Montana in mid July- some gear questions

respirator for the smoke :(((

Bear spray.

Experienced opinions needed for a mid July trip on the northern 200 miles of the CDT, Benchmark to Canada:

I started sobo CDT on July 9 and was at Benchmark on July 18.

fleece OR puffy jacket OR both

probably only need the fleece but i’d bring both.

balaclava OR beanie

beanie is all that is needed.

waterproof overmitts Y/N (will have lightweight gloves)

don’t need both

Dirty girl gaiters OR not

not needed.

Ursack OR bear canister (don’t want to deal with hanging)

ursack is easier.

40F sleeping bag, plus puffy and down pants if needed OR 20F sleeping bag (no pants, but would still bring puffy or a fleece for camp wear)

Do you have any wind/rain pants? i’d stick with 20* bag and puffy. I’d say just build a fire at camp if cold but not sure on the current fire situation out there.

mosquito headnet OR just bug dope (how bad are they likely to be)

I did just dope but im a freak. most would def want a headnet when not hiking. I wore my rain jacket during lunch at times to keep them at bay.

snow traction? It’s looking pretty dry…

Might only be snow near the Chinese Wall, Spotted Bear Pass, and Glacier? Again not sure on current conditions…

Bear Spray.

Good luck, hell of a section!

fleece OR puffy jacket OR both

Both

balaclava OR beanie

Beanie

waterproof overmitts Y/N (will have lightweight gloves)

No on the overmitts, unless you get cold hands easily – then they are nice on those cold, rainy mornings on the trail. Me, I’d pack them.

Dirty girl gaiters OR not

If they’re waterproof/breathable, definitely. We always pack low event gaiters. If they’re just breathable scree gaiters and are not waterproof, leave them home.

Ursack OR bear canister (don’t want to deal with hanging)

I’d never consider not hanging food here in MT, so I’m not qualified to answer. Hanging is a lot lighter as well as being safer.

40F sleeping bag, plus puffy and down pants if needed OR 20F sleeping bag (no pants, but would still bring puffy or a fleece for camp wear)

20F sleeping bag.

mosquito headnet OR just bug dope (how bad are they likely to be)

Bug dope and headnet. We were tormented on the CDT last July. My wife had her headnet, I didn’t. Mistake.

snow traction? It’s looking pretty dry…

I wouldn’t bring any.

Any other suggestions for this time of year in this location?

Bear Spray

Bring an Ursack. You can hang it in Glacier as required and otherwise do the Ursack tied to a tree thing outside Glacier.

I hiked the Montana/Idaho CDT SOBO starting June 20 last year and I did not find it particularly cold. I always have a 10 degree sleeping bag because I like to feel toasty warm.

Mosquitoes were not bad that early in the summer. I had maybe one night where they were bad and otherwise I used a tarp without a bug net. I always bring a head net because you just never know. Even flies can drive you crazy.

I had rain almost every day but I don’t remember doing anything special to stay dry.

I walked in snow and was grateful to have traction aids. The trail was often muddy and wet.

“I always bring a head net because you just never know. Even flies can drive you crazy.”

and there you have it. A headnet weighs half an ounce and takes up no room. I would think July might be skeeter season. Anyway, why not bring? No downside. On that note, I bring fingerless gloves on most hikes to protect the backs of my hands from sun and, yes, bugs. I use poles, which make sun/bug exposure more extreme.

As for the Ursak being “safer” than a bear canister…I beg to differ. Still, if it works, it certainly packs lighter. Bear gnawed food is…disgusting.

Dirty girls? of course. Again, no real downside.

Fleece is heavy. I’d rather bring a puffier jacket, which is far warmer for less weight. I suppose you ‘might’ want to wear a fleece while hiking in some scenarios. Often enough to justify carrying it? or will a rain jacket serve as well?

Thanks all. I am a bit nervous about using the Ursack in the Bob, but I think we are going with that. So much easier to pack and much lighter weight. We won’t hang until we get to Glacier, so hopefully all will go well! I’m not packing salmon-type food as I usually do, trying to keep things fairly non-smelly and will put everything in a Nylofume bag inside the Ursack. I think we will probably eat dinner before getting to camp as well.

The FS folks thought the Ursack was adequate for the Bob, but recommended hanging it like a regular food sack, which seems weird. If we were going to hang then why would we even want the Ursack? Maybe they didn’t really understand what we were asking.

I’m used to the weight and bulk of carrying a canister but not starting out with a 10 day food carry. I’d just hang a bag but I know myself well, and after a long hard day I just want to eat and sleep. I would probably not do a very good hang because I’m just too tired and I’d think “good enough” when in fact it might not be. I can stow the Ursack properly and quickly.

Just a few weeks out!

People I hiked with after the Bob were jealous of my ursack, hated doing bear hangs every night, and bought one as soon as they could.