Great Divide Section 2 Map A - road closure - July 23, 2018 update

[CMajernik]

In the Helena National Forest on section 2 map A (on the new 2018 maps), the road between turn G and turn H will be closed from July 23 to Sept. 30, 2018 due to hazardous tree removal. Trees will be felled into the roadway, then a contractor with large equipment will be moving trees into piles on the North and South Fork Quartz Creek Roads. These roads will be closed to the public. The detour around this closure is to follow the Boulder Alternate.

[MartinDuer]

Dear CMajernik,

we are getting confused about this information. The Helena National Forest and the Boulder Alternate are on Section 1, map B. Because we are in Butte right now and want to go further north tomorrow we will reach the mentioned stretch tomorrow. We just called up the Ranger district Helena as well as the Ranger District Butte. Both confirmed that the roads (Nr. 175 from south up to Helena National Forest as well as Nr. 1878-D1 and 1878 further north) are open.

Do you have new or further information?

Thanks a lot
MartinDuer

[CMajernik]

Martin:
I have been waiting for several days for someone from the Helena NF to call me back about this. If you have talked to the Helena NF and they say it's open I would go ahead and ride the main route. The small section of road that I was told is closed is only 1/2 mi. long and I think the road number is 692/South Fork Quartz Creek Rd. I was also told (by a USFS person who oversees permits in Region 1) that often a road is usually only closed in small portions even though it's stated that the entire length of a road is closed.

I will try to reach someone again this afternoon.

[MDSeaburg]

I am very interested in this. My group hopes to bike through that section Thursday July 19th. I hope the road is open. If not, is there a way to bushwhack through the woods to just avoid the heavy road equipment? Please advise.

[CMajernik]

I spoke to the Helena District Ranger today. Until July 23 the road will be open. The contractor is working on nearby roads but not on the one we use between turns G and H on the new maps.

[Ranchoredrider]

We are planning on ride between this section on August 1st. Has the section between G and H been reopened?

[CMajernik]

The Helena Ranger District was going to notify us when the road was reopened. It's a big project. I suspect it is still closed. You can call Heather at 406-495-3924 to confirm.