Murphy's Law is holding true to form.

The helicopter is here, ready to go, first thing in the morning.

My elk radio telemetry flight is also set for first thing tomorrow morning.

Add to that, the warden who's supposed to help with the helicopter flights for deer has decided he'd rather go to a meeting all day. Fortunately, his neighboring warden has offered to help. So, when I'm up looking for elk, he'll be up looking for deer. Then I get to jump out of the plane and hop into the helicopter to continue flying the rest of the day.

Oh, joy.

I'm praying for wind. But I'll probably only get enough to roughen the ride, not enough to ground us for a day.

Add to that, it is frickin' cold out there. As in, we got down to 26 below last night, supposed to do the same tonight. Just finished running the SUV so the oil might not be too badly congealed for the wife tomorrow morning. (Wouldn't you know? The new vehicle doesn't have a block heater!?)

You know, neither fixed wing nor helicopters really like working in terribly cold weather. And no, Bonnie, they don't have good heaters. And yeah, they're kinda drafty.

Nor much for defrosters, either. Remember one elk flight where we used my credit card to keep the windshield clear so the pilot could get us home and see the airstrip. And another helicopter flight where the pilot was peering through a little clear spot in the bubble to fly.

At least the afternoon is supposed to be warmer.

Above zero, at least.