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2022 Bob Open

This topic has 142 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 6 months ago by Mike M.

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Oct 14, 2021 at 12:09 pm #3729658

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

Start will be Blackleaf Canyon TH on the Rocky Mountain Front; specifically, the stock trailhead 500 yards before the car trailhead, due to it having more parking. I will post the finish in early May. I’m reserving the start for a number of reasons, adjusting to conditions being one. That said, the finish I intend to use is 95.29 straightline miles from the start.

Oct 17, 2021 at 6:59 pm #3729901

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

You’re keeping Tom up at night :)

Oct 29, 2021 at 9:18 am #3730928

Scott G
BPL Member

@sgrimm

Very cool. That would put the Finish either somewhere in Northwest Glacier or Downtown Missoula , hmmmm.

Nov 1, 2021 at 2:59 pm #3731242

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

I smell some road slogging. :(

Nov 10, 2021 at 12:45 pm #3731977

Adam R
Spectator

@rhinocesaurus

Longtime lurker, hoping to be a first time BMWO participant. With a distance like that I’m guessing pack rafting is going to be the method of choice this year.

Dec 13, 2021 at 1:07 pm #3734681

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

If my finish line guess is correct a raft would not be my accessory of choice.

Dec 14, 2021 at 2:28 pm #3734793

Adam R
Spectator

@rhinocesaurus

Like Scott, I’m seeing only two likely finishes (unless Dave is messing with us which would be pretty funny): Kettlehouse in Bonner (hoping for a finish during business hours) or Bowman/Kintla Lake area. If that’s the case it seems like it would be advantageous to utilize the Blackfoot or Middle Fork as opposed to what would likely be ~150 miles on a land only route.

Dec 28, 2021 at 7:42 pm #3735602

Rob
BPL Member

@alpine_sailor
Locale: Missoula

What are y’all’s thoughts on ‘packbiking’ (essentially disassembling your bike and hiking it on your back in terrain where biking is either not possible or not legal). The article below describes the process and loosely explores the legal concerns. I have heard of thru riders doing this for sections of the Arizona Trail that aren’t open to biking. It’s easy to imagine a lot of quality and efficient bikeable miles if the route ends somewhere near Missoula.

https://www.bikemag.com/inspiration/packing/

Dec 28, 2021 at 8:40 pm #3735603

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

I think we had two folks that were very close to doing exactly that last year, but changed their minds at the last minute

Dave can pipe in as the final authority, but my understanding if you’re willing to pack (and sometimes ride) the bike the entirety of the trip you’re good- much like having the raft with you the entire trip.

Dec 28, 2021 at 9:05 pm #3735604

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Rob,

The areas you are referring to on the Arizona trail bikes are “legal” to carry not to ride. Within the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Great Bear it is illegal to ride and or possess a bike period. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5413632.pdf

Dec 28, 2021 at 9:06 pm #3735605

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

I was always under the impression you could carry, but not ride- good to know!

Dec 29, 2021 at 7:59 am #3735622

Rob
BPL Member

@alpine_sailor
Locale: Missoula

Thanks for the replys. I understand (and support) the no-bikes-in-wilderness policy. I do wonder though if the author of the bikemag article has a point when he says, ‘if a bicycle is disassembled, is it still a bicycle? Or is it a bunch of bicycle parts?’. It feels like word play, but legally he might have a point. For what it’s worth, I don’t think carrying a bike on your back and only riding where it’s legal violates the spirit of the wilderness act, legal or not. I’d be curious to know if there’s smart people out there that have already thought through this.

Has anyone ever used a mountain bike in a proud style for an Open. It doesn’t really seem possible without the option to packbike.

Dec 29, 2021 at 10:17 am #3735635

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Mike,

I also see that cutting switchbacks is also a crime…. Just saying

Dec 29, 2021 at 10:21 am #3735636

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

Mike,

I also see that cutting switchbacks is also a crime…. Just saying

well there was that one time I slid and tumbled down a couple hundred feet a$$ over teakettle, so at least I had an excuse :)

Dec 30, 2021 at 12:44 pm #3735734

Rob
BPL Member

@alpine_sailor
Locale: Missoula

Bonner seems too random to be the ending, although the weigh station boat ramp is the correct distance. It would require a terrible highway hike in the canyon for people without rafts. It also seems like the fastest route to Bonner would be too similar to last year’s route, which was a long float on the mainstem of the Blackfoot.

Dec 30, 2021 at 1:00 pm #3735735

Adam R
Spectator

@rhinocesaurus

That was my thought as well about a Bonner area finish. A route that has the option of going through GNP would certainly be attractive, but would be logistically…interesting

Dec 30, 2021 at 4:42 pm #3735745

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

I’ve been wrong before………… but I took Dave’s 95.29 miles tongue in cheek; but as I said I’ve been wrong before :)

Jan 4, 2022 at 12:51 pm #3736083

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

So many possibilities.

Jan 5, 2022 at 11:36 am #3736180

Adam R
Spectator

@rhinocesaurus

Just realized the Rattlesnake TH is also 95 miles from the start…. Not gonna lie, I love speculating about all the possibilities!

Jan 5, 2022 at 11:55 am #3736181

Tom M
BPL Member

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Public House café is also within the range. Long float trip.. :)

Jan 5, 2022 at 1:18 pm #3736183

Evan M
Spectator

@ezm5317

+1 for Rattlesnake

Jan 14, 2022 at 4:32 pm #3737002

MMC
BPL Member

@mmc

For anyone wishing to have a little fun speculating on the end point for the 2022 Bob Open, I started a new discussion. Link is below:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/the-gamble-before-the-ramble/

Jan 15, 2022 at 10:40 am #3737057

Will B
BPL Member

@elephanthead

I’ll take the dumb money on a finish somewhere between Ruple Meadow and Antice Knob in the Flathead even though it looks horrific for non-boaters. Rattlesnake would be quite similar to last year’s start and endpoints, floating the whole middle fork from strawberry to confluence would be really cool, and I think Dave likes to punish the packraftless.

Jan 15, 2022 at 7:38 pm #3737100

Rob
BPL Member

@alpine_sailor
Locale: Missoula

The Flathead/GNP probably is the dumb money but I think that would be my preference. A Rattlesnake finish would be really cool, but, as you say, it’s quite similar to last year

Jan 15, 2022 at 8:27 pm #3737109

Adam R
Spectator

@rhinocesaurus

Parallel line but I would think unlikely to cover the same trails. Except for those pesky packrafters… 😄
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