August 26, 2024 - Alaska Flight
Return Trip Day 4: Cut Bank to Cherokee, IA

Now that I'm back in the U.S., I feel like I'm home.  But I'm still in western Montana, I'm in fact still a long way from home.  It will take two long days of flying to get there.

I takeoff from Cut Bank in excellent, albeit hazy weather.  I fly a little lower than transit altitude since it's morning and the air is smooth.  There are some surprisingly scenic spots on this first leg.
   
Rivers and creeks are everything in Montana.
   
I see my old friend the Missouri River after it has come out of the Missouri Breaks.
   
The Missouri is heading southwest towards Great Falls, Montana.
   
I didn't realize at the time that I was looking at the exit of the Missouri Breaks.
   
The Missouri Breaks stretches out to the northeast.
   
Not much just south of the Missouri River.
   
Interesting plateau.
   
A whole lot of nothing.
   
 
   
But it can be pretty in spots.
   
Entering badlands.
   

I've decided to stop every two hours for a fuel stop.  Even with a short break, I feel rejuvenated for the next leg.  Three hour legs -- too much.

Dead ahead is Frank Wiley Field, also known as Miles City.  I'm still in Montana.
   
Closer look at Miles City.
   

The FBO building at Miles City.

It wasn't until I got home and was looking at the USA map which has all my long cross-country flights plotted that I realized I had been at Miles City before.  It was back in 2010 on the Lewis & Clark/ Missouri River  flight (Link).  I was returning home, flying from Salmon, Idaho to Oshkosh and I stopped here for fuel.  The airport is strategically located.  The FBO Building is exactly the same as it was 14 years ago.  For some reason, I remember the airport as being in the middle of nowhere with no town around.  But I liked the airport then and I like it now.
   
I topped off at the self-service pump, then checked out the FBO building.  This would be a great overnight stop.  The FBO has a friendly attendent who gave me some free homemade trail mix and an airport sticker.  There is good Wifi and cell service.  Not one, but three courtesy cars.  As you can see, the pilot lounge is very comfortable.
 
I had picked out Cherokee Airport in Cherokee, Iowa as a good overnight stop.  They had the all important courtesy car.  But losing an hour because of the time zone change was killing me and I knew I'd be arriving at Cherokee after business hours.  So I called them.  No answer.  But the airport manager called me back five minutes later -- how cool is that -- and confirmed I'd be able to get into the FBO building to get the courtesy car keys.  All right!
 
 
   
On the ramp was this Air Tractor AT-802 -- fire-fighting version.
   
I do remember the badlands around Miles City.  But I don't think this cell phone tower in the middle of the picture was there 14 years ago.
   
Continuing my southeast course.   Watching the Powder River gradually fade off.
   
Passing Ekalaka, Montana and its airport to the left.
   
Some interesting rock formations down below.
   
I encounter the Cheyenne River which quickly merges into the Missouri River in the distance.
   
Missouri River dead ahead.
   
Following the Missouri River for awhile.
   
Why is the Missouri River so wide here?  Actually, it's called Lake Oahe, the fourth-largest man-made reservoir in the United States.
   

Because of this big dam, of course.  It's the Oahe Dam, opened in 1962.  It is named for the Oahe Indian Mission established among the Lakota Sioux in 1874.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through here in September and October 1804.
   
Close-up of the earthen dam and power plant.
   
Now the Missouri River looks more like a river.
 
At top center is Pierre, capital of South Dakota.
   
It's hard to tell from this picture, but the main part of Pierre is on the left (east) side of the river.  Smaller Fort Pierre is on the right (west) side.
   
Now I'm east of Pierre and the river.  But I'm heading for Pierre Regional Airport which is just left of center.
 
Pierre's population was 14,091 at the 2020 census, making it the 2nd least populous US state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. It is South Dakota's 9th most populous city.
   
On downwind for runway 7 at Pierre Regional Airport.
   
Turning final for runway 7.
   

Parked outside of Mustang Aviation, the airports very upscale FBO.

No self-service fuel here, but the full-service was nice.  As I said, the FBO was maybe the most upscale one I've ever seen.  The front desk attendant was friendly.  They have a courtesy car but I didn't have time to go somewhere for lunch.

It turns out that I've been to this airport before as well.  I didn't realize it until I got home.  It was the same Lewis & Clark/Missouri River trip, only this time I was heading up the river.  Back then, there was no upscale FBO building.  The FBO operated out of a room on the side of a big old hangar -- still standing, by the way.  I remember going into town for lunch at a pizza place named "Gators".
   
Passing by the terminal building at Pierre Regional.
   
I'm soon on my way again, and decide to follow the river for awhile as its going my way (southeast).
   
 
   
 
   
Rounding the bend.  Hard to believe it has been 14 years since I did this.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Impossible to see this low, I'm in the Big Bend area of the river.
   
An overhead look at the Big Bend of the Missouri River.
   
Wind is picking up.
   
 
   
The eastern side of the Big Bend Dam with the town of Fort Thompson at right.
   
The western side of Big Bend Dam.
   
Western side of the Missouri River.
   
The great river turns to the south, but it's time to leave the river and continue my southeast course.
   
The sky is getting misty as I pass a big windmill complex.
   
Still in South Dakota.
   
Looking north -- nothing but farm fields.
   
That's a tall one!
   
Interstate 90 and an interesting-looking field.
   
Interstate 90 stretches out to the east.
   
I start seeing some blue sky as I cross into Iowa.
   
Interstate 81 heads north.
   
Another big windmill farm in the middle of a square bounded by four airports:   Sioux County Regional, Le Mars Muni, Paullina Muni, and my destination, Cherokee County Regional.
   
And there it is, a welcome sight, Cherokee County Regional Airport.
   
Overhead Cherokee Airport.  It's about 7PM so the airport looks pretty deserted.  I'm hoping the car parked down there by the square little building is the courtesy car.
   
It turns out it is.  The FBO building is unlocked and the courtesy car keys nad logbook are right on the counter.  Good to go!
   
I fuel up the plane, tie it down, drive to the Best Western in town, have a nice dinner at a Mexican place next door and enjoy a good night's sleep.
   
 
   
Everything a cross-country pilot needs.
   
Spot track from Cut Bank, Montana to Cherokee, Iowa.
   
 
   
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