I've been stalking social media groups and checking photos on peak conditions for everything around the Missouri Basin area to see if there are any pics showing what the snow looks like down towards the treeline and Pine Creek.
If anyone has Intel, I'd be thankful.
Right now it feels like the flip of a coin on whether or not I pack in up Pine Creek for a few days of solitude and nontrad routes next week
Missouri Basin?
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bramasoleiowa
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Missouri Basin?
“I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.”
–- Sebastian Thrun
–- Sebastian Thrun
Re: Missouri Basin?
Not sure if you've scoped the Sentinel pics recently, but it looks like things are melting out pretty quick, and there doesn't appear to be tons of snow near tree line in Pine Creek (though there are clouds in the way in all recent pics):
This is from 6/4:
- Screenshot 2025-06-12 084820.jpg (330.49 KiB) Viewed 423 times
- Screenshot 2025-06-12 084840.jpg (388.93 KiB) Viewed 423 times
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crispy_asparagus
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Re: Missouri Basin?
You probably needed this info before today, but here are the current conditions: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstat ... cnum=32065
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justiner
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Re: Missouri Basin?
Pine Creek is pretty free of snow up and over Elkhead Basin. There's a few snow patches here are there that are easily dealt with.
What it is, is WET. Pine Creek usually has pretty crummy drainage of the trails, so expect that. Creek crossing running pretty high, but manageable. Moose are afoot. Trout swimming in plain sight more near the CT end.
Missouri Basin is also pretty soaked, esp. the trail fork to/from Elkhead Basin and to Missouri Basin -- that part where the trail turns into a creek? That's happening. The Missouri standard route has a fair bit of snow in its upper face, didn't get on that. The trail straight up (switchback up sounds weird) to Belford is much drier.
Snowed about an inch on Elkhead Pass yesterday -- that's all melted naturally.
What it is, is WET. Pine Creek usually has pretty crummy drainage of the trails, so expect that. Creek crossing running pretty high, but manageable. Moose are afoot. Trout swimming in plain sight more near the CT end.
Missouri Basin is also pretty soaked, esp. the trail fork to/from Elkhead Basin and to Missouri Basin -- that part where the trail turns into a creek? That's happening. The Missouri standard route has a fair bit of snow in its upper face, didn't get on that. The trail straight up (switchback up sounds weird) to Belford is much drier.
Snowed about an inch on Elkhead Pass yesterday -- that's all melted naturally.
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