Lots of snow on the ground. Bitter cold, with little or no wind.

Perfect conditions for flying an elk count.

Called the pilot yesterday, and we set up to fly this am. At 0725 it was perfect here, just overcast with clouds. But snowing lightly at the airport. We held off.

Pilot had some folks ferrying a plane to Central City, right over where we wanted to count elk. They would give us a local weather report. It came back around 0845.

Cloudy. As in, so cloudy they were turning back.

Can't count elk in that. So the pilot, who is instrument rated, of course, had to fly his own plane to Central City, and drive back.

He just called. Clouds are breaking (yeah, they've been gone from here for two hours). Count area is all clear, and he's only 25 miles from town. And would like a little break for lunch. Then we can fly.

We go up at 13:00.