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Scott best bet is to call the Choteau Ranger station and see if anyone has been up there. Snowpack is pretty good right now (Badger Pass is over 120″) so could be tough getting all the way to the trailhead.
Kind of depends on where you want to get into. On the south side, Monture Ck TH should be accessible, but I’d bring skis/snowshoes to head up it. On the east side, they usually plow the road to the dam at Gibson.
Still worth a call to the ranger station, the road could possibly be open.
Time for the annual March snotel check in: the all-important Badger Pass snowpack is exactly where it was this time during 2011. Of course, 2011 (which set flow records all over the Bob well into July) was unusual in that the snow just kept coming after the usual peak in early May. Point being, we have the potential for an exceptionally wet spring and summer, and the balance of probability is that the boating year will be at least above average. What actual flows are come Memorial Day has far more to do with the weather in the weeks prior.
Plenty to be excited about.
I’d say nonexistent, as that road gets a decent amount of snowmachine traffic which compacts the snow and hinders meltoff. You could probably drive to a ~mile past the Nature Conservancy ranch.
Teton Pass ski area is open again this year, so they’re plowing to their parking lot. Good access to the North Fork Teton and associated drainages.
Mike,
Badger is at 75″ I think you were looking at the SWE.
^ crap- you’re right, not sure what the hell I was looking at; I’m old so have an excuse :)
Just a friendly reminder :
84 Days and counting!!!
Just popping in to say howdy! I’m pretty excited about a long walk in the Bob come May and will be road tripping up to the start line from Texas this year after not lining up since 2016. I’ve been on a bike racing tangent for the last few years, but it has been a fun spring so far putting in the miles on the feet.
Time to start watching the snowpack and dialing in the route beta…
Sad to say I won’t be participating this year due to conflicts with kid stuff. I’ve finished 3 of the last 5 routes so have definitely experienced the blissful misery of the Open. Good luck to all!!
You’ll be missed; who’s going to keep Thad in line?
a little more scouting
Mike, what a gorgeous day !!! and back here in mich I did 10 miles in the sand dunes —
About 3-5″ of new snow Thursday on the eastside low, probably double that higher. Just woke up to 2-3″ of new snow in town today, so guessing the mountains saw more. It’s snow we needed so no complaints.
little more scouting
Hi all, Getting excited to participate in this year’s Open! Although my friend and I have plenty of backcountry experience, we have never been to the Bob. I’d love to get some input from those familiar with the area about the feasibility of our route. Would anyone be willing to share some beta? I live in the North Cascades of WA state and would be happy to share similar info about trails over here if that helps…
Thanks in advance!
Jessica,
I would be happy to share beta. I just got out of the Bob and I will say that the trip reports will have a general theme.
Free beta:
Anyone floating the North Fork Blackfoot (your crazy!!!). The two stock bridges were replaced and the one closest to the trail head it looks like they dumped some of the bridge into the river and also there was an avalanche covering the river downstream of the same bridge.
Thanks Tom, I just sent you a message.
Free beta:
There out in the bob…
Very jealous of you Montana locals with access to the Bob to train. I spent 5.5 hrs walking around the city in the rain last Saturday because all the trails are too muddy… I’ll just have to live vicariously through the pictures until memorial day.
Tom
I’m not sure how far up the Blackfoot drainage you made it, but I’d be interested in your observations. Piecing together what conditions will be like is becoming a bit of an obsession absent real mountains close to home, but there is nothing quite as good as eyes on the ground.
Seth,
This was our route:
conditions seem to be normal with lots of high elevation snow still holding on.
Hahn pass approach.
probably worth mentioning that while always an issue in the Bob, a historic (and widespread!) wind event has really reeked havoc on and off trail with blowdown
any plans for friday dinner ?
We’re probably going to stop in at the Log Cabin in Choteau around 5-ish for a burger
The big weekend is fast approaching . Does anyone have any thoughts or experience going over headquarters pass on Memorial weekend?
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