Twins first birthday and flight to Canada
Oct 1-11, 2016
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map of trip KTRK -> KSZT -> CYBW -> KGPI -> KTRK
Rough flight plan

On Saturday, we had the twins birthday party which was a huge success! Ahead of the first snow storm to hit Tahoe, we flew to Canada on Sunday to visit the grandparents. A nice tailwind most of the way had us in Sandpoint, Idaho in 3.4 hours. The flight from there to Calgary-Springbank was gorgeous, we flew through Fernie, up towards Sparwood, and then went over the mountains east and over Bragg Creek. To add to the AOPA description of how to plan a flight to Canada, it's not required to be in radio contact with Canada when you cross the border - in fact, Canada doesn't have such a thing as "VFR flight following". Before we got to the US/Canada border, the US controllers dropped us (we were outside of their radar zone) and from then on, we were squawking VFR, not talking to anyone - the only important thing to know is to call CANPASS before to give them passport information etc, so they expect you when you land, and you need to be on an active flight plan (which you have to cancel with tower or when on the ground). I tried to contact "Pacific approach" as we were crossing the border, but could not get through. We got in touch with Calgary approach once we hit the foothills, and after we landed, I called CANPASS and they gave me a number to copy and that was it!

We had lots of fun in Calgary catching up with friends, enjoying all the parks and walks, and eating lots of delicious food!

On the return flight, according to the AOPA page, you have to be in active radio communication when you cross the border. We planned to cross in a mountainous area below radio/radar coverage again (due to clouds we stayed lower than usual and crossed the mountains over the Crowsnest Pass highway). I wasn't sure how it would work and made several phone calls. In conclusion, it's NOT required to be speaking to US approach controllers - again, you must be on an active flight plan (which I filed with Navcanada online). On departure from CYBW, the tower gave us a squawk code which was the same one that we would use for crossing the border (so we can be identified on radar). I double checked with Flight Service that they were expecting us just north of Eugene, MT, and we proceed to Kalispell with no further excitement. Landing there, we quickly taxied to customs, and had a pleasant efficient experience. Then we had lunch at the Glacier Jet Center, got fuel, and continued on our way! The weather was "broken clouds 5000ft" and I circled over Kalispell in a clearing a few times to get up to 10,500', above the layer of clouds, after which we proceeded home.

  U2 practicing low approaches on Friday  
  U2 practicing low approaches on Friday

   
 

   
 

   
 

  The construction in Truckee is nearing an end...  
  The construction in Truckee is nearing an end...

   
 

   
 

  Mountains southwest of Baker City, OR Our flight engineer is monitoring engine parameters  
  Mountains southwest of Baker City, OR Our flight engineer is monitoring engine parameters

  Descending at Sandpoint Idaho. I remember driving across that bridge!  
  Descending at Sandpoint Idaho. I remember driving across that bridge!

  Swanky terminal building at Sandpoint Idaho!  
  Swanky terminal building at Sandpoint Idaho!

  The twins loved exploring Departing Sandpoint towards the Canadian border  
  The twins loved exploring Departing Sandpoint towards the Canadian border

   
 

  Beautiful Fernie  
  Beautiful Fernie

   
 

  Crowsnest mountain  
  Crowsnest mountain

  Gorgeous mountains in Kananaskis  
  Gorgeous mountains in Kananaskis

   
 

  The foothills, with downtown Calgary in the distance Springbank arrival on runway 17  
  The foothills, with downtown Calgary in the distance Springbank arrival on runway 17

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Crystal Lakes resort in Montana, close to the border  
  Crystal Lakes resort in Montana, close to the border

  At the FBO in Kalispell  
  At the FBO in Kalispell

   
 

  Circling to get above the clouds in Kalispell Grand Canyon of the Snake river  
  Circling to get above the clouds in Kalispell Grand Canyon of the Snake river

   
 

   
 

   
 

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