Flying to Alaska | Montana Canada Border After yesterday’s late night, I slept in a bit, ate breakfast, and was ready for takeoff on runway 29 at 10:15am MDT. Temperature at Williston was still quite warm, 80º F. The field elevation is 1,982 ft MSL, yet density altitude calculated to 4,159 ft MSL. Although the wind was west at 8 knots, the takeoff roll took nearly the entire runway and climb rate was very slow. Flying across the high plains of northern Montana, the wheat fields become very noticeable. There’s really no way to identify the border line between the USA and Canada; it’s just wheat fields as far as the eye can see.
Stopped at Havre to file an international VFR flight plan into Canada and check the weather. Widely scattered thunderstorms were clearly visible to the west. Havre was nice though: 75º F and west wind at 15 knots. The field elevation was 2,592 ft MSL making the density altitude 4377 ft MSL. After dodging a couple large thunderstorms, Lethbridge finally started to get larger in the windshield. Clearing customs was a breeze after following the instructions from Alaska Airmen’s Association Logbook and Canadian Customs. They did a quick check of the paperwork followed by a quick check of the airplane and I had the green sticker taped to the inside of the left windshield. Today’s procedures are likely much different. Another weather check confirmed more thunderstorms north along my intended route of flight. So, time to stop flying for the day and enjoy the night.
Today’s Highlights… The takeoff at Williston made for some excitement in the cockpit due to the rising terrain just to the west of the airport.
For a more concise story see, Flying to Alaska | a 7 Image Story. And I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Details…
| 7/11/1995 | Day 2 | Williston ND ➟ Havre MT➟ Lethbridge ALTA |
| Photo Gear | Minolta XG-9 SLR, Nikon Zoom Touch 500 35mm point & shoot, and Minolta IX-Date VE TIS2000 compact point & shoot with Minolta 50mm f1.7, Minolta 135mm f2.8 , and Vivitar75-300mm f4.5-5.6 zoom lenses. And, of course, a flash and tons of film! |
| Activities | Fly across Montana, file Intl Flight Plan at Havre, dodge thunderstorms south of Canada. |
| From | To | Route / Wx | Hours |
| ISN | HVR | Williston west through northern Montana to Havre, MT. Light chop. | 2.8 |
| HVR | YQL | Filed International Flight Plan. Filed HVR,CTB,YQL but CBs blocked the route to Cut Bank, MT. Avoiding the thunderstorms after leaving Havre, flew back east, then north, then west just south of the Canadian border to V21 to Lethbridge, ALTA. | 1.3 |
| Wx | Mostly sunny nice day until reaching thunderstorms in western Montana. |
