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

[2XM3]

lmao...snowing pretty good outside right now...amazing weather this year..

 

[xrs800pheonix1]

anyone riding this Saturday

Looking for someone who wants to go to Survey Saturday. Was thinking about Seeley but I would like to get up to Survey at least once this snow year.

 

[WestMont]

Looking for someone who wants to go to Survey Saturday. Was thinking about Seeley but I would like to get up to Survey at least once this snow year.

If I could I would but taking this weekend off to get ready to go north of the border on Tuesday.

I was in to the Goat Lake area this past weekend and best I could tell from a map from where I was it looks like I need to figure out how to get thru the last 4-5 miles as a crow flies to connect with Surveyor country.

 

[Scott]

I was on the east ridge that looks down onto Goat Lake last year. Unloaded at Shotgun Cr and got to Williams lake then dumped over into the Kelly drainage and hung a left that took me up to the overlook that dumped into Goat. GREAT area. LOVE that loop up there. It's an EASY jaunt over to Kelly Creek. EASY. OR you can go straight to Frog and your "Westmont Bowls".

Sending you a PM.

 

[WestMont]

Scott can you get us all the way thru? Sound like you know the way.

I dropped off the ridge north west of Goat Lake but came back up. From the ridge north of Goat Lk I can see all of the Surveyor land marks but it still looks like it would be a haul to go all the way thru. If a guy could beline straight to the West Bowls / Frog Cr. it wouldn't be to bad but it looks like the safest way would be to come up the bottom of the Middle Fork of Kelly to me on the map.

 

[Scott]

Yeah, that is the safest.
I do know people that have gone to HooDoo and been right through Kelly and got picked up at Shotgun Creek.
I have been told that Tom Bauer did it back in the 80s.

 

[xrs800pheonix1]

hoodoo to Survey

I have heard of some riders who work at Karl Tyler chev making it from Hoodoo to Survey. But I have not done it. Would like to try it some day.

 

[Scott]

I've gone pretty close to connecting Surveyor and HooDoo also. Been to Admiral Peak from Surveyor. Been over at looked at Steep Lakes...
I have been under Admiral Peak.

If I tried to connect Admiral Peak and Steep Lakes, I'd have it that one too.
I WILL connect HooDoo to Lolo on my own.

BTW, did anyone see last Friday's Ravalli Republic?
http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2010/03/05/outdoors/od01.txt

LOLO PASS - They were revelers, smiling with the knowledge that, while brown grass colors the valley, the Bitterroot divide still shimmers with the cover of snow.

They were snow detectives, examining the signs that are embedded into the layers of snowpack and tell of possible instability.
They were running snowshoe racers, heading out on the trail in the warm winter sun.

They were diggers of snow caves, excavating new knowledge on ways to survive through a cold night when caught out in the unforgiving snow-clad mountains.

They were snow sliders, taking in muscle memories that tell their legs that true cross-country skiing is more than just walking on sticks.

They were winter igniters, piling sticks over tinder to light with a few precious matches, or pioneering flint and steel.

They were sixth graders from Florence-Carlton Middle School, taking a couple of days to examine various facets of snow.

Snow cave building is always a favorite.

At the forest’s edge, just on the Idaho side of the line, Westin Waldbillig said he’d dug a pretty good space, even with the low snowpack.

And what did he think of the idea of sleeping in his shelter?

“I don’t really want to do that,” he said.

Toward the end of the day, as the caves were being smashed in for safety reasons, Keelin Pitts-Decrow learned a new lesson when he stumbled into a hollowed-out tree well.

“I was up to my neck,” he said. “There was a little bump that was a hidden tree well and I was going to go over it. And as soon as I stepped on it I went right underneath.”

With help from several people, Pitts-Decrow was extracted, though he was shaken by the thought of what his fate would have been if nobody had been there to help.

While good old-fashioned play was part of the plan, sixth-grade teacher Scott Stiegler said there are also some valuable lessons to be learned - about avalanche awareness for example.

“A lot of these kids are already riding snow boards and skiing in the backcountry,” Stiegler said. “And many are taking snowmobiles out into the mountains. This is something that is important to know about…. This is relevant to life here.”

Ben Adkison, a schools outreach instructor with the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation, showed Stiegler’s students where, at various points in the snowpack, hard layers were set over loose, temperature-affected snow.

“Where do you expect the cracking to happen?” Adkison asked.

With wheels turning, several students pointed to the hard layers.

Stiegler, who has been leading a snow school day for eight years, said each year is a bit different when it comes to snowpack.

“We’ve had a huge variety of snow conditions,” he said. “But this is one of the lowest.”

Stiegler said the reason to lead a trip like this is self evident.

“This is special,” he said, “because we live in a place where we can do this sort of thing.”

And then there are those kids who need a push out the door, into the out of doors.

“There are kids who haven’t ever gotten out, haven’t ever struck a match,” he said.

It wasn’t only the students (and the newspaper reporter) who were loving spending a Friday afternoon on the pass.

Chuck Gividen, a Ravalli County sheriffs deputy who works as a school resource officer in Florence, was teaching the fire-building component and was clearly enjoying himself.

“I get a chance to come up here and teach the different values you get from having a fire,” Gividen said. “They learn everything from striking a match, selecting the starter material and building a good fire to using the flint and steel, just like Lewis and Clark did when they came through this same spot.”

Teresa Stolle, who was having a bit of trouble getting her group’s fire lit, pondered the question of how she’d react to being out of matches at nightfall.

Again, the nearby snow caves were pretty much ruled out.

“I’d panic,” she said finally.

Gividen, in between offering encouragement to those struggling to build a successful fire, summed up his hopes for the day.

“You have to hope they’ll learn that there’s more to life than watching TV and video games,” he said. “And maybe they’ll realize how lucky they are to live in the Bitterroot - there’s kids out there who would give anything to be out here.”

Log on to RavalliRepublic.com to comment on this and other stories.

Reporter Sepp Jannotta can be reached at sjannotta@ravallirepublic.com.

 

[WestMont]

Good Job Scott!

 

[WestMont]

I don't know of anyone that talks of making the trip all the way thru but if I were to guess I know and know of a couple guys from our local area that I have no doubt that they have already completed the journey.

Anyone going to the hill climbs this weekend on Lost Trail?

 

[Scott]

I know people have done it....it's just that THIS GUY hasn't yet. LOL

 

[xrated]

I know people have done it....it's just that THIS GUY hasn't yet. LOL

well what are ya waiting for?

 

[xrated]

any of you guys have snow conditions for fish creek? Tim is asking over on the other site and well your thread is dead over there.

 

[Scott]

Tell Mr. Koerner to come back home and say Hi.

It's May conditions up there now.
Low 60" range.

 

[WestMont]

Very very tragic day today in the sledding community. Best I can tell from various reports, 1 rider went thru the ice in Alaska (Alaska section, Bcr), one caught in avy in Priest Lake area (Id section, Bcr), and numerous caught in large avy in Revy(SW Avy section). Prayers to the families and to all involved.

 

[Scott]

Horrible day.

I hope it doesn't get worse. Sounds like Revy is not going to be AS bad as it initially sounded. RIP to those who we've lost this weekend. My thoughts are with their families.

 

[WingNutRacing]

damn.

You boys better be on your toes in Revy Westmont.




The TNytro now has a new home

 

[WestMont]

Just decided I'm going to sit this trip out this time. NOT worth it. Been gloomy all weekend.

We planned on riding Trout Lake Wed and Thur and then go to Revy and ride Fri and Sat.

If I knew the area I might would go but not knowing I think it's best to error on the side of caution.

 

[WestMont]

Clip from snow and mud ..... http://www.globaltvbc.com/world/Survivors+recall+chaos+after+deadly+avalanche/2682622/story.html

WNR, So the TNytro has a new home . Looks like a couple new light weight 2 strokes next year huh.

 

[WestMont]

To go or not to go. I first said I wasn't going after this weekend of events in Revy but changed my mind. I depart in the a.m. for Canada for a few days of riding. See you all when I get back.