So I went there this weekend. I liked the 3 different turf airstrips, right at the edge of a good sized lake, and the twon being real close. Valeria, Montana. A good a reason as any to go flying, I've flown further for lesser reasons! From there the trip morphed into a 17 hour flight over 2 days, overnighting at Winifred Montana. There I met a guy who has been doing the concrete flatwork at the airstrip, and did guiding on the side. I took the doors off and we went cruising the 'Breaks looking for sheep, in exchange it turns out for him springing for the beer and burger later, a good trade!

A ferry that is out of service, still, due to high water plus the road being washed out, people needing to get across have to drive at least 50 miles around to get to there property. The ferry, normally operating by now, is free, paid for by high way funds.

Landing near Chester MT, I flew formation with a Cub in the pattern of the turf strip, here's the pilot of same, we both had a good laugh.

Valeria, a pretty little airstrip, real well cared for, but I didn't get a chance to BS with any locals and as the weather remained perfect I split after realizing there was no good campsites.

Towards the end of the flight, I was getting thirsty, and this wasn't helping! Where the Bud comes from. Perfect weather the whole way and friendly people everywhere I went, the airplane is like traveling with a friendly dog, it opens doors I continue to be amazed at the economy of the Rotax 912S, high, hot and heavy it averaged 3.2 gallons of mo gas, including 14 gallons of 10% ethanol.


I've said this before, but bushwheels really slow you down on a XC trip, because you keep seeing places you can land at! Somewhere north of Helena, this hillside was covered in wildflowers, you can't really tell from the picture but trust me, a very cool place to drop in.

A road landing near a buddy's cabin near Island Park, the nearest other cabin is owned by a Caravan and a Citation pilot, this gave him something to think about!

High winds up high MADE me fly low, where it was calm. Darn the luck! Somehwere south of Lewistown, the antelope were so thick and the wildflowers so profuse, I had to fly a bit higher then normal. Great early AM air down low.

Thats what Im talking about. Very nice!

Looks like you had a great trip. Unreal how much those bushwheels slow you down huh?!?!

AKT

That's awesome!

The adventures of courierguy continue.

mountainmatt wrote:The adventures of courierguy continue.

X2! Thanks for the trip report and pictures!

mountainmatt wrote:The adventures of courierguy continue.

Big cheers for that guy that's out flying an RC plane with his daughter, and the smile on her face.

Nice trip report, and great photos. That's some of my favorite country in Montana. By the way, it's Valier, S7S: http://skyvector.com/airport/7S7/Valier-Airport.

Did you visit any of the Breaks strips near Winifred? If not, you missed out on some great little hideaways. Lots of sheep in the Breaks these days. I was out there a few weeks ago, and everything is as green as you'll ever see it. If in the neighborhood of Winifred/Lewistown, do yourself a favor and fly out to the Upper Missouri Breaks and land at one or more of the airstrips there. Bullwhacker, Cow Creek, Left Coulee, Woodhawk, Knox Ridge and Black Butte. They're all shown on the new sectionals now, and all have identifiers now, so if you have a current database in your GPS or a current A/FD, they're there.

Winifred is a great little place as well, and very pilot friendly. Cheap gas, good strip, and the cafe downtown is a short hike, with belly busting breakfasts and burgers. Also a bar or two, coincidentally.

Great country, thanks again for the trip report.

MTV

Looks like you had a great flight and a fantastic time. That's what its all about. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Montana is a great place, got to love this great Nation we live in.
Happy 4th to all...
Ken in Alaska

Very cool! I so badly want that problem...too many places to land and check out.

Nice. I think I recognize the Island Park road, have never quite had the nerve to land there though mostly because I don't know where I'd park. I have a book called Flying the Big Sky Country (Not Fly the Big Sky) that I'm told is out of print, lots of uncharted airstrips listed in it.

delete

Wirsig: don't know...but there was a strip just a short distance away. The grass looked pretty tall on it, bu doable. It was the road right north out of Winifred that ended at the ferry. The local I took flying said the ferry operators make 14 bucks an hour running it. I asked how they got the gig (nepotism, political paybacks, etc. etc.) but he didn't know. I bet there is a story there......they also get tips!

MTV: I really was kind of done flying when I took the local guy flying back over the Breaks (I had already flown over the area on the way from Big Sandy) and yes the setup at Winifred is great! I was just into eyeballing the views from the canyon rim, it was getting pretty late but still real hot, they'd be best in the cool AM for sure. Next time, this was mostly a cruising flight it seems. Obviously a labor of love by the owner, the guy who likes red metal roofs, half of town also seemed like red roofed. I got in late and left early, and didn't touch base with any of the locals, though I did hangar my plane that night along with the other taildragger bushwheel equipped planes in there, that's a first for me to do on a XC. I got the feeling that the owner would have been disappointed if I had tied up outside! If I was president ( ) every town would be set up with a grass strip like that, so close to town, it just seems right

On the start of this trip I had to drop off some solar gear on a farm road outside of Hamer Idaho. My technique on powerlined road landings is to get all set up for the landing while parallel to the road and well clear of the wires, and then right before touchdown a little sideways slip onto the roadbed. I may end up in a ditch but would remain clear of the wires anyway. I appreciate the less then 30' wingspan of the S-7S when doing this The dog in the pic was a unique mix of Scottish Terrier and Australian Shepard and a real character!

courierguy wrote:Wirsig: don't know...but there was a strip just a short distance away. The grass looked pretty tall on it, bu doable. It was the road right north out of Winifred that ended at the ferry. The local I took flying said the ferry operators make 14 bucks an hour running it. I asked how they got the gig (nepotism, political paybacks, etc. etc.) but he didn't know. I bet there is a story there......they also get tips!

MTV: I really was kind of done flying when I took the local guy flying back over the Breaks (I had already flown over the area on the way from Big Sandy) and yes the setup at Winifred is great! I was just into eyeballing the views from the canyon rim, it was getting pretty late but still real hot, they'd be best in the cool AM for sure. Next time, this was mostly a cruising flight it seems. Obviously a labor of love by the owner, the guy who likes red metal roofs, half of town also seemed like red roofed. I got in late and left early, and didn't touch base with any of the locals, though I did hangar my plane that night along with the other taildragger bushwheel equipped planes in there, that's a first for me to do on a XC. I got the feeling that the owner would have been disappointed if I had tied up outside! If I was president ( ) every town would be set up with a grass strip like that, so close to town, it just seems right

Oh, you don't know the half of it That huge hangar at Winifred was built by a fellow who grew up there, learned to fly there, but now lives in Tulsa. He thought Winifred was such a great place to grow up that he's been spending a LOT of his money in Winifred. He donated the hangar to the city. Local pilots pay a small fee to park inside. He's also built a "town center" which features city offices, post office, museum (worlds largest collection of Tonka toys, by the way) and a sign business to provide some employment. He's also a VERY nice gentleman. Last time I saw him, I told him I'm an orphan and am available for adoption. The red/white/blue Super Cub in that hangar is his.

MTV

Are you sure it wasn't Valier, MT? Looks an awful lot like it to me. We live about 20 m north of Valier (in Cut Bank, MT) about 10 years ago. I did my grass time getting my tailwheel checkout at Valier. It's north central Montana just east of the Rockies. There would be nice camp sites if you walked to the beach (if it is Valier). We were up there this weekend too. Stopped in Cut Bank for fuel on Saturday - beautiful day - then north to the Canadian border to visit my in-laws on the ranch that my husband grew up on.