Big Mountain – Apgar Traverse

Hasty gear list:

North Fork pack (new mods worked great)
Synthetic quilt
Prolite XS
Golite poncho-tarp
various dry bags

Alpacka Yukon Yak
Aquabound Shred (needs greater feathering option for headwinds)
Stolquist PFD

Atlas run snowshoes (good size for spring snow, dislike toe straps, dislike rebound built into binding (flings snow at back of legs))
MYOG trekking poles (2 poles essential for rotten snow)

Bushbuddy (love it)
Trappers mug

Cap 1 stretch t-shirt (great new fabric)
Modded poly dress shirt as sun shirt
Visor, bandana, shades (essential for sunny snow)
Cap 2 boxer briefs
Very light poly pants (dry fast)
Montane Featherlite pants
Patagonia Essenshell pullover (enough wind and water protection while boating to leave G-tex at home, this worked very well, dries super fast)
Powerstretch hoody
Buff

Inov8 OROC 280s
NRS Hydroskin socks
Smartwool toe socks

Dave, you are truly an amazing guy. Loved the video and the writeup. I have a nagging question about your route, though. You took Big Creek to the confluence with the North Fork, and then the North Fork down to where it dumps into the Middle Fork (which I think is west of Lake Five)? Then how did you get to Apgar, did you actually paddle the Middle Fork, UPSTREAM? Or did you hoof it from the North Fork/Middle Fork confluence to West Glacier?

You really do some creative trips, Dave. Thanks for sharing them.

Thanks Gary.

There's a great trail on an old road bed that goes from the horse stables near the West Glacier entrance station out to the North/Middle Fork confluence. There are some outstanding views, and confluence overlook is great. You can even ride a bike on it (though until they clear the deadfall I wouldn't recommend it).

It'd be a great picnic/family stroll or easy mountain bike ride.

as always thanks for sharing. looks like a great trip.