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"New Hampshire’s cold winter temperatures provide a special treat for pilots in the Northeast when the Alton Bay ice airport opens for the winter. This seasonal, public-use runway on Lake Winnipesaukee—at the charted location of the Alton Bay Seaplane Base (B18)—is believed to be the only charted ice airport in the 48 contiguous United States.
Volunteers plow snow from the ice to reveal Runway 1/19, which is 2,600 feet long and 100 feet wide. It opens after the ice becomes thick enough to support the plows; January 10 is the earliest it’s ever opened, said Paul LaRochelle, the airport’s volunteer manager. In 2016 the runway never opened. The runway must close by March 15, but it will close earlier if surface conditions deteriorate.
Wind usually is from the north, and Runway 1 is the preferred calm-wind runway. On final, watch for snowmobiles and pedestrians. Plan for a long rollout. When the ice looks black or deep blue from above, it’s likely to be slickest; a light covering of snow actually helps. Bring chocks, and boots or water-resistant shoes—there can be pools of water on the surface. Invite your instructor if you’re not comfortable landing on the ice.
During the season, LaRochelle updates the airport’s information line, 603-875-3498, every few days. Check notams before departing—if the runway must be closed temporarily, a notam will be issued before the recording is updated.
If you fly to Alton Bay, stop at Facet Jewelers—at Shoppes on the Bay—and LaRochelle’s wife, Donna, will give you a free certificate for landing on the ice at Alton Bay. Or an “I landed on the ice runway at Alton Bay” button. “We just got those,” LaRochelle said. Alton Bay Ice Runway hats are available for purchase. Several restaurants are within walking distance.
The Alton Business Association has not yet set dates for Alton Bay’s 2017 Winter Carnival, but the event quickly fills the aircraft parking area. Check the new Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway page on Facebook for details."
AOPA Pilot
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The United States is one of the most diverse countries on earth, jam packed full of amazing sights from St. Patrick's cathedral in New York to Mount Hollywood California.The Northeast region is where it all started. Thirteen British colonies fought the American Revolution from here and won their independence in the first successful colonial rebellion in history. Take a look at these rolling hills carpeted with foliage along the Hudson river here, north of New York City.The American south is known for its polite people and slow pace of life. Probably they move slowly because it's so hot. Southerners tend not to trust people from "up north" because they talk too fast. Here's a cemetery in Georgia where you can find graves of soldiers from the Civil War.The West Coast is sort of like another country that exists to make the east coast jealous. California is full of nothing but grizzly old miners digging for gold, a few gangster rappers, and then actors. That is to say, the West Coast functions as the imagination of the US, like a weird little brother who teases everybody then gets famous for making freaky art.The central part of the country is flat farmland all the way over to the Rocky Mountains. Up in the northwest corner you can find creative people in places like Portland and Seattle, along with awesome snowboarding and good beer. Text by Steve Smith.
