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2025 Bob Marshall Wilderness Open

This topic has 12 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 2 weeks, 5 days ago by Pat Honsinger.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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Jan 8, 2025 at 8:26 am #3825953

Tom M
Spectator

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Let the mapping begin……

The 2025 Open will start at 0800 MDT, Saturday May 24th at the Swift Reservoir TH, and end at the Lincoln Ranger Station parking lot (in downtown Lincoln). Course area is all public land in Montana. The usual guidelines apply.

-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.

Jan 8, 2025 at 1:58 pm #3825985

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

It’s a looooong one :)

Jan 8, 2025 at 2:59 pm #3825991

John N
BPL Member

@airlocksniffer
Locale: Montana

First route I mapped looks about 130 miles/16K elevation. I’ve been wanted to get back through Gateway Gorge since 2015 BMWO so this route looks pretty good to me. I have fond memories (and photo proof) of Mike crossing a log at Strawberry Creek and damn near falling in

Jan 8, 2025 at 3:03 pm #3825993

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

That was pure luck I didn’t go into the drink and have to swim for my life! That was our first year, waaaay back!

Jan 9, 2025 at 9:21 am #3826109

Jacob R
BPL Member

@jrexmt

Howdy friends. Does anyone have an exact idea where the finish is (i.e. coordinates)? I was assuming he meant the ranger station about a mile east of town, but I’m not sure if there’s another parking lot that’s more in town?

Jan 9, 2025 at 9:23 am #3826110

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

You’re correct, it’s the USFS building ~ 1 mile east of town. If you make and they are open, check the full mount grizzly in there—it’s a brute!

Jan 9, 2025 at 10:20 am #3826118

jscott
BPL Member

@book
Locale: Northern California

“damn near falling in”. If Mike had gone in towards the upstream side it appears this would have been a strainer. With that pack on, getting caught under the logs could have been a real disaster. As Mike knows.

Wet logs on a fast and deep river….not my favorite thing.

Jan 9, 2025 at 10:50 am #3826120

Tom M
Spectator

@twofeathers
Locale: Kalispell

Great pic John and a good reminder that Strawberry is the middle fork and during certain run off a pia to get across.

Jan 9, 2025 at 12:25 pm #3826130

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

“damn near falling in”. If Mike had gone in towards the upstream side it appears this would have been a strainer. With that pack on, getting caught under the logs could have been a real disaster. As Mike knows.

Wet logs on a fast and deep river….not my favorite thing.

Definitely a dicey situation.

I will say that John had a dry log when he crossed, no so much when I went across—always go first :)

Jan 9, 2025 at 1:54 pm #3826142

John N
BPL Member

@airlocksniffer
Locale: Montana

I think Kevin eschewed the log crossing but was about nipple deep in Strawberry during the ford.

Jan 9, 2025 at 3:33 pm #3826149

Mike M
BPL Member

@mtwarden
Locale: Montana

True and we watched as he was a hair’s breadth of getting swept; that made the log crossing seem much more appealing :)

Of course there was that one time Thad found the fresh cottonwood….. :D

Jan 9, 2025 at 5:57 pm #3826166

jscott
BPL Member

@book
Locale: Northern California

I’ve been known to get down on all fours across dicey logs. Not pretty, and in fact not always the better approach.

Note Mike’s right toe on the log. He looks like a ballerina. Nice! Seriously, this is skill in action. Excellent form and focus. I’m guessing he was thinking: “Holy effing crap! get me over!”.

I once found myself spontaneously singing a gospel hymn when the river I was crossing proved deeper than I expected, and there was a falls just below. I don’t really know any Gospel hymns. But it took three verses to get across.

Jan 10, 2025 at 10:35 am #3826215

Pat Honsinger
BPL Member

@phonsinger

Does anyone have experience floating Landers Fork?
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