Blue Mountain Snow/Road Conditions for Modern Elk Opener

[andersonjk4]

Specifically up the 42, 43, 44 roads?  Anyone been up there?  I'm wondering if its going to be a repeat of the skating rink that was opening weekend of 2012. 

[dvolmer]

I have a Dayton Big Bull tag and tried to hunt yesterday up off of Skyline.  I was able to get to Edmonds springs ok but you couldn't get an inch off of the road without getting stuck in 12-14 inches of super wet and slushy snow.   It was melting slowly.  Today I see that it is blowing pretty good up on top 25-35 mph and super warm.  65 degrees in Dayton I believe.  Probably 55-60 up on top?  should be melting like crazy.  Big question is if the wind is drying it out or will it all be a soupy mess of mud and muck!  I'm going up in the morning to hunt and will let you know what I find.  There was a guy that came out on chains from skyline with a huge 7x8 bull in the bed of his truck yesterday.  I talked to him and he had a Tucannon big bull tag and was able to make it work.

[Timberdog]

Was he in a silver dodge crew cab?

[dvolmer]

Was he in a silver dodge crew cab?

They were in three rigs and they said they were from Walla Walla.  He had a crew with him.

[Timberdog]

Not the guy I'm thinking of

[jackelope]

From personal experience in the snow trying to hunt in the Blues, bring a chainsaw and tire chains for all 4 wheels. Even if you’re lifted and running 35’s and think you can go anywhere. Bring chains. And a saw.

[Timberstalker]

16” shown on Snotel on the east side, Spruce Springs.

[meatwhack]

Take a Toyota and you won’t need chains.

[dvolmer]

Up on page ridge now by Edmonds springs. Roads are fine. At least skyline is. Massive snow melt yesterday.

[Mr Mykiss]

It’s a friggin cakewalk. BIG puddles but other than that it’s easy peasy.

[andersonjk4]

Thanks for the info. I figured the warmer temps this week would clear out the roads, but you know what they say about assumptions.

My BIL totaled his camp trailer in 2012 on the way into the mountains. He made it halfway up a hill before loosing traction and spinning out. At that point he didn’t have any control of the trailer as he started sliding back down the hill. The back of the trailer went straight into a tree.

This experience has me a little more cautious on getting my own trailer into the woods.

[MHWASH]

The report I got this afternoon said no snow left at Clearwater tower.

[andersonjk4]

The report I got this afternoon said no snow left at Clearwater tower.

Perfect. Thanks Matt.

[Shawn Ryan]

Any updates?

[MHWASH]

We got 3” last night. So 3” total at Clearwater tower. 8ish near Cougar ridge.