Montana Backcountry Recovery Expedition
Operation Big Sky
Adventure with purpose. Training, outreach, stewardship, support, and roughly 900 miles through Montana.
Island Park, Idaho to Eureka, Montana
Postponed — new dates to be announced
Approximately 900 miles
Organized by Backcountry Recovery Ops Foundation
The Mission
Adventure With Purpose
Backcountry Recovery Ops is organizing a roughly 900-mile training and public outreach expedition following the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route from Island Park, Idaho to Eureka, Montana.
Operation Big Sky will combine practical recovery training, emergency communications, expedition planning, stewardship, community outreach, and real-world backcountry travel.
The expedition is intended to strengthen skills, build relationships, promote responsible access, and document useful lessons for participants, partner organizations, and the backcountry community.
Recovery Demonstrations
Practical skills and real-world application.
Communications
Amateur radio, APRS, satellite, and field comms.
Vehicle & Equipment
Proven gear, inspections, and safe practices.
Education
Daily briefings and lessons that save lives.
Stewardship
Tread lightly, leave no trace, protect access.
Community
Relationships with SAR, agencies, and off-roaders.
Community Roll Call
People Joining Operation Big Sky
Only people who explicitly choose to be listed appear here.
Route & Schedule
The Road North
August 29, 2026
Travel Day & Meet-and-Greet
Travel to Island Park, Idaho. Evening camp, radio check, vehicle inspections, safety briefing, team dinner, and community meetup.
August 30, 2026
Expedition Launch
Official start of the Montana Backcountry Expedition from Island Park toward Eureka.
Through Completion
Montana Backcountry Route
Approximately 900 miles of backcountry travel, training, outreach, stewardship, and documented field learning.
Participation
Who May Join
Qualified recovery operators, overland travelers, amateur radio operators, public-service partners, media contributors, and community supporters may express interest in the full route, a partial segment, or a scheduled meetup.
Expectations & Requirements
- A safe, legal, mechanically sound backcountry-capable vehicle
- Personal responsibility for fuel, food, lodging, camping, and travel costs
- Respect for the land, local communities, route closures, and convoy direction
- A cooperative mindset and willingness to participate in daily safety briefings
- Recovery equipment, communications capability, and self-sufficiency appropriate to your role
- No assumption of acceptance—participation is coordinated and reviewed by BRO
Follow the Expedition
Daily expedition reports, photos, videos, updates, and radio check-ins will be shared across BRO platforms.