Surrounded by howling wolves at night and chased by a bull moose, this trip was one for the ages! 49 miles hiking and 19 miles floating the South Fork of the Flathead River through the middle of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana. In 2016, I did this four-day trip, floating some of the most pristine, remote waters in the lower 48 states, and hiking through the largest roadless wilderness.
Total pack weight was 41 pounds, of which apx. 16 pounds was my packrafting gear: raft, paddle, PFD, and extra clothing. Gauge reading at Twin creeks was 2180 cfs on the morning I set out. The trip took me from the trailhead at Benchmark, over Stadler Pass to put in on Danaher Creek just south of The Basin. Then, float 19 miles of Danaher and the South Fork, to take out just above the confluence with the White River. Up over White River Pass, skirting the southern edge of the Chinese Wall, and down Indian Creek to the West Fork of the South Fork of the Sun River. 10 miles of river and trail closes the loop back at Benchmark.
If you'd like to learn more about how to ultralight backpack, check out my video series, Ultralight Backpacking for Lightweights: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLseciEzX6Ktow5YmBQDcAaKl6W6qIthmb
For more trip videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLseciEzX6Ktr1bMm14TyzRwsRB6hzQUy8
Music courtesy of: Free Music Archive
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Gear List:
Bandana: https://amzn.to/33IaHOv
Bear Spray: https://amzn.to/3mB8Gwl
Enlighted Equipment Enigma: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&merchant_id=8510cca6-d1a8-443d-b0ef-e95f2ad73b27&website_id=345523ea-2f51-482a-8572-4d2f865d5022&url=https%3A%2F%2Fenlightenedequipment.com%2F
Quilt stuff sack: https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/mld-cuben-fiber-dry-bags/
Bear Hang Bag: https://amzn.to/2H9xxqI
Boxers (extra): https://amzn.to/35QZmi0
Sit Pad: https://amzn.to/2FJA4Yn
Camera (Sony RX100iii): https://amzn.to/2RDLpvw
Coat (RAB Xenon): https://amzn.to/33JAUMB
Reflectix Cozy: https://amzn.to/2FMASvv
Deet: https://amzn.to/35U9C94
DCF stuff sacks: https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/collections/stuff-sacks/products/drawstring-stuff-sacks
Shelter (dcf Locus Gear Khufu): https://locusgear.com/items/khufu-dcf-b/?lang=en
Stakes (MSR): https://amzn.to/3iKPKZO
Fire starter: https://amzn.to/3kvgC0e
First Aid kit: https://amzn.to/32MFPgF
Fleece Hat: https://amzn.to/2FJagf0
Fuel: https://amzn.to/3hFAkEM
Tyvek ground cloth: https://amzn.to/2FOSl6q
Glasses (Nooz armless): https://amzn.to/33Jvph1
Garmin InReach: https://amzn.to/2FTrCW2
Glide anti-chafe: https://amzn.to/3hSX7x6
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Headlamp (Petzl e+light): https://amzn.to/32MHAKN
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Knife (SWK Classic): https://amzn.to/3mAXW10
Lighter (x2): https://amzn.to/3kxMS2R
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Maps: Caltopo.com
Pack (HMG 3400 Junction): https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/products/3400-junction
Pack Towel: https://amzn.to/3hNx9L4
Pad (TR Xlite): https://amzn.to/33G5AyA
Pillow (down): https://goosefeetgear.com/products/down-pillows/
Rain Coat (MH): https://amzn.to/3hHCOSV
Rain Kilt (Zpacks): https://zpacks.com/products/rain-kilt
Socks (extra): https://amzn.to/2FHUKzS
Socks (night): https://amzn.to/3kydPDo
Spoon (Toaks): https://amzn.to/2RGLHSb
Shirt (extra): https://amzn.to/2RIfqKM
Steripen (Classic 3): https://amzn.to/3iM41VT
Stove (MSR Pocket Rocket 2): https://amzn.to/3hLvgyJ
Pot (Toaks): https://amzn.to/3mD7zfG
Sunglasses: https://amzn.to/364bix5
Sunscreen: https://amzn.to/3hOgdnT
Thermal Polypro bottom: https://amzn.to/3mB4jRM
Thermal Polypro top: https://amzn.to/2FAtCD7
Thermometer (AcuRite): https://amzn.to/2RDY5CC
Travel toothbrush/paste: https://amzn.to/3hUipuh
Travel clock: https://amzn.to/32IX0Qg
Water bottles (x2): Empty Gatorade bottles
Wind Shirt (Montbell): https://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=25014&p_id=1103286&gen_cd=1
PFD: https://amzn.to/2RFTFee
Paddle: https://amzn.to/2HbhhW9
Packraft (Alpaca version no longer made): https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/product-category/packrafts/