MT 316 Goat adventure
- Thread starter LopeHunter
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I use one, keeping the other hand free. Maybe a trekker that compresses down and can strap to the pack would be nice for the flat stretches. In the steep stuff, I like having a hand free. Personal preference.
LopeHunter
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I am headed back to fill the goat tag. Will be arriving this Sunday so wanted to share the current forecast for the full days I am in the unit hunting. Seems mild, especially the forecasted winds.
Not sure of the current snow depth in town or up on Daisy Pass. Below is a link to Cooke City street cameras. One of the two cams has not updated since October but the other (right side) is current. Snowfall seems about 1" to 3" on the days it snows so might be another 6" to 12" as arrive and then while there in the unit. As have been checking the cam daily now, have not seen and bright, sunny days. Glassing may be impacted. Will have that answer soon.
Not sure of the current snow depth in town or up on Daisy Pass. Below is a link to Cooke City street cameras. One of the two cams has not updated since October but the other (right side) is current. Snowfall seems about 1" to 3" on the days it snows so might be another 6" to 12" as arrive and then while there in the unit. As have been checking the cam daily now, have not seen and bright, sunny days. Glassing may be impacted. Will have that answer soon.
Web Cams
cookecity.net
520 Road Sow
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Redside
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Good luck! Keep an eye on the Gallatin Avalanche Center's forecast as well. They're not posting everyday yet, usually after a snow event, but good to be aware of.
geetar
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I’m pulling for you @LopeHunter 
Gerald Martin
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Good luck and be safe!
LopeHunter
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Good luck! Keep an eye on the Gallatin Avalanche Center's forecast as well. They're not posting everyday yet, usually after a snow event, but good to be aware of.
One of the avalanche reports from 2019 had a snowmobiler in an avalanche at Abundance. Wouldn't that be illegal to snowmobile into the wilderness? The Trailhead is well before the mountain.
The avalanches I find on youtube for Cooke City seem to involve small sections of snow about the footprint of a large home that breaks loose and slides a few feet.
BigHornRam
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Area in that article is not in wilderness and open to snowmobiling. Sheep creek is prone to avalanches and also not in the wilderness. Snowmobilers stay out of sheep creek because it's dangerous. Be safe! Good luck!
LopeHunter
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Appears 34" of snow at "Cooke City" per snow depth website but if powder like last month there is almost bare ground and then very tall drifts. Cooke CIty street cam shows much less snow depth on buildings.
rmyoung1
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Good luck @LopeHunter . I’m pulling for you!
520 Road Sow
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Like I told you loper stick to the main trail areas up there. Don't try riding off into the mountain unless there's a real apparent trail. You should be able to get a sled into bowl of woods and towards abundance. Stay safe, your in for one hell of an adventure i think. Gotta good feeling though!
I just found this story from Lulu Pass that took place 13 days ago. Looks snowy then.
I hope you’re having a great time and finding some luck
billingsgazette.com
I hope you’re having a great time and finding some luck
A horse named Sweets returns home after nearly a month lost in the backcountry
Sweets survived 28 days in the rugged backcountry, where he wandered nearly 30 miles dodging predators and ended up stuck in a snowstorm on Lulu Pass that nearly killed him.
406dn
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I just found this story from Lulu Pass that took place 13 days ago. Looks snowy then.
I hope you’re having a great time and finding some luck
A horse named Sweets returns home after nearly a month lost in the backcountry
Sweets survived 28 days in the rugged backcountry, where he wandered nearly 30 miles dodging predators and ended up stuck in a snowstorm on Lulu Pass that nearly killed him.
I read that story also. It is quite amazing that the horse survived its ordeal.
Also, it looks pretty challenging for a goat hunt there right now.
I’ve posted the story of Grace and Chris Schaul in the unlimited thread in the past, but the story of Sweets sure reminds me of the story of Grace.
I had found Grace’s saddle and Chris’s Bible and other belongings and also knew Chris a little.
BigHornRam
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The area gets a lot of snow. I've seen guys snowmobiling on the 4th of July in there. Something to consider before putting in for that unit.
LopeHunter
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Am now back in the comfort of the SW Desert. I never glassed up a goat nor saw tracks in 7 full days of hunting on Trip 2. I may have missed seeing some goats that were there in the timber.
I snowshoed on 3 alternating days with a following day of recovery used to glass from the 212. Visibility was quite good on 5 of the hunt days. Lows fell into negative digits on two nights. Wind was a factor in the high spots as created avalanche loads and made things less comfortable. Not sure what a hard cap is but no bueno.
Amazing country in 316 and am fortunate to have spent time there this year in the north of the unit and then in the south 5 weeks later. Sunrise to sunset were noticeably shorter on the return trip.
Headed up to a ridge. Chugging along. Prior snowshoe experience was 1970s.
Snow along a ridge. Avalanche risk rose but never saw evidence of one during the hunt.
My view on recovery days. No matter my effort, I could not create hair nor horns on snow-covered rocks.
No new wisdom to share specifically from this adventure which is the capstone on a hunting pastime which I began in the 1960s.
A special thanks to Paul, Riley, Julien and Hunter. You each invested quite a bit of time to help me increase my odds to fill this tag. That is what is really special about this forum. We are only nominally in competition.
I am going to spend my remaining autumns traveling without a tag in my pocket.
My legs and lungs remind me of how much longer ascents take going up ridges now than even a decade ago.
Back to back high-exertion days in thin air consistently wreck me physically at this point no matter how much I try to power through the discomfort that builds day by day. I slip. I tumble. Broke a finger on Trip 1 on same hand as broke a finger during the 2019 NV Rubies hunt. That pain I encounter is not just the weakness leaving my body as I measure myself against the mountain.
I will no longer be in competition for primo tags that most of you can do a heck of a lot more with when is in your pocket. Your odds just got a bit better.
I look forward to reading about your upcoming adventures while I am sipping coffee watching the sunset by my pool or in an overseas cafe. I have a great imagination so share lots of details and I will be hiking beside you. You have to do your own pack out, though.
Good luck on your draws, stay safe and best wishes for 2021 and your remaining decades of adventures!
I snowshoed on 3 alternating days with a following day of recovery used to glass from the 212. Visibility was quite good on 5 of the hunt days. Lows fell into negative digits on two nights. Wind was a factor in the high spots as created avalanche loads and made things less comfortable. Not sure what a hard cap is but no bueno.
Amazing country in 316 and am fortunate to have spent time there this year in the north of the unit and then in the south 5 weeks later. Sunrise to sunset were noticeably shorter on the return trip.
Headed up to a ridge. Chugging along. Prior snowshoe experience was 1970s.
Snow along a ridge. Avalanche risk rose but never saw evidence of one during the hunt.
My view on recovery days. No matter my effort, I could not create hair nor horns on snow-covered rocks.
No new wisdom to share specifically from this adventure which is the capstone on a hunting pastime which I began in the 1960s.
A special thanks to Paul, Riley, Julien and Hunter. You each invested quite a bit of time to help me increase my odds to fill this tag. That is what is really special about this forum. We are only nominally in competition.
I am going to spend my remaining autumns traveling without a tag in my pocket.
My legs and lungs remind me of how much longer ascents take going up ridges now than even a decade ago.
Back to back high-exertion days in thin air consistently wreck me physically at this point no matter how much I try to power through the discomfort that builds day by day. I slip. I tumble. Broke a finger on Trip 1 on same hand as broke a finger during the 2019 NV Rubies hunt. That pain I encounter is not just the weakness leaving my body as I measure myself against the mountain.
I will no longer be in competition for primo tags that most of you can do a heck of a lot more with when is in your pocket. Your odds just got a bit better.
I look forward to reading about your upcoming adventures while I am sipping coffee watching the sunset by my pool or in an overseas cafe. I have a great imagination so share lots of details and I will be hiking beside you. You have to do your own pack out, though.
Good luck on your draws, stay safe and best wishes for 2021 and your remaining decades of adventures!
520 Road Sow
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Hell of an effort partner, as a wise man once told me. Only the Billy knows, where the Billy is...... congrats on a great adventure, sorry it didn't transpire in the end. Keep in touch!
406dn
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Lope, I tip my hat to you. I have been thinking about your hunt the last several days.
To be honest, my chief concern was for your safety. I really thought the chance of finding a goat and safely finding a way to it were slim to none.
Any fair chase hunt has some odds of not killing an animal. You did the tag justice. You hunted hard to the limit of your stamina.
Take care, you earned a break.
To be honest, my chief concern was for your safety. I really thought the chance of finding a goat and safely finding a way to it were slim to none.
Any fair chase hunt has some odds of not killing an animal. You did the tag justice. You hunted hard to the limit of your stamina.
Take care, you earned a break.
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