On April 25, Dave Thomson took his first steps away from Selway Falls, heading east into the wilderness towards Lost Horse Pass. He carried a 45-pound pack of necessities inspired by the mountain men: flour, jerky, honey, rice, a rifle. His pack was heavy and his legs were not accustomed to the trail, but there is no doubt about how he felt.
“And up the Selway River in the springtime, long footsteps and a light heart, taking in the power of that river for the first time... I was high all morning with being on the way, the river, walking into the flush of spring, under the High‑Water moon.”
So why am I not also in the mountains today? As it turns out, Dave’s 1977 hike coincided with the lowest snow year since modern records have been kept in the Bitterroots. On his starting date, there were 19.70 inches snow-water equivalent (swe) on the ground at Lost Horse Pass. Today there are 39.80 inches snow-water equivalent. Until this snow melts down at least to the 1977 level, I will get turned around even earlier than Dave did.
I plan to monitor the snow level until it approaches 20” before starting my hike. Referencing the typical snowpack curve, this may not be until early June. Unfortunately this creates a conflict between two goals for the trip: is it more important to hike in early season? Or is it more important to try to cross the divide?
Snow level. Black is 2019. Red line shows level on April 25, 1977.