Bob Marshall Wilderness Pack Trips Montana USA Montana is a place of vast prairies, spectacular snow-covered mountains, verdant forests, and wild rivers and streams. Its land is filled with wildlife, its waters bountiful with fish. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is known as the "crown jewel" of the wilderness system. There is high drama here and there is great peace. Our trips begin where the Great Plains rise to meet the Rocky Mountains. We climb with the land, from trout-rich rivers through lodge pole forest and alpine meadows to towering limestone cliffs. This is the home of tiny shooting stars and 600 pound grizzly bears, the mischievous Clark's nutcracker and the stately elk. In the glacial sweep of low meadow and aspen groves, we often spot whitetail and mule deer. High basins may yield fossils of unlikely sea plants, sponges and shellfish, as well as today's living inhabitants, the pika, marmot, mountain goat and eagle. These trips are run by professional guides Ron and Tucker who were each born and raised on a cattle ranch in the Augusta area and have packed and guided here since 1959. This is a small, family operation of high quality, taking pride in good stock, equipment, food, camp facilities, and an experienced crew. The heart of our Montana wilderness operation is a base camp in the White River, just four miles from the continental divide and many well known landmarks, such as the Chinese Wall, Needle Falls, Flathead Alps, Big Salmon Lake and many others, which may be not as well known, such as the "Lost World of Peggy Creek," for example. This region affords good opportunities to see wildlife in one of the last natural strongholds in North America, and many opportunities to fish for the native cutthroat, both big and small. Montana has been called the "last best place." Come see why. Camping Ride with pack horses Family Vacation Suitable for riders over 210 lbs Meeting: Augusta Airport: Great Falls International Airport (GTF) Transfer: Great Falls International Airport (GTF) Riders: Min 5 riders Max 10 riders Trip Brochure (PDF) Trip Rating

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

 

Transfer and Other Charges:

Transfers are available from Great Falls airport before 2:00pm on Day 1. Those driving themselves should arrive by 4:00pm to the B&B (Bunkhouse Inn unless otherwise advised). Trip finishes on Day 8 at 6:00pm with another overnight at the B&B. Departure transfers are available the morning of Day 9.

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1
Arrive to Great Falls before 2:00pm for transfer to Augusta. Check into local B&B. Afternoon check of baggage and re-organizing into duffel bags. Dinner on your own. In Augusta, there is a small diner named Mel’s which offers ice cream, burgers and amazing breakfasts. The Buckhorn bar serves it's famous broiled chicken and offers many other menu items such as steak and burgers. Both are directly across the street from the B&B. Down the street is the Allen’s Manix General Store where they say "if we don’t have it, you don’t need it". J and S Country Store also offers a wide variety of souvenirs. The Western Bar also serves great lunch and dinner meals.

Day 2
Early morning pick up, and arrival in Benchmark just after daylight.  The wranglers should just be finishing up with the saddling of the stock. After an introduction to safe horsemanship, you will be introduced to your horse for the trip. Riders are matched as closely as possible to their mounts according to individual skills and abilities. Our stock is good, gentle stock. You should be on the trail early in the morning, and riding into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. We cross the South Fork of the Sun River via the pack bridge, then across the West Fork pack bridge. Quite often we see elk, whitetail deer, and mule deer along this stretch of trail while the dew is still on the grass. We often stop for lunch at the Indian Creek Ranger Station, or thereabouts. On some trips we may camp in this vicinity, if we have previously made arrangements. After lunch we saddle up and start up and start the ride up Indian Creek. This is an especially scenic area. On most trips in late July to mid-August, bears can be seen from time to time, feeding on the berry crop across the drainage. This is also a good area in which to see mountain goats. The scenic ride climaxes on top of the Continental Divide. From here it is five miles down hill to our camp, and a well deserved rest after the 22-mile horseback ride.

Day 3
After yesterday's hard ride, we turned the horses out to pasture, as we plan to spend most of this day in and around our base camp. Our camp is located at the nexus of the White River and South Fork of the White River, in almost the exact geographical center of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The White River is 150 yards from camp and affords some really good fishing opportunities for both novice and expert fishermen. West slope cutthroat trout are the primary species. If you don’t wish to fish, you can go for a scenic hike right out of camp, take a sun shower (we cheat and heat the water when necessary), and watch the deer feed in and around camp most anytime.

Day 4
The daily schedule for any day can be arranged to fit both personal and group desires, and weather conditions. This day we are planning a day ride to the South Fork of the Flathead River. It involves a 7-mile (one way) river grade trip, fishing and swimming in the river (which is about 10 degrees warmer than the White River). On the way we may see wildlife, take pictures in White River Park and Murphy's Meadows, pick out the profile on "Scarface" Mountain, and practice horsemanship. After returning to a delicious meal, campfire talk, songs and good company can be enjoyed any evening.

Day 5
Today we are going up the White River on horseback, to a "secret" place known only as "the lost World". This place is a remote valley, inaccessible from most directions, and then only by an unmarked trail. Many times, mountain goat, elk and mule deer can be seen. This place gives us the feeling that they are on the moon as the terrain seems to be mostly rock. On the way we will pass Needle Falls, where the mainstream of the White River appears to pass through the eye of the "needle:, a hole in the rock that in recent times formed a natural bridge. By mid-afternoon we should be back in camp, with time left for a hike or to fish after dinner.

Day 6
This is a good day to go to the "Flathead Alps", up the drainage of the South Fork of the White river. A relatively easy ride, it can be as easy or as hard as you wish as you can hike in the "Alps" while the others catch a nap in the sun or take pictures. Adventure is where you find it, or in some cases where you create it.

Day 7
This is a special day, one that we have been saving until now. This trip is a must for everyone. Just four miles up the trail from camp, on Haystack Mountain, to the Chinese Wall. This is an overpowering sight, as the mountain appears to have been cut off with a huge knife, some 1,400 feet from top to bottom. This is the Continental Divide. The general area is also referred to as the "overthrust belt". Often we see bighorn sheep and mountain goats, and sometimes a herd of elk can be spotted in the valley below. If you like mountain scenery, you will love this place set in the midst of a panorama of the wildest places in the continental U.S.

Day 8
We will try to be in the saddle by early morning. We will take the same trail we came in on, but somehow it looks much different going the other direction, and just as beautiful as over again. We should be at Benchmark by mid-afternoon, and you can expect be to Augusta by about 6:00 PM, checking into a local B&B.

Day 9
After breakfast transfer back to Great Falls.
 

                                             Augusta area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	37	41	48	57	66	74	83	82	72	61	46	38
Average Low Temperature (°F)	12	16	22	30	38	45	50	48	40	31	22	14
Average High Temperature (°C)	3	5	9	14	19	23	28	28	22	16	8	4
Average Low Temperature (°C)	-11	-9	-6	-1	3	7	10	9	4	0	-6	-10
Average Precipitation (days of rain)	2	2	3	4	6	6	4	4	4	2	2	2

Source: NOAA


Seasons
Montana experiences diverse weather conditions ranging from winter snowfalls of 300+ inches (in the mountains) to long summer days, often followed by beautiful and mild autumns, complete with vibrant hues of yellow and gold.

Summer in Montana is heavenly, with long sunny days. The warm afternoons turn into cool summer evenings, so keep a lightweight sweatshirt or jacket on hand.

On average, the warmest month is July and the coolest month is January. The maximum average precipitation occurs in May.

Long duffel bags are best for packing.  Your 30 lbs should include your bedroll, but NOT your camera, raingear and jacket (which will be attached to your saddle) and NOT one day’s set of clothes (which will be attached to you).  DO NOT plan on wearing a backpack while riding.  Everything you have with you on the saddle should fit in the saddle bags provided.  If not then you possibly should put excess in duffel.  Jackets can be rolled up and tied to the back of saddle.

Suggested Clothing and Equipment
- Riding helmet - please bring your own if you want to wear a riding helmet! 
- Boots: riding boots or light hiking boots;  some kind of heel and no heavy tread is preferable for safety in the stirrup  
- 2 pair of long pants
- Pair of shorts
- 2 or 3 light sleeveless or t-shirts
- Long sleeved cotton shirt
- Turtleneck
- Changes of underwear and socks (heavy wool socks are good for hiking)
- Warm sweater or heavy wool shirt
- Wind resistant jacket
- Rainproof rain gear (including rain pants)
- Down or fiberfill vest
- Bandanna or neck scarf
- Cap or hat (for the sun)
- Pair of wool gloves
- Long underwear (for night)
- Pair of sneakers (in camp shoes)
- Pair of water sandals
- Sleeping bag: nights may be frosty. Bring a warm one!
- Air mattress or thin pad: we recommend the ¾ length self-inflating mattress
- Day pack (mostly for hikers)
- Canteen or filtering water bottle
- Water purification tabs (optional)
- Garbage bags (unless you have waterproof duffel).  You may also choose to compartmentalize your duffel by clumping different categories of goods in separate bags.                 

Other Suggested Equipment
- Camera and film with a sturdy Ziploc bag for wet weather,
- Flashlight (little and light),
- Allergy medications, if needed,
- Insect repellent,
- Sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Small notebook for journal
- Washcloth and small hand towel
- Toiletries:  contact lenses, toothbrush, floss, chap stick, etc.
- Biodegradable shampoo and soap
* We carry a first-aid book and kit in the camp gear

For The Fisher Folk
Bring your family and your pole. You will find excellent trout fishing on the Dearborn and Sun Rivers, and the headwaters of the Blackfoot, the setting of the book on which Robert Redford based his 1992 movie  "A River Runs Through It". Fish in all these rivers, primarily cutthroat, rainbow, and brown, feed aggressively on dry flies and small nymphs Our catch-and-release record is 105 fish caught in three hours.

Average ratings from 8 tour feedbacks (see details below) Horses: (5) Excellent (4) Very Good (3) Good (2) Satisfactory (1) Not Satisfactory Saddle/Tack: Accommodations: Meals: Host/Guide: other Riders: Name Date colin marchbank 9/24/2016 barbara voller 9/9/2014 julia behringer 8/13/2012 thomas wulff 9/12/2011 iain dark 9/18/2009 bette huff 9/18/2008 dennis rach 9/6/2008 patricia o'keefe 7/27/2007

Accommodations
This is a pack trip, so most nights are spent camping.

Description
Two nights are spent at a local B&B and six nights are spent camping.

Night 1 & 8: Bunkhouse Inn
The Bunkhouse Inn was built in 1912 at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. There are no phones or TVs here… just a comfy bed, a rocking chair on the front porch, and a fire and cup of coffee inside to keep you in the Augusta state of mind! Each of our 9 bedrooms is uniquely decorated with it’s own bed configuration. There are three bathrooms, all shared between the 9 bedrooms.

Night 2-7: Camping
You will stay in the Bob Marshall Wilderness at the base camp "White River" (22 miles in) via the Benchmark trail head and ride out each day for a new adventure into the wilderness.  Guests sleep in wall tents with cots - very comfortable camp. At camp, we have outhouses and solar showers. You can also decide to go swimming to bathe.


Meals
All meals except in Augusta are included. In Augusta, there is a small diner named Mel’s which offers ice cream, burgers and amazing breakfasts. The Buckhorn bar serves it's famous broiled chicken and offers many other menu items such as steak and burgers. Both are directly across the street from the B&B. Down the street is the Allen’s Manix General Store where they say….”if we don’t have it, you don’t need it”. J and S Country Store also offers a wide variety of souvenirs. The Western Bar also serves great lunch and dinner meals.

We specialize in good food served in a casual atmosphere around the campfire or wood stove. Our general dinner menus include spaghetti, roast, chicken or turkey, steak, pork chops, hamburgers, green salads, potatoes, pasta or rice and dessert are the general rule. Breakfasts may include, bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausage, oatmeal, french toast and breakfast tortillas. Sack lunches are the general drill. Breakfasts and dinners are enjoyed in camp while lunch is had out on the trail.
Alcohol is not included, but you can bring your own, within reason.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions if given prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		Western
Horses:		Mixed
Pace:		Slow, 3 miles per hour. About 4-6 hrs daily. Walking only | Walk |
Level:		(2 to 2 out of 5)    Novice
Age:		Min 7
Weight:		Max 240
Riders:		Min 5 riders	Max 10 riders

Riding Experience
Riding experience on our trips varies from the hard-core riders, who are use to 10 go 20 mile excursions, to the novice rider, who may have only seen a horse and never rode one. All of our horses are well trained and extremely gentle, so no riding experience is necessary. We take guests varying in age from 7 year old children to gentlemen and ladies who may be as old as the mountains themselves.

The relationship with your horse begins on the morning your trip departs for the wilderness. Before introducing you to your specific horse we give you a detailed instruction course on proper handling, trail etiquette, and safety rules. More lessons are learned on the trail but we cover the basics before we begin our adventure. We then introduce each guest to their assigned horse we try to match guests and horses according to experience, size, ability and attitude. In other words the bigger the person the bigger the horse. The more experienced rider may want a more spirited horse and the novice rider would be better suited with a calmer, gentler animal. The attitude of the horse and rider must be compatible. This makes things easier and more pleasurable for all. Once introductions and instructions are over we mount up and head down the trail. Even the intimidated rider who was nervous about the trip becomes perfectly at ease after a mile or two on the trail. The miles pass quickly as we ride along the thick timber, crossing small mountain streams or rivers, then through parks where we can look out and see the splendor of the Rocky Mountains.

Horses
You will be riding our gentle, well cared for mountain horses. A pack string of horses and mules will carry our camp goods, food, and duffel bags. You will have your camera and lunch in your saddlebags, and jacket and rain gear on your saddle. Each animal has its own personality: so after you are given your horse more instruction on his or her habits is necessary. Some like to try to snatch a bite of grass while going down the trial or some may need more encouragement then other to keep them up with the group. Though I suppose each animal has it's flaws, they are as perfect as we can ask of them. Our horses are trail wise and alert so there are few stumbles or blunders. They work hard to keep you comfortable though sometimes your backside may get a little sore. We also try to offer opportunities to walk and lead your horse on level or downhill slopes. Walking helps to keep your muscles loose, decreasing the stiffness that may occur from too much time in the saddle.

Some of the trusty mules and horses you may meet on your trip are Lila, Starz, Wyatt, Hildalgo, Shaggy, Musty, Alvin, Gambler, Ringo, Sully, Tombstone, Harley, McDuff, Curly, Cloudy, Flower, Daisy, Hunter, Handsome Jack, Tracker, Roach, Strawberry, Blueberry, Woodrow, Rags, Reno, Slobber, and Bradley. There are too many to name them all!! We own the horses and mules we use and have a great deal of respect for the work they do to make your trip the adventure of a lifetime!

Passports

Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).

Passport Note

(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.

(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.

(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).



The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.

ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

 

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:

1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.

Visa Note

(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.

Validity

Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.

Applications to:

Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).

Working Days Required

Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	N/A
Other EU	Yes
Visa Required?
British	No/2
Australian	No
Canadian	No
USA	N/A
Other EU	1
Return Ticket Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	No
USA	N/A
Other EU	Yes

This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult the embassy or consulate for updated info.