While I’m far from the first to packraft in Montana’s Greater Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, one of the largest blocks of unroaded country in the Lower 48, I don’t see any postings here regarding its potential as a packrafting destination so I thought I’d offer some insights gained during a six day solo through the Bob last week.
The Greater Bob consists of approximately 1.5 million acres of wild country to the south of Glacier National Park. It is drained by the South and Middle Forks of the Flathead River as well as several other highly packraftable rivers and streams including the Sun River, Teton River and too many tributaries to name here. Much of the boating that has occurred historically in The Bob has been horse-supported and quite a few parties still employ the services of local outfitters to pack in larger rafts and heavy gear to several put-ins throughout the area.
I began my exploration of Monture Creek, Danaher Creek, the South Fork of the Flathead River and the Big Salmon Creek/Lake drainages at the Monture trailhead north of Ovando, Montana approximately an hour and a half northeast of Missoula. I ascended the Monture Creek watershed to Burnt Cabin, then hiked up the East Fork of Monture Creek to Limestone Pass on the first day. This 15 mile day covered very flat, very well-maintained trail to Burn Cabin (at about the 8 mile mark) and then climbed gently on more well-maintained trail to Limeston Pass at around 7,500’. When I crossed Limestone Pass I entered the upper reaches of Danaher Creek, one of two streams that join to form the South Fork of the Flathead.
The second day started with another ten easy but hot trail miles down the Danaher Valley to a point in the Danaher Meadows below a large, beaver infested wet meadow system that might have been floatable but would have certainly involved a lot of flat water paddling, mud wading and beaver dam hopping. In any case, I put in at the lower end of the Meadow, about 25 trail miles in from the Monture Trailhead and found a couple miles of good, flatwater floating with outstanding fishing for Westslope Cutthroat. After the first couple of miles the logjams got a bit out of hand and I had more than ample opportunities to practice my huck-rafting skills. Huck-rafting being the game played by throwing boat and pack over 15 foot high log jams before climbing through, around and over said logjams yourself. If I had it to do all over again, I would recommend floating from the lower end of Danaher Meadows to the first large log jam and then bushwhacking back to the Danaher Valley Trail and staying on it until Basin Creek flows into the Danaher another 8-10 miles down valley. All of the Danaher float )aside from the huck-rafting (HR) sections which would easily go HR 3+) was PR 1 in early to mid-summer flows. The catch and release fly fishing for the Westslope Cutthroat on the Danaher and upper South Fork were as good as I’ve seen anywhere.
The South Fork starts at the confluence of Youngs Creek (another access route follows this creek in from the south end of the Greater Bob) and Danaher Creek and the flow and pace picked up a bit at that point. The fishing got even better as well. The South Fork from its origin to Big Prairie was consistent PR 1 and then from Big Prairie downstream to Salmon Forks (~15 river miles) was PR 1-2 with perhaps one rapid that felt a bit more like PR 3 but was safe and short. And a lot of fun.
While many of the outfitter supported trips continue for 65 river miles to the Hungry Horse Reservoir and Spotted Bear Ranger Station, I elected to leave the mainstem at Salmon Forks, the confluence of Big Salmon Creek and the South Fork to explore Big Salmon Lake, the largest lake in The Bob, and then cross the Swan Range over Necklace Pass and then end the trip at Holland Lake in the Swan Valley. Big Salon Lake is a beautiful, fjord-like lake 1/2 mile wide and 4 miles long and the fishing there was excellent as well. Camping at both the foot and head of the lake would work.
The whole trip, including a lot of time spent fishing, took six days and covered about 25 river miles and 50 trail miles, give or take, and revealed to me the great potential of packrafting in The Bob. I do know others have discovered this in recent years and I learned mid-trip that I had been almost immediately preceded by a pair of packrafters from Bozeman, MT.
One potential addition/amendment to this trip would be to drop mountain bikes at the Holland Lake Lodge prior to starting the hike at Monture, overnight at the lodge after the last day of hiking and then mountain bike back (~50 miles of paved road and logging road) to the starting point to pick up your vehicle. Otherwise an individual car shuttle or a rather pricey commercial car shuttle service (try Blackfoot Commercial Co. at 406-793-5555) will be necessary.
To sum up, The Greater Bob presents many extended trip options for paddlers of almost all ability levels and nearly endless options for point to point, loop or hybrid trips.
A few trip photos are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/scottrbrennan/BobMarshallWildernessJuly08