2015 Bob Marshall Wilderness Open

Well, I am leaning toward being there again this year. Last year didn't quite pan out how anybody planned, so hopefully there will be more success stories this time around.

I want to bring the packraft for one of these at some point, but like last year, I don't really see any routes that shave a lot of hiking mileage. I think I'd rather hike 85-90 miles without the raft than 70 with it. Maybe I'm missing something, or maybe I just like the idea of my legs doing all of the work. Or, maybe I just don't like the packrafting beta I found of the different forks of Birch Creek.

You guys talked a little about ticks/bugs. I hiked a loop just outside of the Scapegoat last weekend, in the NF Blackfoot country. We had 14 ticks in the first 20 minutes. Well over 30 on the day. We also skied in the Missions (just west of Holland) a couple weeks ago and found plenty of ticks below snowline. However, I hiked a loop from Owl Creek last weekend as well and found no ticks (wide trail to snowline though without ankle brush for the ticks). Mosquitoes at the trailhead in the evening.

Speaking of snowline, yes it will be much higher than it was last year. Although the snow level is well below average, the Bob Marshall in May is what it is, and you're going to encounter snow if your route heads east from Holland Lake. My loop last weekend took me over both Pendant and Gordan passes, each of which hold snow and will in 2 weeks. Route discussion seems pretty tight-lipped so I won't go into detail on here about conditions, but message me if you want any more detail.

I couldn't find a partner to take the bait this year, so am planning to travel solo. Similar to Dave, part of my plan is to travel in drainages I haven't before but I also need to make good time. If anyone is planning a foot route and still looking for someone to travel with, feel free to message me and we can see if our routes/intentions line up at all. A big part of the fun in a challenge like this is sharing the experience with someone. You can only talk to the bears for so long before you find yourself almost wishing they would respond.

^ Tanner- good info-thanks :)

does anyone have a rough estimate of what flows for the SF at the gauging station near Hungry Horse would equate to flows near White River? the gauging station is showing ~ 5000 cfs, I'm guessing that far upstream it's going to be less, how much less????

as the date gets closer, it would be nice to look at their data (they show predictions as well) and try to roughly extrapolate for what potential crossings might look like

< not wanting to replicate Dan's 9000 cfs swim! :)

Does anyone have a spot messenger that they wouldn't mind lending to Morgan and I? We could use some kind of communication device to organize a pickup at Swift. In return, I have an ACR PLB you could borrow (non communication device, only emergency).

Looking forward to seeing you again Tanner.

Mike, I'd spitball that the volume of the S Fork right below the White is about 3/5ths of the volume read on the Twin Creeks gauge. The Spotted Bear contributes a lot of flow this time of year.

Dave- perfect! exactly what I was looking for :)

Mike

I hearby declare that this forecast shall not change from this point forward, water will part as I cross rivers and all of the dangerous critters in The Bob will pose for photographs as I pass: http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/condon-mt/59826/daily-weather-forecast/344006?day=6

I have this forcast dialed in for 6200 feet near upper holland lake:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-113.48414&lat=47.45335#.VVabl0ao9JV

Unless a particularly nasty storm (read: snow) is forecasted I'm not to fussed about the weather. I'll pack the same stuff regardless.

What is more intriguing is the streamflow forecast. Right now our peculiar 2015 is continuing, with flows in the arms of the Flathead being very low indeed for this time of year. Based on an only moderate chance of rain and the lowish daytime highs projected for the next week, it seems likely that will remain so into next weekend.

As of now I'll likely be arriving at the Hungry Bear around 645pm Friday.

I'm mostly worried about the caffeine taper required for this. Getting thru next week on 1 cup a day is going to be tough.

I'm also at a complete impasse for my route choice. I have no idea if I'm rafting or not. I have a feeling it'll be something that gets decided on the 14 hr drive over.

Not rafting just seems like no fun.

My wife caught me route planning yesterday. Still no progress on the caffeine taper.

Dave (or anyone else who may know),
Alex is inquiring about the Montana state fishing license. I believe he has plans to supplement some of his diet with fire roasted trout. Is there a general store or market you recommend visiting (on the way to Swift Reservoir coming from Coeur D' Alene), that we could stop right quick and pick up a license from? Thanks.

Chase,

I seem to buy my licenses (all sorts) from either Smith's grocery store on Nucleus Ave. in Columbia Falls or from Snappy's Sport Senter on Hwy. 2 in Evergreen (east Kalispell). There are other sporting good stores in the Flathead Valley but I'm not sure of their license vending status.

John – good suggestions; I didn't even know Smith's in CFalls was an option.

Chase – just to elaborate on directions: Snappy's is probably the easier choice, but it's right at a confusion intersection. In East Kalispell, Highway 2 does a 90 degree left turn, with the two left lanes both turning left, the signs indicating that's the direction for Glacier Park. For Snappy's though, you want to be in the right lane. You'll see Shopko and Perkins on the right and there's a little lane that's like an exit ramp –take that, but watch the cross traffic coming out of the Shopko parking lot. You'll understand what I mean when you see it.

Another general FYI for anyone driving from the west through Kalispell/Browning: DON'T BELIEVE MAPQUEST! It tells you to take "Heart Butte Rd" south outside Browning, but that is a bad road beyond Heart Butte and you're likely to end up in a pasture on the wrong side of a fence from the road (as I did). Much safer (and ultimately quicker) to stay on 89 south to Dupuyer, take a right by the rest area (just before Dupuyer) on Swift Dam Rd., which takes you straight west to the res/campground.

Chase,

I just called the Army/Navy store in Evergreen to see if they sell licenses, but they did not pick up. Just remembered they are closed on Sundays. I will try again tomorrow. The A/N store is also on Hwy. 2 in Evergreen but it has a less confusing ingress and egress. Stay tuned!

The Smith's store in C. Falls is about 1/2 mile detour off Hwy. 2 but parking is usually easy. Licenses are sold at the customer service counter at the front of the store.

Chase,

Message to self: When in doubt consult a search engine:) I found this http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/license/licenseProviders.html#. From there select "K" for Kalispell. Lots of choices for fishing license purchase on Hwy. 93 on the north end of town. Hwy. 93 works just as well as Hwy. 2 for travel through Kalispell to Swift Dam, though you will have to work your way back to Hwy.2. IMO Cabela's probably has the easiest in/out even though it is on the "wrong" side of the road. Access is from Hwy. 93, sign is easy to see just past Lowe's.

It appears that the A/N store is not a vendor, no need for me to call them, however, K-Mart is. Go figure! Lousy exit heading north from K-Mart FWIW.

I am done. Now I get to rest.

Edit for route clarity.

Justin, Morgan, and DandyDan D.,

Would it work for you all to meet at the Swift Res. Campground (south side, of course) Friday at 2:00 pm? I know Dan is driving, but don't know what Justin and Morgan decided re: flights. If you need/want me to meet you at Glacier Intn'l, that's fine too.

At this point, we should probably go to email (dlgregerson At gmail Dot com) for exchanging contact info in case of flight delays, last minute emergencies, etc.

Hey Dan, thanks for the offer!

It turns out John has offered to pick us up when we are done with the trip (morgan has a spot to communicate). So that's the plan right now.

We are going to arrive at Glacier International Airport around noon on thursday… not sure what the plan is once we get there, but it would be great if we could get a ride from Kallispell to Holland Lake.

edit: thursday not wednesday

It's probably easier to list where you can't buy a fishing license. All the Super 1 grocery stores sell them, for example.

Justin, we can give you and Morgan a ride on Friday. You can stay at our house Thursday night as well unless Morgan has set his heart on sleeping in a ditch. Email me (dave at backpackinglight dot com), though perhaps I gave Morgan my cell # last summer?

I'm also going to tempt fate and say that conditions are starting to look just about ideal for the weekend. The skeeters are out early, and I'm considering throwing in a bugnet, which I normally wouldn't bring this time of year.

Dan G.

Friday at 2pm is good with me. I won't have any trouble making it there for this time. I can arrange my plans to make it any time Friday.

With that said, since Justin and Morgan are out maybe there is surplus of rides? I'm not sure if both you and Greg G need to come. but I'm not sure where he's at with occupancy.

My email is durston.dan@gmail.com

I have three scheduled for a ride plus Kate and I. The Van is listed to hold seven but with our camping gear and everyone's hiking gear I'm thinking we are getting near the limit.

Thanks Dave! That sounds like a plan.

I wasn't even thinking about bugs, I'll pack some deet.

May 18…

2015 29"
2014 80"
2013 59"
2012 58"

I'm expecting 20+ inches of slush this weekend. When lightning strikes slush, can someone be electrocuted from afar due to the dissapating electric current? I actually wrote that as a joke, but after thinking about it (and googling) one should be safe so long as not within 20' of the strike, I think.

Does anyone have something they're going to do along the way to "pass time?" This probably only applies to those who may be travelling solo, but one thing I may do is try to memorize a few songs I've never learned completely. I think it would take me the whole way to get Rapper's Delight down…or maybe a spin-off of it (Grizzly Bear Delight?)…

"Does anyone have something they're going to do along the way to "pass time?""

Walk backwards to confuse Dan.