The Bob White Loop, Solo Packrafting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (Montana)

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The Bob White Loop, Solo Packrafting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (Montana)

Рет қаралды 5,974

Күн бұрын

Surrounded by howling wolves at night and chased by a bull moose, this trip was one for the ages! 49 miles hiking and 19 miles floating the South Fork of the Flathead River through the middle of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana. In 2016, I did this four-day trip, floating some of the most pristine, remote waters in the lower 48 states, and hiking through the largest roadless wilderness.
Total pack weight was 41 pounds, of which apx. 16 pounds was my packrafting gear: raft, paddle, PFD, and extra clothing. Gauge reading at Twin creeks was 2180 cfs on the morning I set out. The trip took me from the trailhead at Benchmark, over Stadler Pass to put in on Danaher Creek just south of The Basin. Then, float 19 miles of Danaher and the South Fork, to take out just above the confluence with the White River. Up over White River Pass, skirting the southern edge of the Chinese Wall, and down Indian Creek to the West Fork of the South Fork of the Sun River. 10 miles of river and trail closes the loop back at Benchmark.
If you'd like to learn more about how to ultralight backpack, check out my video series, Ultralight Backpacking for Lightweights: • Ultralight Backpacking...
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Gear List:
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Water bottles (x2): Empty Gatorade bottles
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Пікірлер: 52

@fayleya3865 4 жыл бұрын

Oh that was gorgeous! I’ve often wondered about pack-rafting. I do kayaking and I do hiking but not together! Those wolves freaked me out a bit just listening, so I can imagine your adrenaline sitting in that tent! Thanks so much for sharing this adventure :)

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Fayley! You would definitely enjoy packrafting then, since you already have the skills for both. It's great fun to add the thrill of whitewater to the joys of the wilderness adventures.

@zionalberto7680 3 жыл бұрын

i realize it's pretty randomly asking but does anyone know a good website to stream newly released series online ?

@s4livestock641 Жыл бұрын

Great video and information, thank you!

@ShastaBubba Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@cq7415 3 жыл бұрын

You had a great adventure. Congratulations on accomplishing this. Your raft was very small, you did great keeping it upright in the rapids. Great filming too. Thanks.

@ShastaBubba 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! Appreciate the kind words!

@David-ze6bb 3 жыл бұрын

Very cool trip. That moose bit was pretty funny but I'm glad he didn't give you a hard time or get aggressive. An adventure for the books!

@ShastaBubba 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! I really got a workout trying to keep ahead of that moose. Thanks!

@DrJohn493 3 жыл бұрын

Waay too much fun and adventure! Thanks for a sneak peak what I'm in for late this summer. Well done!

@ShastaBubba 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Have a great time!

@dzedogranatovich7085 3 жыл бұрын

Well planned and executed. Great overview and carry list. Very nicely done.

@ShastaBubba 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it!

@grandmamichelle6753 4 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful trip!

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!

@adamholbrook2281 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome trip. Thanks for sharing.

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@ryantownsenda 4 жыл бұрын

Great footage. I'm in the process of planning a trip of my own. Thanks for the inspiration!

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Where are you planning on going?

@elijahgahm8842 4 жыл бұрын

Subscribed. Love my memories from multiple summers packrafting all through the Bob. Thanks for showing all the details! River rocks, burnt down forests and all! You captured the experience very well!

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Elijah, I really appreciate it, especially coming from someone who has shared this experience and country. Did you have a favorite float in the Bob?

@elijahgahm8842 4 жыл бұрын

ShastaBubba Adventures big salmon creek was always one of my favorites but it was so short! I also loved everything leading to the midcreek takeout and then the west fork of the south fork of the sun (ridiculous name haha) was great if the flows were good enough! Also, mad props for getting up and over white river pass with a boat on your back! That’s no small mountain!

@NickandRachel 4 жыл бұрын

Looks like a really awesome trip!

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

It was! Thanks for watching.

@NickandRachel 4 жыл бұрын

@@ShastaBubba no problem! We really enjoy filming our adventures as well

@midlifeadventures391 4 жыл бұрын

Incredible trip and fantastic video! I need to get back to Montana soooon!

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

You should! Hope this video provides motivation. Thanks so much!

@backwoodssurvivalist1779 4 жыл бұрын

I do similar activities but hadn’t packraft yet. Fished middle fork Flathead few days ago and swan river tommorow

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Sounds great; good luck and thanks for watching!

@kylepucko9367 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. Could it be possible this trip was not in 2016? I ask because that's my wife and I at 8:06 :) Based on my paddle, (which I acquired in 2017) I think it may have been that year. We did the Bob White Loop in 2016, but with different gear.

@ShastaBubba 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, good eye! I actually floated both years and had the photography together in one file, and must have pulled that clip from 2017. Thanks for letting me know!

@MTmixer84 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing trip. Floating unscouted Rapids is verry dangerous though

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Agreed! These don't really qualify as rapids though; mostly standing waves (hence the Class II designation). Thanks for your comment!

@JohanGartner 4 жыл бұрын

amazing trip dan! love to goo there!!

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Johan! I'd be happy to help with trail suggestions.

@JohanGartner 4 жыл бұрын

@@ShastaBubba sounds great! Thank you🙏

@JohanGartner 4 жыл бұрын

@@ShastaBubba are you living near the Bob Marshall wilderness?

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

@@JohanGartner Yes, I live in Kalispell, MT, so am able to look over every day and see the Swan range, which is the western border of the Bob. Very blessed!

@JohanGartner 4 жыл бұрын

@@ShastaBubba oh, that's amazing🙂 I'm really jealous😄 stay safe my friend🙏

@paulhepfer8155 4 жыл бұрын

looks great, thanks for sharing. You did four days, If you only had two nights on the river, might you be able to suggest which section you would do? thanks

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

The South Fork of the Flathead is really only accessible via a full-day hike from any angle, but next time I go, I plan to go in at Holland Lk, go down along Gordan Creek, then float to Salmon Forks and back along Big Salmon Lk and out by Pendant lake. It would be more hiking than floating, but you extend your time on the river by stopping as you please. This trip would likely take 4-6 days. I guess if you put in at the Basin (via Stadler pass, as in this video), you can float all the way to Meadow Creek in two long days, after the day of hiking in.

@roytd96 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, What kind of boat do you use?

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

It's an older style Alpaca Raft; called the Denali Llama. They've been upgraded and improved, so I think it would be similar to the current Classic model. Thanks for watching!

@roytd96 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Dan.

@noBearAdventures 4 жыл бұрын

Do you think the Scout could handle this trip? Killer vid btw

@ShastaBubba 4 жыл бұрын

@@noBearAdventures Thanks! I believe a Scout would handle the water just fine, but you would have to pull out and dump water more often due to the lack of a spray skirt. The best authority for this question I know would be Dave Chenault, at BedrockandParadox.com (a blog), who wrote the guidebook for floating the rivers of NW MT and, I think, even owned a scout.

@noBearAdventures 4 жыл бұрын

ShastaBubba Adventures thanks brother. I appreciate the input. Was thinking of maybe installing a MYOG skirt anyway.