Adventure in the BOB

[Straight Arrow]

Just returned from a four-day backpack adventure into the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, over Headquarters Pass, up the North Fork of the Sun River, through Gates Park to Wrong Creek, then over Washboard Reef, out Olney Creek to West Fork Teton River trailhead.

Headquarters Pass waterfall


Up on Headquarters Pass


Sun River swimming hole

 

[Straight Arrow]

We accomplished our main mission and were able to leave a photo of late one-hundred-year-old Uncle Jim Hasterlik at Gates Park Cabin, where he worked summer of 1942, before WWII Navy deployment.

Gates Park


Uncle Jim's photo posted at Gates Park Cabin, where he had worked 1942, in the Prmitive Area before Wilderness.

 

[Sytes]

Beautiful, SA! Some of the best country in the U.S., IMO.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Straight Arrow]

We hiked up Wrong Ridge on an "infrequently maintained" trail, which disappeared in a total mess of several layers of blow-down large trees, which we had to climb over, through, under, around, only to be unable to find the trail. Finally exhausted, we found an open slope and a spring, so made camp. Wife wanted to send SOS on Garmin, but we climbed to trail area on map, finding an old rusted tin can, then finally the trail. Climbed up to Washboard Ridge and again NO TRAIL! Bush-wacked to where it should be, found a gorgeous meadow with a sweet spring, so camped in the midst of elk sign.
Next morning found another trail that connected with planned trail. Trail blocked by fallen trees every several yards, but not as bad as "Wrong" Trail. Finally made it down the drainage to West Fork Teton, where it was easy hiking and wife was singing! We had camped three nights, with two in the outback not near a trail, after bushwacking in attempt to locate trails unused and overgrown for who-knows-how-long. We reported trail condition to Ranger District to post cautionary note regarding risky trail.
Lesson learned: In the BOB, "infrequently maintained" may mean NEVER MAINTAINED!!!

View from Wrong Ridge

 

[antlerradar]

This should be called over 75 and still living the dream. I pray that I am able to do half the stuff your are doing when I am your age in 20 years. Looks like a wonderful trip.

 

[Nameless Range]

Beautiful. Looks like your leg is healed up!

 

[Straight Arrow]

Emerging from the wild, after hot showers we visited of Gene and Linda Sentz in Choteau. Gene, an acquaintance of Uncle Jim, was a teacher, packer, and outfitter and still hikes in his eighties. Notably, Gene was inducted into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame for his hard-earned success in passing the Heritage Act which provides protection for the Rocky Mountain Front forever. Linda fed us well as we told stories and shared the appreciation for the BOB and other wild places protected and conserved through such strength and perseverance as shown by Gene and Linda Sentz. We enjoyed the Sentz hospitality and the stories and memories for several hours ... what a fitting ending to a great wild adventure!

Gene & Linda Sentz

 

[Caseknife]

Awesome write up, beautiful country, would be neat to do some time.

 

[Straight Arrow]

This should be called over 75 and still living the dream. I pray that I am able to do half the stuff your are doing when I am your age in 20 years. Looks like a wonderful trip.

Yep ... over Headquarters Pass at the bottom taking a pack break, the dude horse string came down to rest and water horses. A fella approached and politely asked my wife's age, then about that "older fellow" with you? When she told him 78, he said "How the hell did he get here?!!!" I replied with my late 101-yr-old Mom's favorite saying, "Move it ... or lose it!"
the fella said he is 74 and was on a bucket-list BOB ride, but was inspired by us to get out back on his own more.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Beautiful. Looks like your leg is healed up!

Don't mean to sound too boastful with self pride, but the year after the leg injury we backpacked 80 miles through the Thorofare for seven days. "Move it ... or lose it!"

 

[noharleyyet]

I wanna be like SA when I grow up . . .

 

[Straight Arrow]

I wanna be like SA when I grow up . . .

The trick is, never grow up. "Don't let the old man in!" Clint Eastwood

 

[TheTone]

Wonderful looking country and trip. Kind of a shame the state of backcountry trails anymore

 

[npaden]

Thanks for sharing. Chinese Wall is a bucket list hike for me. Hope to get it checked off in the next couple years.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Thanks for sharing. Chinese Wall is a bucket list hike for me. Hope to get it checked off in the next couple years.

Do it! It's worth the trek.

 

[blueridge]

So freaking cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Beignet]

Nice looking trip! How low were the water levels on the upper Sun back there? Sadly didn’t make it for one of my backcountry fishing trips above the reservoir this year.

 

[Straight Arrow]

How low were the water levels on the upper Sun back there?

Still nice pools here and there for fishing, but water level only about mid-shin level at the ford near Lick Creek.

 

[Southern Elk]

You are an inspiration, as always. I wish you many more years in the backcountry. Any bears? Elk and deer?

 

[MThuntr]

A coworker learned the meaning of the infrequently maintained Wrong Ridge trail last summer. His adventure nearly resulted in a breakup with his girlfriend over frustrations of the blowdown. That country can get down right hot without tree cover too.