Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club – Ski Chief Joseph Pass

Chief Joseph Pass 12/26

Both snowcats are currently down, so grooming this weekend will be limited, but we will try and snowmobile groom some trails Saturday morning.

Our volunteer grooming crew was out working on Joseph Creek and Banshee today. They have had logs cut, and are packed down, but skiing them is not advised, there are many downed logs that need to be pushed out of the way with a cat, and the surface is very uneven. Now the only trail remaining to be cleared from last weeks wind storm is Middle Fork.

Chief Joseph Pass 12/22/2025

The grooming crew from Lost Trail has been out the last several days, and most of the XC ski trails are cleared and groomed, and will be groomed this morning. The only trails not yet groomed are the lower trails, Banshee, Joseph Creek, and Middle Fork. Our volunteer crew will be clearing those tuesday, and then they will be groomed along with the other trail.

Chief Joseph Pass 12/18/25

Some trails were groomed today at Chief Joseph Pass. Which ones doesn’t really matter because it is snowing heavily. The real story is that we have had the biggest wind storm in years, and there were hundreds of downed trees. 150+ trees were cleared today, and CDT, Broadway and Timber are all skiable. Moose, gold medal, sunny meadow loop, and the lower trails have not yet been cleared.

Chief Joseph Pass 12/11/25

Skiing Thursday and Friday not recommended.

Most of the trails at Chief Joseph Pass were groomed Tuesday. Since then it has snowed 4 inches of wet heavy snow. Tuesdays grooming setup like concrete, but anything not groomed is totally unsupportable, and because of the new snow it has hard to tell the difference until you sink. Temperatures are forecasted to stay above freezing until late Friday night.

Tony will be grooming Friday in preparation for the race. The goal is to set tracks on the whole course, but weather may not cooperate.

For Saturdays race expect either wet or icy conditions. Klister or skin skis would be a good call.

Trail Update – December 7

I’m sure we were all a little worried last week, but now I guess winter is really here. Tony started grooming at Chief Joseph Pass last week with the lowest amount of snow we have tried to groom in recent memory. It was pretty rough, but got a base setup. Since then we have received over a foot of snow, and currently we are planning on being back up there grooming Tuesday. There will be quite a bit of equipment traffic on the trails this week as we get trails groomed, sleds and benches out, and get things setup. The goal is to have the trails ready to go next Saturday for the Rust Buster Classic Race. Race signups are still open, and we are looking for several volunteers. See bellow for more info on that.

We are tentatively planning on grooming the multi use trails Thursday.

There is currently very little snow at Lake Como, but we will start grooming trails there as soon as we have adequate snow.

📅 Saturday, December 13
⏰ Adults at 10:00 am, Kids at 11:15
📍 Chief Joseph Pass

Work out that rusty classic technique and stretch your lungs at the 10KM Rust Buster to get you prepped for ski season. Race it out or just come have a good time looping through the Chief Joseph Trails with old and new friends. This is a family friendly event, with an adult race at 10 am, and a 3km skate or classic race at 11:15 for 12 and under.

Signups are still open at https://www.skisignup.com/Race/MT/Sula/ChiefJoseph

If you are not participating would you be willing to support the race?

We are looking for:
— Baked goods and other delicious race day treats. You can drop them off ahead of time if you are unable to make it to the event.
— One volunteer to switch the flags at the intersection of Broadway and Lost Trail Loop / Sunny Meadow. This is close to the parking lot. Please arrive by 9:15am and plan to stay on course until approximately 10:30am.
— One volunteer directing traffic at the end of Broadway. Please arrive by 9:15am and plan to stay on course until approximately 11:00am.
— One volunteer to lead the kid’s race. Kids will be skating or classic, so this could be a quick pace! Please arrive by 10:45am and ski the 3k course ahead of the kids at 11:15.

If you are interested please get in touch with Marisa at sowlesm@gmail.com.

Chief Joseph Pass Update – December 4

The Rust Buster Classic Race is on. We don’t have enough snow quite yet, but the trails should be in good shape by next weekend.

The Grooming Crew started work at Chief Joseph Pass yesterday. Skiing for the next few days is not recommended, there are lots of exposed rocks and sticks, and a very uneven surface. If you skied up there earlier in the week, expect the conditions to be worse now. That may sound odd, but the point of the first grooming is not to make a good surface for skiing, it’s to setup a base. There is over a foot of snow in the forecast for the next few days, and once that gets groomed we should have some great trail conditions, just in time for the Rust Buster Classic Race on December 13.

Rust Buster Race – 4th Annual

📅December 13, 2025
⏰ Adults at 10:00 am, Kids at 11:15
📍 Chief Joseph Pass

Course maps, more information, and signup is available at https://www.skisignup.com/Race/MT/Sula/ChiefJoseph

Youth Cross Country Ski Clinics

📅 Saturdays in February
⏰ 10:00-11:30
📍 Chief Joseph Pass

The Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club is excited to invite young skiers to a free Cross-Country Ski Clinic this winter – a fun and skill-building experience for kids ages 8-15! Participants will have the option of instruction in either classic or skate skiing. If your child doesn’t have their own ski gear, please don’t let that be a reason for not participating, affordable rental packages and scholarships are available.

Click Here to Sign Up

Fall 2025 trail work days

This fall we will be having 4 trail work days

Chief Joseph Pass days:

📅 Saturday, September 27
📅 Sunday October 26
⏰ 10:00 am, stay for a few hours, or all day
📍Chief Joseph Pass parking lot

This year we have 2 trail work days scheduled for Chief Joseph Pass. The first day we will be working on clearing the Tele Meadows trail. The second day we will either finish clearing Tele Meadows, or if that is done then we will work on pruning brush back along Timber.

Lake Como days:

📅 Sunday October 5
📅 Saturday November 15
⏰ 9:00 am, stay for a few hours, or all day
📍 Lake Como Boat Ramp Parking Lot
This year we have 2 trail work days scheduled for Lake Como. The first day we will work on pruning back brush on Upper Road. The second day we will be clearing Wolf Track.

Tools will be provided, but you will want to bring gloves, lunch or snacks, and weather appropriate clothing. If you have a pruning saw or loppers, feel free to bring them along.

If you are a USFS certified sawyer we could use your help, please email jesse@JesseCrocker.com if you can help with this.