Montana Overland & 4x4 Adventures

10/02/2024

No debate about it...that's beautiful!

Credit: Joe Skaggs

10/01/2024

This is from the dam on Indian Creek (Between Bernice & Deer Lodge), looking north.

Photo by Richard Hiltz

09/30/2024

Lockhart Meadows (between the Bernice exit and Deer Lodge)

There is a bit of smoke from a fire in the area.

Photo by Richard Hiltz

09/30/2024

Love the colors.

Another photo from Joe and the Jamboree in Colorado this weekend.

Photo by Joe Skaggs.

09/30/2024

On Saturday, a friend mentioned that the link between Cabin Creek Trail and Continental Divide Trail road was blocked due to down trees. Having no other plans for today, the trees are now cleared. :) I dealt with them and a few more places where, though it is a full-size route, many down trees were only cut for ATV/SxS width. 🤷

This is just a short but interesting alternative to the Champion Pass & Blizzard Hill route. (Bernice area)

Luckily, it was not all that bad ( Let's face it...I'm no spring chicken. :( ) and I managed OK. It just made a good excuse to get out of the house. I had been looking for one.

It is a beautiful area, and it was a nice, mostly relaxing ride.

09/29/2024

Photo by Joe Skaggs.

From the Ouray Jamboree (Colorado)

09/29/2024

Since Joe is hanging out at the Jamboree in Ouray, we get some great Colorado pictures to share.

There are some really interesting and beautiful photos here.

Joe Skaggs - Ouray Jeep Jamboree- Day 2
Maggie

Thanks, Joe.

09/27/2024

FYI:
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest tells us:

The following roads in the Madsion Ranger District will be closed until October 31, as large equipment and support vehicles complete contracted road work.

Timber Creek Road (8325) in the Madison Ranger District is closed in its entirety from the junction with Forest Service road 100 to the end of the road.

Forest Service road 8325A from the junction with Forest Service road 8325 to its terminus.

Forest Service Road 8325B from the junction with Forest Service road 8325 to the junction with Forest Service road 8325.

If you have questions about the road work, please contact the Madison Ranger District at (406) 682-4253.

09/25/2024

Just because I find it interesting;

Since the Tunnel info has gone over so well, I thought I might share a little more area history-- just because I can. :D

This was a train wreck just east of Wickes, as you can see, right near where the old Charcoal Kilns were. There were once eight kilns along the road between Wickes and Jefferson City, but only one remains now.

The photo is from 1887 & via the Montana State Library. No photographer credit is shown.

09/24/2024

A little history:
(Directions to the Tunnel have been posted previously and are on our website.)

Montana Central Railway - Boulder Tunnel (Tunnel #6):
Locally, it is known both as the "Boulder Tunnel" and "Wickes Tunnel". It has "BOULDER" at the top of both portals (ends) and records indicate the Montana Central Railways, which constructed it, called it the "Boulder Tunnel" and "Montana Tunnel Number 6". However, early maps (from 1900) designate it the "Wickes Tunnel". What to call it (Boulder or Wickes) still causes many arguments among the tunnel's fans.

Work on the tunnel began in March of 1887 and it "officially" opened on October 25, 1888. The tunnel was 6,115 feet long when originally completed. It was the longest train tunnel in Montana, at that time. Portals were added to the tunnel in 1893, extending the tunnel by 30 feet. There were construction & maintenance camps on both ends. The southern (Boulder) side camp was known as Amazon and the northern (Wickes) end was known as Portal.

Eleven men were killed during its cotruction, ten of which died in a dynamite explosion in September of 1888. Due to a cave-in in 1891, the tunnel's wooden lining was replaced with one of brick and granite. A six-foot-wide steel beam was also inserted into the ceiling. Doors at both ends of the tunnel were intended to stop ice build-up inside the tunnel.

The first train to pass through the tunnel was on October 24, 1888. The last "direct service" train from Butte to pass through the tunnel was on January 9, 1972. Then, the Butte to Basin sections were abandoned. (see note)

(Credits: Thanks to TwainsGeography(.com) and the Heritage Center in Boulder for their great information on the tunnel.) - Richard

**NOTE: Upon further research I did due to commenters to this post, I found that there was activity from Helena to Baisn until 1982 when the Montana City to Basin sections were completely abandoned.

09/23/2024

RE: Route to Cow Bone & Dark Horse Lakes -- (Beaverhead County, Montana)

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has announced a short term closure on the access road to one of our favorite trails.

The BDNF reports:
**********
Skinner Meadows Road 381 Closure October 14, 2024
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, in partnership with Montana Trout Unlimited, will be resetting a culvert on Blind Canyon Creek in the Upper Big Hole River watershed. Beginning on October 14th, contractors will reset the culvert and install a concrete splash pad to protect a conservation population of westslope cutthroat trout in the watershed.

Road 381 (Skinner Meadows Road) will be closed at milepost 7.5, approximately 4 miles above Van Houten Lake. A road closure will be in effect at this location for up to 5 days. Please use an alternate route during this time.

For questions, please contact the Wisdom Ranger District at (406) 689-3243.
**********

Now you know...

09/22/2024

Saturday, I led a group of twelve 4x4s and 21 people to Pear Lake via Birch Creek Road.

This was a Frontier 4x4 Club monthly trail ride. It was the first time Frontier's members had been there, though one of our guest wheelers (and a friend) and his family had been there before.

Experiencing a new trail is always great, but one with the beauty of Pear Lake, surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks and a large Bald Eagle flying overhead, made this an especially good trip.

I had a good time and hope everyone else did, too.

09/20/2024

Are you getting out wheeling this weekend? It is supposed to be pretty darn nice out in my area of Montana.

I will be heading to the Pear Lake Trail ride with Helena's Frontier 4 Wheelers - a 4x4 Club on Saturday for a bit of group therapy in the mountains. It is a 4x4 trail, though, not really hard or technical, but the scenery is great.

09/20/2024

UPDATE: Skalkaho Pass Road

** HWY 38 Road Closure Information **

Even though the Forest Service fire closure has been rescinded, the MT DOT closure of the road will continue until they can ensure its safe for normal vehicle traffic.

The Bitterroot National Forest tells us:

Even though the Area Closures will be terminated tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at 8 a.m., the road closure on Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) remains closed from {mile marker 14.1 to 21.4}.

Montana Department of Transportation will be conducting assessments when this road is safe for public travel.

09/18/2024

Recently, Rimrock 4x4 Club (Billings) made a trip on Goose Lake Road. Connor Rivers was along for that adventure and has allowed us to share some of his photos from that trip.

I have not made that particular trip due to the distance, but it is on my bucket list due to the fantastic beauty of that area. Wow!!

A link to Rimrock 4x4 Club is in a post pinned to the top of this page.

Thanks again to Connor for allowing us to share these.

09/17/2024

From Wilson Creek to Bullock Hill on the Tizer Basin Loop.

It is a nice, relaxing drive.

09/17/2024

MAIN BOULDER ROAD

UPDATE: Good news about the Independence Trail (Main Boulder Road) bridge repairs:

Today, the Park County Commissioners voted to approve an agreement with the MT Department of Transportation for partial funding of repairs to the two washed out bridges on the Main Boulder Road (the road to Independence).

Repair costs are estimated to be approximately $220,000 per bridge or a total of $440,000. The MT DOT will provide grants for each bridge with a combined total of $340,000 with the remainder provided by the county.

For details, see the following two documents:

Project Specific Agreement - Local Road and Bridge Account:
https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2851911/Unsigned_Project_Specific_Agreement_-_Main_Boulder_Bridges.pdf

Park County Commission meeting notes:
https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2854804/9.17.24_Commission_Meeting_Memo_Re._SB536_Funds_for_Main_Boulder_Bridges.pdf

09/17/2024

FYI: Some good news:

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has ended stage 1 fire restrictions and rescinded two area closures.

They tell us:

"Recent rains and snow at higher elevations have helped alleviate the incredibly dry conditions we had over the summer. Due to this, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has downgraded the fire danger to moderate and rescinded the stage 1 fire restrictions order.

While the fire danger has dropped, the potential for starts remains. Please recreate responsibly and ensure that your campfires are under control and cold to the touch before leaving camp.

The Ration Mountain and Grouse Fire area closures have also been rescinded due to increased moisture and decreased fire activity.

If you have any questions, please call (406) 683-3900."

This means, among other trails, Hay Canyon Trail should be open again. :D

***In other news, the Helena Lewis and Clark NF just rescinded the closures for the Marsh Creek Fire near Lincoln.

09/16/2024

The Skyliners 4 Wheel Drive Club (Polson) went exploring in the Polebridge area this past weekend. It looks like they had a great time and saw some beautiful scenery.

Here are some photos from their trip.

These great pictures were taken by photographer Mike Hines of HT Images Montana.

09/16/2024

Boy, has this spot changed in the last 6 years since this photo was taken. Those who think stomping on the go-pedal and seeing how deep they can dig holes spinning their tires are changing many trails. And generally, not for the better.

This is the trail to Caruthers Lake.

I am reminding you and you can remind your friends and wheeling buddies: Please Tread Lightly!!

Photo by Joe Skaggs

09/16/2024

While at the Golden Age mine/mill, over the weekend, I spoke of seeing Pika in that area. Most of the folks with me did not know what a Pika is.

Pikas are mammals with small, round bodies like rabbits but much smaller, with round ears like a mouse. They generally live at high altitudes, so I was surprised to see one at that mine some years ago as it is only about 6300 feet.

The last one I saw was on top of Tower Mountain, south of Butte, at just under 9300 feet. I suck at getting photos of them, though, as they are nervous little beggars and hard to get close to. Sadly, I never have the long-distance lens on the camera when I happen upon one, and the little snobs never wait for me to change lenses before hiding.

People have different reasons for off-roading. Mine is to see animals like these and enjoy the beautiful area I live in.

Photo Credit: Frédéric Dulude-de Broin

09/15/2024

Looking northeast at some remnants of what maps identify as the Pataloma Mine in the Tizer Basin. (It is really the Pataloma *shaft* of the Callahan Mine.)

Mines in this area searched for gold but also recovered copper, lead, silver, and zinc. The Callahan Gold Mining Company started this operation around 1910.

Lead and copper would comprise the vast majority of the recovered minerals, though, of course, these were not the most lucrative.

The Pataloma, Calahan, and Golden Age mines were all related parts of one operation, and the Pataloma Mine was essentially an upper shaft associated with the Calahan Mine.

A 1957 US Geologic Survey report states about the Calahan Mine operation: "From 1900 to 1953, a total of 6,810 ounces of gold, 7,860 ounces of silver, 7 tons of copper, 23 tons of lead, and 3 tons of zinc were recovered from about 11,000 tons of ore."

The small mill at the site now known as the Golden Age Mine was reportedly built in 1936 and operated until 1951 as part of the Calahan mining operations.

09/15/2024

Fall colors don't only happen to the leaves. This unnamed meadow is between Tizer Station (Ranger Cabin) and Pataloma Mine in the Tizer Basin. (09/14/24)

09/19/2017

Trump’s Western Firefighters

Refreshing...

Interior reverses years of neglect on forest management.

09/18/2017

Click here to support Charlies Chance at Life! organized by Tammee Frye Ryan

This young man and his mom are fellow wheelers. Help if you can...

09/12/17-My son is blind as of this writing. Serious infections have taken over. Can you imagine losing your sight? I cannot. And I stuggle to remain positive in the midst of this . J has multiple infections going. Skin is doing better. Balancing act with steroids and antiobiotics. No end in sig...