It looks like we have plenty of interest to go to Goose Lake. This is my personal favorite trial I have ever done. It is scenic, challenging in spots, not a truck killer and filled with the best lakes, views, flowers and high-country Montana has to offer.
All updates will be here on POST #1
Obviously the floods have changed our route a bit. From Bozeman we will head over the Beartooth pass out of Red Lodge to Cooke City. This adds a full hour or more than driving through the park and is 4 hours from Bozeman at highway speeds. For our friends from Billings it is a bit closer if I remember correctly. We will meet at the trial head on Saturday morning and push to the Lake, then hike to the Lake (we need to cross a stream on foot) and get back down through a few obstacles before setting up camp, either at the trial head again (if you want to bring a camper) or along one of the many amazing lakes. I know @406Camper was entertaining the idea of an early crew getting up to the lake in time to hike to the glacier... that is an option, just post up if you're interested.
Goose Lake is a moderate trail that most stock Toyota 4x4's with a GOOD/EXPERIENCED driver should get through without issue. I would recommend good off-road tires, and some sliders as a minimum but I'll let others chime if they have rubbed bumpers etc. There are some technical spots with some ledges, steps, rocks and boulders... some places have a bypass others do not. I would not say this is an extremely hard trail, but it does have some technical spots and it is much more intense than a fire road drive. As a club we will spot you through tough spots and help you have a good time and preserve your vehicle whenever possible. Depending on over growth and usage, I would expect some pin striping on this one as well as bumping into your skid plates and under carriage. Again this isn't rock crawling but it wouldn't be the most fun trail for a total newb with a stock truck.
Also, please keep in mind this trail is a LONG way from any real help. Make sure your truck and gear are up for the adventure. Please don't bring a known issue to the trail. We won't leave anyone behind, but we are all trying to enjoy the weekend together. Simply put, fix your junk in your driveway, not on the trial. Things break (I know) but do your best to bring a well maintained rig to these remote trails.
This is also big bear country. Grizzlies frequent these area's so we need to be bear aware for everyone's safety with proper food storage and camping conditions. You are on your own for all you camping, food, water, vehicle needs. There is gas close by in Cooke City and you shouldn't need any extra fuel for the trip. I'd like to eat a meal and buy a tank of gas in Cooke City to help out the locals.
HAM channel will be 146.460
GMRS will be 15
As far as coordinating who is coming I know a few people have discussed going up Thursday night to catch the meteor shower, others are going to roll out sometime Friday and perhaps there are the few that would like to come out the day of... that will make for a LONG day.
Post up here if you are 100% in... we might want to keep the group size reasonable. We may want to stagger two groups if we have a lot of interest. If you know you are 100% in, post up what your tentative plan is for departure (Day and time)
Going:
@REZARF likely heading out Friday as early as I can get off. Planning on camping Friday and Saturday
@90WT
@406Camper
@thetoyotaman
Need motivation?
All updates will be here on POST #1
Obviously the floods have changed our route a bit. From Bozeman we will head over the Beartooth pass out of Red Lodge to Cooke City. This adds a full hour or more than driving through the park and is 4 hours from Bozeman at highway speeds. For our friends from Billings it is a bit closer if I remember correctly. We will meet at the trial head on Saturday morning and push to the Lake, then hike to the Lake (we need to cross a stream on foot) and get back down through a few obstacles before setting up camp, either at the trial head again (if you want to bring a camper) or along one of the many amazing lakes. I know @406Camper was entertaining the idea of an early crew getting up to the lake in time to hike to the glacier... that is an option, just post up if you're interested.
Goose Lake is a moderate trail that most stock Toyota 4x4's with a GOOD/EXPERIENCED driver should get through without issue. I would recommend good off-road tires, and some sliders as a minimum but I'll let others chime if they have rubbed bumpers etc. There are some technical spots with some ledges, steps, rocks and boulders... some places have a bypass others do not. I would not say this is an extremely hard trail, but it does have some technical spots and it is much more intense than a fire road drive. As a club we will spot you through tough spots and help you have a good time and preserve your vehicle whenever possible. Depending on over growth and usage, I would expect some pin striping on this one as well as bumping into your skid plates and under carriage. Again this isn't rock crawling but it wouldn't be the most fun trail for a total newb with a stock truck.
Also, please keep in mind this trail is a LONG way from any real help. Make sure your truck and gear are up for the adventure. Please don't bring a known issue to the trail. We won't leave anyone behind, but we are all trying to enjoy the weekend together. Simply put, fix your junk in your driveway, not on the trial. Things break (I know) but do your best to bring a well maintained rig to these remote trails.
This is also big bear country. Grizzlies frequent these area's so we need to be bear aware for everyone's safety with proper food storage and camping conditions. You are on your own for all you camping, food, water, vehicle needs. There is gas close by in Cooke City and you shouldn't need any extra fuel for the trip. I'd like to eat a meal and buy a tank of gas in Cooke City to help out the locals.
HAM channel will be 146.460
GMRS will be 15
As far as coordinating who is coming I know a few people have discussed going up Thursday night to catch the meteor shower, others are going to roll out sometime Friday and perhaps there are the few that would like to come out the day of... that will make for a LONG day.
Post up here if you are 100% in... we might want to keep the group size reasonable. We may want to stagger two groups if we have a lot of interest. If you know you are 100% in, post up what your tentative plan is for departure (Day and time)
Going:
@REZARF likely heading out Friday as early as I can get off. Planning on camping Friday and Saturday
@90WT
@406Camper
@thetoyotaman
Need motivation?
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