Thanks for the details!!

Columbia sounds like a no-miss opportunity, I'll definitely try to include
it.

About that turf runway -- I'm surprised to hear people use it. What
condition is the turf in, and would one just use traditional "soft field"
takeoff and landing? I would not want to use it since I've never actually
done a "soft field" operation, and I'll be in a rented plane (probably
invalidates the insurance), so I'll just pay close attention to the winds
for 17/35.

"Craig Prouse" wrote in message
...
"Marty Ross" wrote:

Another question I'd like to consider at any airport I might stop at is:
what are the normal/typical winds/active runways?

I realize I can get some/all of this information from Flight Guide
and/or
other sources, but I also like to hear people's recent experiences...

So far, I'm looking at Harris Ranch (3O8) and Columbia (O22).

My flight sim seemed to get winds 260 at 12 for Columbia (direct
crosswind)
when it downloaded "real-time weather". Not too bad, but it prompted
this
question.

The prevailing wind at Harris Ranch will favor a landing to the north.

Columbia is less predictable. For terrain and noise abatement, preferred
landing runway is 35 and departures are back the way you came from on
runway
17. In my few trips up there, the wind is usually light from the west,
favoring if anything the turf runway 29. When winds are light, you can
expect pilots coming and going every which way.

We've camped at Columbia on two occasions. One time, there were WWI
biplanes using the turf runway and CDF fire tankers using the paved
runway.
On the most recent trip, I happened to have my handheld monitoring CTAF at
my campsite when I heard "Columbia Traffic, North American XXX low
approach,
Columbia." That gave me just enough time to run out to the turf runway
and
witness an impromptu P-51 flyby.