Category: Trail Report

Grooming Update

All of the XC ski trails at Chief Joseph Pass were groomed today by our snowmobile grooming crew. The lower trails, Banshee, Joseph Creek, and Middle Fork still have very this cover. They are normally black diamond, but right now they are more like double black diamond. We still need another foot of snow to be able to switch from snowmobile to snowcat grooming, but that may happen by next weekend.

Gibbons pass road was groomed to the pass yesterday. We need more snow to be able to groom any of the other multi use trails.

Early December update

Winter is finally here, and we are excited to bring you some important updates as we kick off the season! With the recent snowfall and exciting developments on the horizon, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

  1. Snow Conditions at Chief Joseph Pass: We’ve received some fantastic news from Chief Joseph Pass – nearly 2 feet of snow has blanketed the area in the last four days! We’re are planning to start grooming later this week, but that could change because of the weather.
  2. Lake Como Trails Update: Lake Como receiver around a foot of snow, but then it rained on the lower half of the trails. We’re keeping an eye on conditions, but it’s going to take at least one more good storm before we can start grooming. We’ll keep you updated on any developments.
  3. Exciting Trail Changes at Lake Como: This winter, we’re thrilled to reveal some exciting changes coming to the Lake Como trails. Several sections of Lower Road have been re-routed off of the keep trucks off the groomed trails. Stay tuned for more details and updated maps as we start grooming.
  4. Club Meeting on December 5: Join us for a club meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 5 from 6-8 pm, at the Rocky Mountain Grange Hall in Hamilton, Montana (1436 S 1st St, Hamilton). It’s a potluck event, so bring your favorite dish to share. During the meeting, we’ll discuss our plans for the upcoming season and provide opportunities for you to get involved as volunteers.
  5. Upcoming Race – Rust Buster on December 16: Mark your calendars for our upcoming race, the “Rust Buster,” taking place on Saturday, December 16, at Chief Joseph Pass. It’s a 10km classic ski race with a 3km option for kids in both skate and classic styles. Don’t miss out on the chance to participate in this thrilling event! You can sign up at skisignup.com/Race/MT/Sula/ChiefJoseph.

As we embark on another fantastic season of cross country skiing, we encourage you to stay connected with the club, participate in our activities, and enjoy the beautiful winter wonderland that our trails have to offer.

Thank you for being a part of our cross country ski club. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and on the trails!

Chief Joseph Pass, thats a wrap!

Grooming has finished up at Chief Joseph Pass for the season, but there is still plenty of snow. Trails were last groomed saturday, and it has snowed 2 feet since then. Today I was on the snowmobile putting away benches and the emergency sleds and did the best to pack down a 4 foot wide lane on a few of the trails, so for now most of the trails near the trailhead can be skied without having to break trail.

As of 2pm tuesday the parking lot was a mess. Only passable with a high clearance 4×4. You can get in with a Subaru, but be prepared to shovel your way out after parking.

The cabin is open until April 15.

Thanks for a great season everyone! And a huge thanks to all our partners for helping keep the dream of a high quality free XC ski area alive: Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Lost Trail Ski Area.

– Jesse

3/31/2023

This will be the final weekend of the season for trail grooming at Chief Joseph Pass. Trails will be groomed today and as needed for the rest of the weekend. Thanks for a great season!

Chief Joseph Pass 3/10/23

Ski trails at Chief Joseph Pass were groomed this morning, but you probably can’t tell that now because of all the wind. We are currently planning on grooming again Saturday morning, which should last longer, because the storm is supposed to be winding down by then. It should be a great weekend for XC skiing, but if you can please don’t come up first thing saturday, fewer skiers makes it much easier for the groomer to work.