2016 Bob Marshall Wilderness Open

[Mike M]

caltopo has detailed layers through 2014, but not 15- yet anyways

couple of wind events through a recent burn could hinder progress (as we found out last year)

[John N]

For sure.  I’ve come to accept there will be blowdown and my feet will be wet.  Not much we can do about either one.

[Mike M]

agreed :)

knowing the extent of the fire, might possibly warrant a small detour/route change to avoid the very worse????

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

Wow 6 pages. I didn’t notice this thread until now.

My status is uncertain for 2016, mostly because of logistics (time off work, travel costs) and because I’ll be in the Bob in June anyways. I’ve still got the fire in the belly though.

If I go I’d probably skip paddling the SF Flathead so I can mix things up. Conditions aren’t looking great for a ski route, but maybe April will show up with some snow. If not I have two other semi-crazy ideas.

[Mike M]

We like crazy ideas :)

[Derek Larson]

I’ve been on the fence about going this year for several reasons, the biggest being that I live in a new home in a foreign land and I wasn’t sure if my wife would be ready for me to be away for over a week so soon after the move. I believe it’s time to recommit as all is well at home. My training has suffered a bit as a result, but if I can get in a handful of long hikes/runs over the next few weeks I should be set. I have two packrafts now (Yak & FX42), but not experienced enough to do much more than the South Fork of the Flathead.

A few questions:

• Who’s going?
• Anyone want a partner? I had issues with crossing the Spotted Bear River last year, but shouldn’t have a similar issue (if I don’t plan to packraft, I’ll bring along a PFD regardless).

If I have a good “warm and fuzzy” about getting from the airport in Great Falls to the start, then I’ll definitely be there.

 

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

It sounds like there’s going to be a pretty robust crew. I’m now actively mulling it over and am currently 50/50.

If you want to raft the SF, the main things to watch are the fast corners around Burnt Park and putting it at the ideal spot (a lot of wood on Danaher Ck, only the last ~ mile is efficient travel).

I’m open to partnering, but I’m not sure if I’m going and what type of route appeals. I’m leaning no raft and ideally a creative route with some unique challenges.

[David Chenault]

Higher altitude snow is hanging around decently.  Might not be a total loss of a spring.

The fires last year are going to put a lot of new wood in the creeks and rivers this year.

It’s worth noting that the historical average triangles the USGS streamflow graphs generate are based on the past two years, and last year is throwing those averages way off.  365 days ago the South Fork of the Sun was at nearly 800 cfs!

[Cyrus Dietz]

Where is there a guage on the South Fork of the Sun? I have seen a guage on the North Fork of the Sun, but I thought that was it. The Sun is on my shortlist of rivers I want to run the spring!

Can’t wait to be in the Bob in a couple months, but next week we are headed to Utah for a couple weeks, so that is occupying my thoughts for now.

[David Chenault]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv?site_no=06079000

The station is right below the little micro-gorge/gnarly rapid not far above the confluence with the North Fork.  Nice campsite right next to it on the north shore.

[Dan Gregerson]

FYI — I hiked in at Gibson Res. last weekend with intentions of floating the N. Fk of the Sun for the first time, but the water was wayyy too low for floating. Guage said it was running 1440 cfs, which I thought I had read somewhere was perfect height, but not so. Unless the gauge isn’t accurate during winter?

I did get snowed on though, which is always fun . . .

They have just come out with the official prediction for an “average” fire season through July, which means the expectation is for an average snow melt year. An exception to the fairly normal snowpack is the Sun R. drainage and parts east, which are only around 70% of normal.

[Mike M]

we’re (Helena area) in that 60-70% range unfortunately- glad for the areas that are close to normal

[David Chenault]

You mean 140 cfs, not 1440?  400-500 is a good level for the N Fork Sun.  1400 is intimidating, but fast.

[Dan Gregerson]

I was basing my reading off this link:

N. Fk Sun

(hope that worked, first attempt to add a link.) If you click on the actual graph line, it brings up a quarter-hourly measurement that says (today) it’s flowing around 1550.00 cfs. But you must be right Dave and there is a decimal shift required. I probably need a tutorial on these graphs. As you once pointed out, “tables are your friends” but not if you read them wrong!

Thanks though for the recommendation regarding a good flow level. Planning to try again the last weekend in April.

[David Chenault]

Something is off in NOAAs data migration from the USGS.  Here’s the USGS data for the last week.  Looks like they have the gauge height correct, but the corresponding CFS is way off.  Gauge height is antiquated and ought to be done away with, anyway.

[Dan Gregerson]

That looks more like it. Thanks Dave (and pardon the thread drift).

[Derek Larson]

Dave,

What are the plans for a pre-BMWO meal the night before the event?

[Sam Haraldson]

Wish I could join y’all this year but an MRI last week indicates an extruded disc between my L5 and S1 vertebrae.  I hope to get out and after it this summer but not before some major PT.

[Jessica K]

I’m starting to think more about logistics/details, and I’m wondering what you all have done in years past as far as a carpool/shuttle from one end to the other.
I’d love to leave my camper van at Cedar Creek campground so it’s waiting for me when I finish, but that leaves the question of how to get from Cedar Creek to Bean Lake CG for the start. I’m guessing this is a common question/problem but I haven’t seen any comments about it this year? Maybe I’m thinking about stuff like this too early…

[Mike M]

Sam- sorry to hear that- here’s to a speed recovery!

Jessica- last year we had a few volunteers, fellow bpl’ers, that helped with logistics like that

I might be wrong, but would guess that there might be a few folks traveling via the Swan on the way over to the start- might be possible to hop in with them; somehow it seems to work itself out :)

 

Mike

[David Chenault]

Certainly not too early to start the logistics conversation.  I for one would love to hitch a ride with someone to the start, either from the Flathead or from Cedar Creek.  If anyone is heading that way, or interested in driving over to the start to hang or do a shorter trip, I’ll lead the way in making sure your gas and dinner Friday night is paid for.  I’d rather not ask my wife (w/ 10 month old in tow) to make that drive only to have to turn around and do it again the next morning.

[Seth Cunningham]

I was just beginning to think about booking a flight and a rental car, so I guess I will jump into the logistics discussion too. I will probably take the whole week off and fly home the following weekend.  This should give me a few days to do an easy trip in Glacier or another part of the Bob afterwards.  That said, I would be open to running shuttle to the start and leaving the car there if somebody could get me back either right after the finish or later in the week.  If there is enough interest, we could pool together for a van or suv…

I will also extend an open invitation to anyone who would like to join me for a TBD post-BMWO adventure.

[Derek Larson]

Seth, for what it’s worth, I’m flying from San Antonio to Great Falls on May 25th and flying back to San Antonio from Kalispell on June 1st. I want to get to Montana early so that I can chill for a day or two before the event and gather the necessary food items I’ll need. I may stay at Malstrom Air Force Base Wednesday night, and possibly Thursday before heading to meet everyone Friday (pending reservations; military retirees can only book room 30 days out). If nobody has plans to drive through Great Falls, I may have to ask for rides along the side of the road. I haven’t made any plans for afterwards, but will figure that out when time comes. Last year, I went to Many Glacier after the BMWO and saw a few grizllies and hiked to Iceberg Lake (well, I hiked “close” to Iceberg Lake as my buddy who came along wasn’t quite ready to go trudging through the snow to get there).

[Jessica K]

I would be happy to throw in money for a van/SUV rental, although I’m hoping to be headed back to Seattle by Tuesday morning at latest, so I might not be around to help with post-trip shuttle.

I’d also gladly buy dinner/pay gas money to anyone who can get me from Cedar Creek to Bean Lake before the start.

 

[John N]

Haven’t even thought about the ride back at the end.  May beg my wife to come get me or just hitchhike.

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