Lolo, Surveyor, HooDoo, Lookout--Stateline Riders Assn: 2014-15

[MissoulaZ28]

Went to Elk Meadows today. Parked at the 10 mile post. Had a few dry chunks but nothing major. Snow was absolute crap, wet, heavy and slick when the sun came out. Had a great morning riding with my dad though.

 

[Scott]

We drove up from Lolo side. "Road Closed sign 17 miles ahead" is still there.
There isn't any high water to speak of....I dunno if you can get through that spot or not from the Fish Creek side.

Anyway...we drove up Schley road. Went past all the old unload spots until we got to snow.

It all boils down to "we couldn't drive as far up as we did on June 19th of 2008". We drove about 2 miles further that year. There is still a couple of feet in the trees where we turned around today.
Just judging by that, I THINK a July ride will be doable this year. I REALLY do.

Some sparse snow was first found right after where everyone takes the short cut up through the big old clearcut to the upper road. We drove up and around to the big bend (under Surveyor Lake that nobody goes that way).

Just after the big bend, we could ALMOST drive to where that cut-off trail comes up onto the road. (Where we saw the wolf on June 19th, 2008.

I had already walked about a 1/2 mile along the snowbank lined road...and the kids were digging in the snow at the truck...so I didn't walk up past that cut-off trail to see how far the snow went.

There are a couple of little angles drifts that I dont' want to drive through...they have too much pitch toward the outside and I started to slide when I went through the first one. I THINK the dirtmobiling will be short. BUT when you go around that corner, I don't know if the road is dry or not...It's juat a mile or three to the outhouse after that.

If I went this week, I MIGHT park at the big bend and take my ATV to pull the trailer with the sled through the first few snow drifts. I HATE RIDING ON DIRT.

I CAN'T go tomorrow (TUES). It's our wedding anniversary and we have things to do.
I think Weds is my riding day.

Anyone?

 

[drphil]

Awwwww man I am gonna start talking to you directly....

I been workin my butt off in preparation of going tomorrow. Wednesday I have to leave for Three Forks to go set up for the Headwaters Country Jam.

This is a Shane record I am ready to go 2 days early instead of on the day I am supposed to leave and 4 hours past when I wanted to go AND I was cleared to go sledding. I guess I will find something to do tomorrow... like work on projects I was going to start on when I got back... Friggin honey-do's anyway!!

I would expect Elk Meadows to be pretty crappy unless you climbed up into the lakes behind Elk Meadows... you can gain 1000 feet back there...

Im thinking maybe if Im here the 4th... into Elk Meadows early in the morn and then Como on the boat that afternoon!!

 

[Scott]

Ed, I see you are here right now....

 

[Scott]

Shane, I'm sorry about the date change.
I had plans to sled and then do anniversary when I got home...but some things came up and we had to make changes. I can't miss out on anniversary plans.

 

[Scott]

Mitch, what about you and Dick on Weds?

 

[drphil]

Scott that "just" a mile or three until the outhouse is a long south slope and one ski killin stretch of rock! THO not near as bad as down lower earlier in the spring!

When is your July possibilities... give me a really good report of the snow depth where all the wicked rocks are halfway down the back side of the test hill when you go.

Those rocks are jagged on top and stick out facing down slope at about a 45 degree angle... you can creep over them getting in... but on a heavy melt day they are impassable on the way out and you gotta go right over to the western edge and jump a drift to get out.

Gosh I love snowmobiling!!!!!

 

[Scott]

The snow line is lower than it was when I went in there on June 19th 2008...and we had NO issues that day on the test hill. In fact, NO rocks showed that year.

BUT, yes, every year is different.

 

[WestMont]

I've seen snow melt off three feet in a week in Surveyor on 80*-90* days here in the valley.

One year I remember drphil reprimending me (I'm sure he remembers too) for not telling him about "watching out for the exposed rocks" on the backside of the test hill when they were going in either the same weekend or during the week after I went in. I hadn't gave it much thought when I went in but the rocks coming off the backside of the test hill about a third of the way down when exposed are tough on a sled and or rider. Once you start down they are about to the point on spring snow that gravity takes over and you can't stop or go around them without hitting them. There used to be a large log in the way also.
Unless you know they are covered for sure you can either slip on a ski loop (belt) to control decent, hang as far right as you can near the trees, or hang as far left as you dare without falling off to the side (not a fan of this method).

If the backside of the test hill has rocks exposed then be very careful going off the hill that goes down into Kidd Lk. If you drop into Kidd the rocks will first start showing right after you start down the main trail into Kidd and in a spot you will "NOT" get stopped before hitting them (just after starting down the hill where the trail gets very narrow and gravity will not let you get stopped maybe even with ski loops). I normally like to go down in the trees to the left (over the bear grass and all) of the main trail and others drop in off to the right more on the ridge if you will.

Either way be careful as the exposed rocks can be half the size of trucks and they will win if you hit one.

When you start seeing rocks you will also star seeing exposed water on the outlet of Kidd Lk.

Once past Kidd the snow seems to hold good until you drop down in one of the creek drainages far enough. I've seen gophers while riding down there.lol

 

[Scott]

I've seen snow melt off three feet in a week in Surveyor on 80*-90* days here in the valley.

One year I remember drphil reprimending me (I'm sure he remembers too) for not telling him about "watching out for the exposed rocks" on the backside of the test hill when they were going in either the same weekend or during the week after I went in. I hadn't gave it much thought when I went in but the rocks coming off the backside of the test hill about a third of the way down when exposed are tough on a sled and or rider. Once you start down they are about to the point on spring snow that gravity takes over and you can't stop or go around them without hitting them. There used to be a large log in the way also.
Unless you know they are covered for sure you can either slip on a ski loop (belt) to control decent, hang as far right as you can near the trees, or hang as far left as you dare without falling off to the side (not a fan of this method).

If the backside of the test hill has rocks exposed then be very careful going off the hill that goes down into Kidd Lk. If you drop into Kidd the rocks will first start showing right after you start down the main trail into Kidd and in a spot you will "NOT" get stopped before hitting them (just after starting down the hill where the trail gets very narrow and gravity will not let you get stopped maybe even with ski loops). I normally like to go down in the trees to the left (over the bear grass and all) of the main trail and others drop in off to the right more on the ridge if you will.

Either way be careful as the exposed rocks can be half the size of trucks and they will win if you hit one.

When you start seeing rocks you will also star seeing exposed water on the outlet of Kidd Lk.

Once past Kidd the snow seems to hold good until you drop down in one of the creek drainages far enough. I've seen gophers while riding down there.lol

LOL...we did in 08 also. HAHA. I hadn't remembered that until you just said that.
We stayed south on the state line and went to Leo that day.
We didn't see a single rock or log on the test hill that day. I was thankfull for that.

 

[WestMont]

Thats funny stuff. They stay out of the hole as long as they dare (act like they've never seen a sled before) as you near until they turn tail and drop in cussing I'm sure. lol

 

[Scott]

Yeah, I'm sure they are wondering what the hell just went by them. LOL

 

[MissoulaZ28]

I would expect Elk Meadows to be pretty crappy unless you climbed up into the lakes behind Elk Meadows... you can gain 1000 feet back there...

Im thinking maybe if Im here the 4th... into Elk Meadows early in the morn and then Como on the boat that afternoon!!

I don't know the names of most anything up there. We got into Lily lake, and the big bowl above it. The lake looks really soft. The road that drops into Volkswagon is blocked by the gate, would have to drop through the trees to get on it. The bowl was ride able but very slick for coming down hill once the sun hit it.

 

[Scott]

I was there at Lilly this year in May...but it was foggy and we couldnt' see much.. But I didn't know of any bowl at Lily. We took the Lolo Pass Road through Packers and all the way around to Brushy and up Spruce.
I had a hard time getting my bearings until the fog cleared. I'd never gone around that way before. I had always come from the Elk Meadows side.

Last time I was at Lilly was about 12 years ago.

 

[MissoulaZ28]

I didn't know there was a bowl there either before yesterday. It's not real big but has about some decent climbs in it it looks like. I'll definitely have to check it out next year with some good snow.

 

[Scott]

So who is going tomorrow?

 

[go high fast]

I'm not crazy on Surveyor but would be up for Lincoln.

 

[Scott]

Dick, I think it might be hard to get in to Copper.

 

[go high fast]

I agree it is likely to be pretty wicked down low especially after today. I am going to pass on Surveyor though.

 

[Scott]

Well if nobody wants to hit Surveyor tomorrow I guess I'd try Copper tomorrow if you want to.