Glaciers change by the hour. Just because I landed on the ice one week does not mean that I will be able to land there the next. As the ice melts new rocks are exposed, and streams cut new gaps. Summer to summer the changes are very drastic and spots that were once very land-able become totally unrecognizable and dangerous. FInding an ice landing is the most demanding flying that I do. Determining the size of rocks, cracks, and bumps is nearly impossible as there is nothing “standard” to compare them to. Glaciers are very deceiving and it takes a tremendous amount of experience to really be able to correctly judge a new landing spot. This particular landing spot is less than 400 feet long. Both ends were totally unforgiving. Remember I am not landing on these spots empty, I am fully loaded with people and gear. A go-around was possible, but only under the proper conditions. Go-arounds are often more dangerous than just dealing with the outcome of the first attempt. It is so important on a landing like this that you get your head right before turning final, because things can get ugly in a hurry. By getting your head right I mean being prepared to improvise, adapt, and overcome. I made multiple trips off of this spot because there were several people in this particular hunting party. On landing, my main gear was touching-down right where my tail wheel is sitting (in the above image). I am not boasting, I am just stating a fact; in order to do that time-and-time again in various conditions … you better be doggone proficient. Proficiency outweighs every airplane modification, and hot-dog pilot on the market. That is why people fly with Mike Meekin and Matt Keller year after year, we do it more than anybody.