noobie with questions

[LH]

Colin ------a suggestion to keep in mind ONCE you have that license..........it means that you have passed the minimum qualifications and test marks to hold that license. It's at THAT POINT that you start to get into the "meat and potatoes" of flying and depending on how current you remain, it will take years because it's not all found in books. When you reach the point where you know almost all of what there is to know, let me know because I'm still on the learning-curve after 45 years.

I wouldn't shy away from the mountains at all after you have taken some mountain course flying. What I would advise though, is that you find a friend or some other person who has a lot of experience flying in the mountains, is likable and someone you wouldn't mind inviting to your cottage. Use him to go with you on a bunch of flights and offer valuable advice. He'll quickly be able to demonstrate to you that the mountains "don't tolerate a fool".

Best of luck to you and your dad, but remember..........be conservative on that steep "learning-curve" you'll be on for a while, lest you bend your valuable asset......and your butts. The mountains are filled with the remains of fools who didn't pay heed and some of them have yet to be found.

[TorontoGuy]

Folks, just a catch-up note: about a dozen posts ago, Colin said he'd abandoned the flight-to-cabin idea because of the risk at his stage of flying.

[172pilot]

Colin,

You and your father should join the Edmonton flying club. They have a new Cessna 172. Get your license and build time around Edmonton/Calgary/Saskatoon etc. Build some cross country time in flat terrain to master flying skills and weather. Mountain flying is a whole different ballpark. But, at least the flying club can offer you a new plane to rent before you buy a new one and maybe in a couple years you'll decide to take on the challenge of flying to the cabin.