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Top Spur / Bald Mt. - Snow Update

Posted: June 15th, 2017, 7:27 am
by Guy
A quick evening dash up to to Top Spur TH - it's open for business!

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The road is clear of snow all the way from the Old Maid Flats Bridge over the Sandy. Some of the pot holes on that road have become truly huge though, you will soon be able to see them on Google Earth! If you it one of these at speed your car will not be happy about it!

There is still snow on the side of the gravel road up to the TH, this is pushing the brush down onto the road meaning that in a couple of places your car will be be brushed by vegetation from both sides as you drive up the road.

Random patches of snow on the Top Spur Trail.

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The trail around Bald Mt is 100% snow free

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No views on the way in

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The trail is still mostly snow covered from the Bald Mt cutoff up to the end on the large trees section.

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There are more downed trees than in a normal year for this area

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We had to walk around, step over or duck under about 40 trees to reach the meadows on McGee Ridge but none were significant obstacles. No views on the Ridge this evening!

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On our way back down we looped around Bald Mt again in the hopes of getting a view. It paid off!

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Re: Top Spur / Bald Mt. - Snow Update

Posted: June 16th, 2017, 5:52 am
by Thomas M
Thanks for the report. The rangers still think that one cannot even get near the parking area. They could use a trail report. I doubt if they read this blog.

Is the parking lot completely melted out???

Are there any significant washouts on the gravel road???
Can a car with lower ground clearance pass without problems??

There were some last fall.

Re: Top Spur / Bald Mt. - Snow Update

Posted: June 16th, 2017, 6:09 am
by justpeachy
Thomas M wrote:Thanks for the report. The rangers still think that one cannot even get near the parking area. They could use a trail report. I doubt if they read this blog
Actually, I think they do. The question is whether the rangers pass that information down to the people answering the phones and working at the ranger station. I find that the FS has a big problem with making sure front desk staff have the information they need to keep the public properly informed.

Re: Top Spur / Bald Mt. - Snow Update

Posted: June 16th, 2017, 7:21 am
by Guy
Thomas M wrote:Thanks for the report. The rangers still think that one cannot even get near the parking area. They could use a trail report. I doubt if they read this blog.

Is the parking lot completely melted out???

Are there any significant washouts on the gravel road???
Can a car with lower ground clearance pass without problems??

There were some last fall.
You wont have any problems in a small car Thomas, if you dont like huge potholes then the slightly longer way in from the top of Lolo Pass is better.

Re: Top Spur / Bald Mt. - Snow Update

Posted: June 16th, 2017, 8:33 am
by walkin62
The rangers still think that one cannot even get near the parking area
It was still dicey two weeks ago when I tried to get there, so it's just been the last few days that this has actually been accessible.