Day 7 - Kalispell MT to Superior WI
Only one more obstacle before reaching the wide open plains - the Continental Divide!
In the space of under 5 miles the terrain went from 3060 ft to over 7500 ft so numerous climbing turns over 53U were the order of the day, and thankfully the temperature was down to the more manageble mid 70's F even at 08.00 am.
My host told me that once I could see Hungry Horse Reservoir I would be high enough to start my turn east. It's so long and narrow and nestled 3000 ft below the surropunding peaks that without sufficient altitude it would be impossible to see. He was certainly correct and thankfully I had made the decision not to put any gas onboard at Kalispell so the climb performance was adequate, just!
In another 10 miles there was the Continental Divide, great barrier of solid rock, over 10000 ft high. Follow the road and railway, my host told me the night before. Well it was difficult to even find the road and railway as they twisted and turned in the steeply sided Flathead River valley. Once Marias Pass had been sighted, the high point of the road route across the Divide, I knew that I could glide down to the relatively flat plains around Cut Bank (CTB) if need be.
At this stage the wind was relatively calm, so mountain wave was not a problem. However, once fueled up at Cut Bank (CTB) the ride across the plains was to become fast and furious. What was planned as a 3 hr 45 min flight took just 2 hr 45 min from CTB to a second fuel stop at Watford City, North Dakota (S25).
Watford City
Watford City had cheap gas and was ideally placed so I could fly to Superior, WI (SUW) and then the next day to Iron Mountain (IMT) without needing fuel. Filling the tanks at IMT then meant I could fly non-stop across Canada to Massena NY.
Once airborne from Watford City, the long fingers of Lake Sakakawea clearly pointed the way east. Here the ground speed reached over 170 kts, that's almost 200 mph - the fastest that 'GOOFY' has ever flown! Thankfully I did not encounter the much faster F16's which were exercising their talents in the huge Devils Lake MOA, directly on my route. GPS technology allowed precise passage just to the south east of the MOA
My destination for day 7 was Superior, Wisconsin (SUW) which is one of three airports at the western end of Lake Superior, which borders Minnesota and Wisconsin at this point. Descending from 10500 ft, with a howling 40 kt tailwind was an interesting experience, and one which had to be planned in advance to avoid an ear-popping descent or overspeed situation.
Superior is home to EAA Chapter 272 which had kindly agreed to house 'GOOFY' while I changed the engine oil and filter. The fast pace of the day meant that I arrived some 2 hours ahead of schedule shortening a 9 hr flight day to a more respectable 7 hrs.
Superior
Richard I Bong airport (SUW) is named after a famous WWII air force veteran and just days before had hosted the touring B17, Aluminum Overcast, on its way around the country en-route for Oshkosh. This very airplane was to 'cross wings' with 'GOOFY' a few days later at Wright Brothers Field (MGY) in Dayton OH - more about this in the flight log for day 11.
