I will be hunting Elk northeast of gardiner MT the week of Sept 14 in the early rifle season. The camp is located at 6000 feet, and will be hunting between 5000, and 10000 feet. What would be a good layered clothing combo for this hunt, and an adaquate sleeping bag for a walled ten with wood stove. The average temp is between 20 and 50, with snow and a record low in the 20s possible. I looked at Stka Gear, and like the system but the camo would not work well in the east.

Thanks

That time of year the weather can be anything from 90 degrees to snow. So plan accordingly. Layering is the key. It is likely to be very cool to cold (20 degrees probably the coldest) in the morning and then warming during the day (unless it's snowing or raining). Stay away from cotton. Take a pair of longjohns; either smartwool or capilene type material; microtex shirt and pants work well and you can choose a pattern that will work for you at home too. Good vest (fleece or berber fleece) a berber or fleece jacket and decent raingear (jacket and pants) and good mountain boots, synthetic or smart wool midweight socks; stocking and baseball style hats; lightweight and mid weight gloves; choose stuff that is lightweight, blocks the wind when layered and drys quickly if wet, but that you can take on and off as needed.

I second the Sitka gear, Arctic oven tent or Alaskan wall tent and Wiggys sleeping bag.

If this fucked up weather continues, be prepaired for everything!

Ah yes, the fabled 316 district; Hellroaring, Buffalo Horn, and Slough Creek. I have been there many times
1. Pepper spray and keep it handy. Those cute little nylon holsters that go on your belt have a tendancy to hang up on the quck draw. I keep mine on a D-ring on the fron of the shoulder straps of my packs, whichever one I'm using.
2. the very best boots you can handle, rugged, lugged sole, waterproof, ankle support, and broken in. I use Schnees right now that have Thinsule with leather uppers and airbob sole rubber bottoms, but I have prefer leather Danners for many years.
3. EXPECT the Equinox storm while you are there. It WILL show up, sometime between Sept.15 and 23. Rain turning to snow and up to 1 ft of it. It will clear and be beautiful weather, but plan to play checkers in camp during the storm. It is nasty sumbich for a day of two. Beautiful weather after that and melting quickly. Big game activity will pik up after that.
4. Any suitable water resistant outer clothing that dries quickly. I'm old fashioned so I weatr a Filson vest or Carrhart's with light rain wear, and light weight Columbia wool pants. Yes, if the weather is good I still run the mountains in blue jeans. Ditto on the baseball caps unless you just have the uncontrollable urge to be like John Wayne. cowboy hats are a pain in the butt when sneaking through dog hair thick lodgepole after wiley wapiti.
5. Stocking cap for sleeping and wet weather and two pairs of Goretex gloves are mandatory.
6. I've gone to a Western Mountaineering down bag that is good for -20 and weighs all of 2 pounds, but a good Hollowfill synthetic suitable for 20+F is just fine and shouldn't weigh over 4 or 5 pounds. Capiliene liner will drop it another ten degrees and they aren't much bigger than your fist.
7. Underwear is ditto from above, smart wool, capiliene, smart wool sock liners, underArmor medium weight comfort.

You didn't say whether this is DIY or guided. I DIY with a pack string to set up the wall tent. The district can be crowded. Wolves and grizzlies have severely effected the elk herd density, plus the hunting pressure. IMHO the closer to the YNP line the better off you'll be. Take a fly rod. The fishing is grest. The scenary is spectacular, and the hunting can be very good, but you'll have to work hard at it. I believe you'll have a great time.
Good Luck

Thanks for the replies.

Ystone, I am using Black Otter Guide Service out of Pray, MT. We will pack in to the area of Grizzly Creek, near Carpenter Lake. If I do not harvest a bull, I will be going to the area around Melrose, MT two weeks later for the beginning of the regular rifle season. Since you have been in the area of 316, could you tell me what to expect in the way of terrain?
I have been doing 30 to 40 flights of stairs each day with a 28 lb pack on, and will be increasing that as time goes on.

Do you have a non resident Outfitter sponsored license? If you do, picking up and moving to Melrose could be a problem for you. CP.

Kudu 56, I agree with you, I'm here in Jackson and it feels like winter again, I'm ready to head up to Alaska early for my sheep hunt to do some fishin' the run off here won't quit, gonna be another 4 weeks for the Snake to clear up... anyway, its warmer up there.

CP,
I was drawn for the combo non resident lics.

You should be good to go. Good luck. CP.

Poochuss,
Carpenter Lake and Grizzly Creek are at the confluence of all the tributaries that come together to make the main Hellroaring Creek drainage that flow south into the Yellowstone River inside the YNP boundary. Carpenter Lake and the Grizzly valley is beautiful country with flat open bottom and lazy meander loops in the creek. Grizzly Creek is a long drainage and climbing all the way to the drainage divide at Mount Wallace. I suspect that Black Otter will pack you in from their ranch by way of up and over the Passage Creek valley to the north of your hunting camp. It did burn in 88 along with most of that 316, but it's been 20 years since the fires and rejuvenation is in progress. Clover Basin is a good spot just to the east of upper Grizzly Creek. Wish I was up there right now, but lots of snow hanging on this late Spring and early Summer.

I don't know the Neal family with Black Otter but they've been around for quite awhile and you don't stay in business without success and repeat clients.

I'd be surprised if you end up over at Melrose. I have also hunted over there in due west of town in Canyon Creek and Vipond Park. Canyon Creek is a long, boring, nasty, drainage full of lodgepole pine and damn little else. Vipond is good if the Butte crowd doesn't run every thing out of there. Grizzly Creek is a more quality experience IMHO, even with numerous outfitter camps in the district.

The Carpenter Lake area can be muddy and boggy due to poor drainage and the Absaroka volcanics when they are wet, as opposed to the granitic core of the High Beartooth Mtns.

Your workout regimen is excellent. Keep it up until you head for Montana. I suppose the elevation at Carpenter Lake is around 7000 feet and you'll climb in every direction from the morning pancakes. Also, I like Bull Mountain on the Park line south of your camp for elk hunting. It is 7 or 8 miles away so you guide has his own hidey holes I'm sure.

Let us know how you did after the fall hunt and good luck.