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2020 Bob Marshall Wilderness Open

This topic has 122 replies, 26 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 1 week ago by Patrick H.

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Oct 22, 2019 at 11:29 pm #3615278

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

the 2020 Bob Marshall Open has been announced, as per Dave C’s blog

The 2020 Open will start at the Point Pleasant campground off Highway 83, and end at the Gibson Reservoir boat ramp. 0800 MDT, Saturday May 23.This is not a race.
You must be entirely self-supported and self-contained. Take everything you need, and leave nothing behind but footprints. Any pre-planned assistance of any kind is forbidden.
Any form of human-powered locomotion is allowed within the identified course area. No linear travel on the surface of paved roads.
You are responsible for you. Come prepared for challenging conditions which can easily, with improper luck or preparation, turn life-threatening. Any and all contingency and emergency plans must be arranged in advance by each individual.

Should prove to be a challenging and rewarding route. Let the planning/training/day dreaming begin :)

Oct 23, 2019 at 1:48 pm #3615343

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

At first glance this has me giddy with excitement on possible routes!!

Oct 25, 2019 at 3:54 pm #3615662

Andrew C
BPL Member

@acupino

That final section of the Sun is either going to have me sitting in a boat wondering if it was worth hauling it over the mountains, or slogging along the trail wishing I had a boat. Now to spend the next few months second guessing myself…

Oct 27, 2019 at 4:19 pm #3616042

Scott G
BPL Member

@sgrimm

Looks fun, a lot of new areas for me potentially. Can’t wait.

Nov 3, 2019 at 6:08 pm #3617122

Will B
BPL Member

@elephanthead

I doubt it’ll work with most people’s routes, but if anyone wants to paddle meadow creek gorge with me I’ll carry your drysuit over the swan range :) I’d like to give it a shot as long as the SF is below 8-10k, but it probably wants a partner. I’d sure like someone with a throw rope at the bottom of Thor’s Hammer.

Nov 14, 2019 at 1:20 am #3618570

darren hull
BPL Member

@mtboy
Locale: Pinedale

I’ll get my obvious route dialed in and then ignore it for the next 5 months while I look at what seems like fun.

Nov 19, 2019 at 7:51 pm #3619596

Dan M
BPL Member

@danqm

Here we go again ! What keeps us coming back ? I’m sitting here grinning like a jack-o-lantern all by myself in a coffee shop !

Jan 16, 2020 at 4:42 pm #3627453

Song
BPL Member

@songsta

This will be my first time at the Open. Question re logistics. I’ll be flying in from out of town so need to buy airfare. does flying out on Tue sound reasonable? How long does it take the average person to finish?

Jan 16, 2020 at 5:11 pm #3627459

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

It’s pretty variable with so many different possible routes and then add in blowdown, unknown snow conditions, trouble crossing creeks/rivers, having to reroute, etc

Anyway to get a ticket that only charges a small fee if you have to change flights?

Might be safer to go with Wednesday; if you get out earlier- plenty of sightseeing nearby :)

Jan 16, 2020 at 5:13 pm #3627460

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Wansun,

I think anyone that toes that line is above average. I think Tuesday would be reasonable depending on conditions, skill level, etc. Where are you planning to fly out of on Tuesday great falls, kalispell, or missoula?

Jan 17, 2020 at 12:05 am #3627491

Song
BPL Member

@songsta

Thanks guys. Will consider Wed to be safe. Don’t want the added stress of missing a flight.

Tom, I was thinking of flying into Missoula. Could get a pretty good deal right now with Alaskan Air

Jan 24, 2020 at 7:54 pm #3628628

Scott G
BPL Member

@sgrimm

Wansun,

Lets say you finish Monday afternoon/evening. Gibson back to Missoula is a Loooong drive maybe 4-5 hours?? I think Wendsday is a soon as you’d want to schedule anything and make it late in the day as possible. Can you personally string back to back to back 30 mile days together on a good weekend is the question. Some guys on here can, I am not one of them, as years past have shown it results in failure for me personally. I tried to just take a few days off the first year and push hard, Now I just take the whole week off and relax if I have to bail.

Jan 24, 2020 at 8:35 pm #3628634

Song
BPL Member

@songsta

Thanks Scott. didn’t realize it was a long drive back.

I’m now mulling over whether I want to explore the Sierras and make the logistics easier. Drive vs flying.

definitely tempted by the Open. sounds like a good suffer fest.

Feb 10, 2020 at 2:49 pm #3630724

Josh J
BPL Member

@uahiker

@songsta,

depending on where your coming from driving could be an optition or just make the return flight till a later date (if you can afford it) and that way you don’t have to stress and you can always bump up your return flight if needed.

for me it’d be a 25hr drive to missoula…. if/when i get the chance to do the open i plan on flying, more than likely make my return ticket for the following friday and make a week out of it. if i bail or i finish early i can always bump up my return flight to an earlier one or just take the next day to recoup depending on how i feel.

Feb 13, 2020 at 7:11 am #3631066

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Just a friendly reminder. Officially 100 days to go!! ;)

Feb 13, 2020 at 7:38 am #3631068

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

“Just a friendly reminder. Officially 100 days to go!! ;)”

Woohoo! :)

Mar 1, 2020 at 4:15 pm #3633875

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

while you would never know it by looking out your window in almost any town in Montana, snowpack around the state is at or above normal; specifically germane to the Open- the Flathead is 120% of normal, the Sun/Teton 122% of normal

will be interesting to see how/when it comes off :)

Mar 3, 2020 at 8:20 am #3634095

Will D
BPL Member

@skookumpeak-2

to packraft or not to packraft…that is the question!

Mar 12, 2020 at 1:11 pm #3635479

Dan @ Durston Gear
BPL Member

@dandydan
Locale: Canadian Rockies

<- Leaning no raft.

Mar 12, 2020 at 1:13 pm #3635480

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

I’ll carry someone’s paddle for them if they let me use their raft at Gibson :)

Mar 13, 2020 at 9:35 am #3635630

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

snowpack is shaping up nicely. Not only is there good depth there is above average water content. The forcast looks like more snow on the way with colder than average temps. It looks like some males are out on the prowl on the east side already.

Mar 23, 2020 at 12:20 pm #3637364

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Another friendly reminder 60 days to go!!! Mike M. and I have been doing our due diligence. The Bob was a little spicy :) this weekend but fabulous.

Mar 23, 2020 at 5:58 pm #3637409

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

Spicy as in the safety on my bear spray got knocked off bushwhacking and then inadvertently fired it off! As near as I can tell, bear spray seems to work pretty well :)

Some could possibly call this Ultra Social Distancing

Mar 24, 2020 at 12:30 am #3637461

Luke Schmidt
BPL Member

@cameron
Locale: Alaska

Mike I know a ton of people who have had bad experiences with bear spray. I’m of rigging up some improvised padded holsters for the kids to use. Something to protect it more.

Mar 24, 2020 at 6:38 am #3637481

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

hindsight being 20:20, I had a small bottle of Bronner’s soap that I should have broken out- OC is is oil based and probably would have a little better luck w/ the soap vs snow/water

just another funny note, my pillow had a slow leak- lasted maybe 40 minutes before going flat; I’d fiddle with the valve to open it, blow it back up and my lips would go numb with the lingering OC spray on my fingers :)
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