Leg 17: Big Horn County (Cowley MT) to Gardiner (Gardiner MT)
This leg is classic high-country STOL Turboprop, lots of fun and scary at the same time! 137 nm 0:59:00 enroute over the Rockies.
Departing Big Horn County - the plains are the last easy flying of this route, and we’ll leave I-90 briefly as we head deep into the mountains:
Sectional shows Minimum Obstacle Clearance of 14,800’ so we’re climbing right after departure; check out the deck angle from the front office!
The Rockies quickly grow in the windshield:
Beautiful views of Mystic Lake, 2nd deepest lake in the Custer Gallatin Forest Area, along with the aptly named Island Lake next to it:
Top of the Descent - get down to 150 kts, and a roller-coaster 4.4 degree slope to make that right turn into the Yellowstone River Valley.
Gardiner is the major town just outside the north entrance to the famous Yellowstone National Park, and has a 3,000 asphalt strip sandwiched between the Yellowstone River and I-89. You’ll have to dirty up real quick because R28 is right there before you know it.
