Smokejumper's "bucket list" Includes Hiking the Bob to NSA Trail Maintenance Project

NSA Trail Volunteers Attack the Bob Marshall and CDT

Have you ever wanted to hike the Bob from north to south? Several NSA trail crew volunteers are planning a trip during the week prior to meeting up with a NSA trail crew in the southern Bob… and are looking for others to join them. If you have had this on your “bucket list” since jumping fires in the Bob, read on.

Mike Overby (MSO 67) and Jim Phillips (MSO 67) (maybe), are planning on a backpacking trip that begins on July 4th/5th where the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) travels through Marias Pass just east of East Glacier on Hwy 2. The trek ends on Sunday afternoon, July 13th when the balance of the Sarbo Creek NSA trail project crew arrives at camp hiking in from the south. The distance on the CDT is estimated at 150 miles. Estimated specs are:

· Marias Pass to Badger Pass; 34.3 mi/4,111’ elevation gain/moderate difficulty

· Badger Pass to Benchmark; 88.3 mi/7,861’ elevation gain/strenuous difficulty

· Benchmark to Grassy Hills (trail to Carmichael Cabin and Sarbo Creek on N. Fork of Blackfoot River); 27mi/moderate difficulty

. Grassy Hills (CDT- trail departure) to Sarbo Creek); 14 miles / moderate difficulty

· Total estimated distance = 164 mi

For those wanting to work the Sarbo Creek Project, there will be a total of 8 NSA crew members working from July 14 through July 19th. The project will end with a hike out on July 19th returning to Missoula by that night.

Other options to missing the great food, cold beer, comradeship (and some work) on the Sarbo Creek Trail Project would be to cut east past Benchmark to a number of trail heads that go to Augusta. Another option would be to continue traveling on the CDT for 38 miles to Rogers Pass on Hwy 200.
A light pack and plenty of mole skin are recommended. We especially welcome “slow runners” that can lead the team through Griz country.

For those interested, contact Mike Overby at 469-222-5559 or mike.overby@expresspersonnel.com.