Hang Gliding in Fort Snelling

Growing up, one of my favorite video games to explore was called Pilotwings (for SNES, of course). I guess you would classify it as a flight simulation type game. It was one of those where you, the gamer, find yourself in flight school training (under the expert guidance and care of Big Al) to become a master technician of various activities that all involve the manipulation of air molecules—flying an airplane, flying a helicopter, flying a rocket-belt (not sure if fly is the most precise verb for this), skydiving, and hang gliding.

It was, and still is, a brilliant game.

Big Al

I remember the key to successfully passing the hang gliding portion of each exam was "flaring" at exactly the right moment—pulling up on the glider (pressing A) to let the wind soften one's return back to earth. Flare too early, broken legs. Flare too late, broken body. In the world of a 12 year-old, I'm not sure the stakes could have been any higher.

For some reason this morning, hang gliding—specifically the "flaring" part—popped into my head as Ashley and I were heading down to Fort Snelling State Park. This wasn't because of anything road-related (praise God!), but just as an appropriate (at least in my mind's eye) analogy for the recent Minnesota weather.

You would think that single-digit temperatures, gusty winds, and a 10-day forecast full of clouds would all hurry behind the first snow, simultaneously slamming the door in fall's face while putting a firm exclamation point on winter's arrival.

But today, it was sunny and 50 degrees. And tomorrow, it looks to be heating up to around 60 degrees with the big, fiery ball in the sky crystal clear from any corner of the Cities. Seasonally-speaking, this seems to be fall's final "flare" of warmer weather just before an easy touchdown into the chillier months ahead.

I take this to be nothing less than God's gift to a Southerner still in transition.

Said "flaring" in action:

My favorite uphill in the Cities, hands-down.

Most of the park trails have recovered from last Saturday's snow (some sloshy spots though).

The "flare" was just in time for the first day of Ashley's Thanksgiving break!
(Minnesota & Mississippi Rivers, I think, in the back.)

What happens when it gets cold here.

One of the most legit fireplaces I've ever seen.
Ashley thinks the official title for the above awesomeness is a "warming house," likely for ski season.

Any takers?

Right after I took the picture above, I realized I was surrounded by 7 deer! I think I can spy 3 of them here...

Underneath the Mendota bridge (runs straight through/over the park).
The more I explore the Twin Cities, the more I think "Land of 10,000 Bridges" may be
just as appropriate as "Land of 10,000 Lakes" (though admittedly much less attractive)!

Another perspective.

A good, lasting impression...one of those times growing up when Daddy would tell me to take a "mental picture."