Viperdoc wrote:

Recently, on a long cross country from Portland, OR to Wisconsin, we stopped
at Helena, MT for a gas and pit stop.

Coming from the West with the winds calm, I chose the loc DME BC approach to
runway 9. Even though it's the capitol (is it capital?) of the state, there
is no radar coverage.
/snip/

Do you have an approach certified GPS on board? If so, you might have
chosen the GPS 9 instead. Since, like most GPS approaches, it's much
simpler to accomplish than an arc to a Back Course, it might have at
least lessened your workload during a bumpy, icy appraoch to an
unfamiliar airport. Also, the initial approach fix, SCAAT, is over 20
miles from the runway, and has a published hold. Both of those features
might have helped you get down easier.

As for executing the BC, sounds like you did as best you could. That
one leaves you up pretty high, to begin with.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane