is a neat little town that you should
>visit while in the area, but it does not have an approach.

I would only choose Ashland if it's VFR, as my daughter & son-in-law live
there. Otherwise, I'll pick Medford.

Thanks.
Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 00:42:49 GMT, Don Tuite
> wrote:

>The weather will probably be gorgeous if there are no forest fires.
>That's absolutely the best time of year, weather-wise in the Pacific
>Northwest.

That's good to know and good information.

Ever since I got caught in some unforecast icing in the lee of the Great
Lakes one spring, I like to check local knowledge regarding weather in
areas I've not flown into before.

>One fond memory is crossing the Siskyous from California at 10,500

I'll probably be coming from the Idaho side. But I hope to get in some
local flying while I'm there (if I do the trip).

Thank you for the information.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Ben Jackson]

In article >,
Ron Rosenfeld > wrote:
>
>I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what sort of weather or other problems I
>might expect getting into (and out of) that area.

Take a look at some of the Medford approaches. In particular, the LOC BC
illustrates the terrain around both airports:

http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0409/00251LDBCB.PDF

The Ashland airport isn't depicted on that chart, but it's in that valley
that angles off to the southeast from MFR. I5 runs right by both airports.
They're both easy to get if you come down the Willamette valley (EUG-OED)
from the north. Ashland claims to stay VFR when other airports (including
MFR) are socked in, and I've seen that happen (as I flew over from
Portland to the bay area).

If I weren't coming from the north I'd probably approach from the
southeast along either I5 or the highway that goes to Klamath Falls.

If you're going to the Shakespeare festival, the Ashland airport is very
convenient. It's about a 10 minute, $15 cab ride from the airport to
downtown. The airport staff is friendly and there's always been plenty
of parking. It was $7/night earlier this year.

Ashland is in the shadow of some large hills, so it gets dark/cold earlier
than you expect in the fall.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article <dNu_c.31599$3l3.25815@attbi_s03>, (Ben Jackson)
wrote:

> In article >,
> Ron Rosenfeld > wrote:
> >
> >I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what sort of weather or other problems I
> >might expect getting into (and out of) that area.
>
> Take a look at some of the Medford approaches. In particular, the LOC BC
> illustrates the terrain around both airports:
>
> http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0409/00251LDBCB.PDF
>
> The Ashland airport isn't depicted on that chart, but it's in that valley
> that angles off to the southeast from MFR. I5 runs right by both airports.
> They're both easy to get if you come down the Willamette valley (EUG-OED)
> from the north. Ashland claims to stay VFR when other airports (including
> MFR) are socked in, and I've seen that happen (as I flew over from
> Portland to the bay area).
>
> If I weren't coming from the north I'd probably approach from the
> southeast along either I5 or the highway that goes to Klamath Falls.
>
> If you're going to the Shakespeare festival, the Ashland airport is very
> convenient. It's about a 10 minute, $15 cab ride from the airport to
> downtown. The airport staff is friendly and there's always been plenty
> of parking. It was $7/night earlier this year.
>
> Ashland is in the shadow of some large hills, so it gets dark/cold earlier
> than you expect in the fall.


Some of the hotels will pick you up free, too. Ashland is really a
quaint place to visit -- there is more than Shakespeare available, but
the plays are well worth seeing, if you like theater. The main theater
is very modern and the productions are sometimes non-traditional.

There is also a neat park within walking distance from the theater
complexes.

[Philip Sondericker]

in article , Ron Rosenfeld at
wrote on 9/4/04 6:58 PM:

> I'll probably be coming from the Idaho side. But I hope to get in some
> local flying while I'm there (if I do the trip).
>
> Thank you for the information.

Ron, if you do end up making the trip, please give a detailed PIREP. I used
to live in that area (years before I started flying), and I'm anxious to
hear about your experiences, just in case I ever decide to fly there.

[David Herman]

Ron,

It's true that early October often brings some of the nicest weather of the
year, but it's also generally the time when things are about to change: we
have two seasons here in the Northwest: the dry season (a well-kept secret)
and the wet season (for which we are so famous), and the transition to the
big gray drip usually begins sometime around mid- to late-October. If
you're lucky, you'll get some of the best flying weather of the year: clear,
crisp, sunny and impossible to beat for sightseeing. But you could also hit
stretches where we're socked in with fog, rain and low ceilings for days.

The really bad weather tends to hug the coast more than the inland valleys
(even in the summer) but you should probably be prepared to be flexible just
in case (we have been having a somewhat uncharacteristic year, weatherwise,
with our "summer" weather arriving early and some decidedly autumnal weather
in the past few weeks which - we rarely see in late august/early september -
this could just be a brief fluke, or it could presage an early fall.

As others have noted here already, you'll find more services in Medford.
Ashland has a couple things going for it: a great and popular theater
(mostly Shakespeare) community, and lots of accommodations that are there to
cater to all the visiting theater-goers. In October, the theater crowds
should have abated and you should have plenty of rooms to pick from
(although there should still be plays on in case you want to take one in).

As for places to fly and to see, by all means don't miss Crater Lake, it's
absolutely stunning from the air, and pretty damn impressive even from a
car. The same goes for the entire Oregon Coast (possibly the most scenic
hunk of landscape in all of North America). Really there's great stuff in
all directions; you won't be able to see it all.

If you're coming over the mountains (as opposed to coming up from
California), one route you might follow would be to come west through the
Columbia River Gorge (this lets you stay low but can be famously windy in
some places), then turn south and go down the Wilamette Valley (or go down
the east side of the cascades and cross the mountains further south). It's
all really stunningly beautiful country. You will undoubtedly enjoy it.

Hope that helps. If you have specific questions for local pilots, you might
post at the website in my sig below.

Have a great trip!

--
David Herman
N6170T 1965 Cessna 150E
Boeing Field (BFI), Seattle, WA
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Visit the Pacific Northwest Flying Forum:
http://www.pacificnorthwestflying.com/



"Ron Rosenfeld" > wrote in message
...
> I'm thinking of flying myself there from the east coast the beginning of
> October.
>
> I'd appreciate any thoughts as to what sort of weather or other problems I
> might expect getting into (and out of) that area.
>
> Thanks.
> Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Ron Rosenfeld]

On Sat, 4 Sep 2004 21:29:41 -0700, "David Herman" >
wrote:

>But you could also hit
>stretches where we're socked in with fog, rain and low ceilings for days.

That would not be too much of a problem leaving. But I'd hate to get hit
with that on the way in.

I'll just keep an eye on the weather patterns and be prepared to be
flexible, or go commercial. I've only flown out to the west coast once
before. That was to southern California and in mid-November. That year,
the weather change came in November, and wasn't a problem as I was able to
easily return via a southern route.

'm familiar with the area as a tourist, since our kids live there. But
I've never flown into that part of the world.

Thanks for the information.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

[Bob Gardner]

That makes sense (:-). Ashland has a wonderful town center (hate to call it
a city) with a river and park running right through it. Be sure to get some
ice cream at the store near the bridge.

Bob

"Ron Rosenfeld" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 4 Sep 2004 17:54:26 -0700, "Bob Gardner" >
> wrote:
>
> >Choose Medford over Ashland. Ashland is a neat little town that you
should
> >visit while in the area, but it does not have an approach.
>
> I would only choose Ashland if it's VFR, as my daughter & son-in-law live
> there. Otherwise, I'll pick Medford.
>
> Thanks.
> Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)