Popular Post ÜberFly Posted September 22, 2015 Popular Post Posted September 22, 2015 So Deb and I recently completed a week long backpacking trip down in the "Bob Marshall Wilderness" in Montana (South of Glacier NP between Kallispell and Missoula in the Swan Range). The original plan was to do a trip in Glacier NP but we couldn't get the trail we wanted and a friend (of a friend who works for the Forest Service) suggested hiking "The Bob". So we decide to do a bit of research as neither of us had heard of "The Bob Marshall Wilderness" before and wow, what an amazing place... So this area is known to be fairly remote… We can attest to this as we saw 1 other person the entire week, a hunting outfitter going in (and out) with his team of 11 mules to set up his camp for the season. What he covered in 6 hours took us 2 days!! The logistics of this trip were a bit sketchy as the entire area had been (or was) closed due to several forest fires in the area and we could only plan certain sections of the trails we wanted to hike. The original goal was to fish the South Fork of Flathead River. As it turned out, we didn't make it as we wouldn’t have been able to get back on our loop - this area had been closed prior to starting the trip. We started our trip on the Labor Day weekend so couldn't get any updated trail info before we left and had to play it safe (if we had gotten to the S. Fork and the trail on the back end was closed we would have had to add an additional 3 days to the trip which would have put us 3 days past our check in point). Nonetheless the areas that we hiked to were AMAZING. Oh and the best part was it is National Forest Service land so it’s all random camping and “FREE”!! And neither a cigarette butt, piece of toilet paper nor a clay pigeon to be found - I did end up finding an intact rifle cartridge, but seeing that hunting is allowed in this area, I’m surprised I didn’t find more. Actually the entire area was well maintained. The (random) campsites that we stayed at were quite comfortable as we weren’t really sure what we would find and had a couple of late arrivals. Anyway, here are a few photos from the trip. If any of you ever want to hike/fish in an AMAZING area with few (if any) people, plan a trip to “The Bob”. If you need beta, we got all the beta you could need. I know Deb and I will be back for sure if not to see the "Chinese Wall" to fish the S. Fork of the Flathead!! Welcome to "The Bob" (well half of it) Hiking in Night 1- Deb at Necklace Lakes Amazing looking cutty water (Big Salmon Creek - FYI they are going to poison this entire system to get rid of all the Rainbows, Hybrids and unfortunately cutties, as well). And Cutties we found. Pendant Creek Campsite and Shelter (they evacuated the fire fighters out a few days prior to us arriving!). Upper Holland Lake - Scouting for morning snouts before hiking out on the last day. We did REALLY REALLY well here and caught both WS and Yellowstone cutties. Also saw a few "bigger" fish going after our cutties (Bulls maybe?! - A biologist I have been in contact with is a bit puzzled unless they got in during one of the stockings in the 30's, 40's or 60's). For my pal BBT (this sign was found at a restaurant in Seely Lake MT. It was literally the 1st restaurant we saw after being in the backcountry for a week. The food was "ok" and we didn't have the pie as we were advised by our server that it was more then 3 days old). A visit to the Big Sky Brewing Company in Missoula is a must for FREE samples (yes there were guys there - not us, that stayed all day!! 12 Quote
Fred Posted September 22, 2015 Posted September 22, 2015 looks like a great trip. thanks for sharing. I've always wanted to spend sometime down in Montana. Quote
trailhead Posted September 25, 2015 Posted September 25, 2015 The lack of people in the area begs the question. Do they allow ATV's in the area? Quote
ÜberFly Posted September 25, 2015 Author Posted September 25, 2015 No they do not. Human and equine only! The lack of people in the area begs the question. Do they allow ATV's in the area? 1 Quote
darrinhurst Posted October 6, 2015 Posted October 6, 2015 Looks like you had a heck of a trip there Pete! Quote
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