Wilderness travel: High water, downed trees, in other words typical for early season

Rough roads, high water, down trees and plenty of snow in the mountains.

That pretty much sums up travel conditions in and around the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the South Fork of the Flathead — pretty typical for early season travel.

Spotted Bear District Ranger Scott Snelson last week said rangers were able to get into Big Prairie Ranger Station from the southern route up through the Dry Fork and the Danaher.

They were also able to get to Black Bear before high water, but with recent heavy rains, crossing Mid and Black Bear Creeks is going to be difficult if not impossible for folks on foot trying to get to there from the main South Fork Trail No. 80.

The Spotted Bear motor campground opened on Memorial Day.

The East Side Reservoir Road is rough in spots as is the West Side Reservoir Road.

Motorists should expect roadwork at Sullivan Creek.

There’s still plenty of snow in the higher terrain and early season travelers should expect plenty of downed trees. The district has 13 trail crew members this year — the same as last year. The district also gets help from the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation volunteers as well as Montana Conservation Corps.

Horse parties making early season excursions should carry an ax or saw or both as down trees will be likely.

After the weekend storm, the possibility of trees down is even more likely.