***An old post I was able to re-do with new pictures I transferred over to Imgur after the Photobucket fiasco. Good memories***
Well, based on the many other Colorado threads already posted, it appears my brother and I weren't the only ones to experience a wet and soggy Colorado Elk hunt. Despite the relentless rains and no animals taken, we still had a grand adventure and stayed safe in the high country of Colorado. Hope you enjoy the brief account and pictures of our 2013 hunt. My brother is still a wheelie guy – I don't hold it against him, but there are a lot of pics I won't be able to show of him to stay in line with Tradgang policy.
Before I get going with the trip details, I have to thank several Tradgangers for helping make our trip a success. A big Thank You to Mr. Gil Verwey. I have never met Gil or corresponded with him, but his informative thread on his back country Colorado trips really inspired this 50 year old to get out there and just do it. We used many of his tips and recommendations, and his encouraging message that "yes- you too can do it" was a big factor in keeping us focused on making the trip happen – Thanks Gil!
Also Thank You to the many other Tradgangers who offered helpful advice when I reached out with questions. Many recommended that I get trekking poles, those were a life saver on the hike in and out. We got several suggestions for rain gear, socks, base layers...etc. Tradgang is a super source of information, you just need to ask, pay attention to other threads, or do a search – that's why it's my favorite site and I spend so much time here.
We drove through some spectacular country.
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This is where we would call home for the next week. The arrow points to approximately where our camp was, at about 10,100 ft. The top is 11,600. Pictures don't do justice to how massive and steep this terrain was.
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Our last look back before we went in deep and the rain started.
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Me leaning on the poles sucking air. I worked hard to get in cardio shape, but when you live at 600-700 ft, 10,000 is a killer.
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One of many wallows:
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This whole hill side was tore up with a wallow at the bottom. We saw two nice bulls at this site, but they never got close enough for a shot.
(http://i.imgur.com/nT7kiW2.jpg)
That there is some gorgeous country! I hope you had fun, even if it did rain.
Much of the dark timber we hunted looked like this, full of deadfalls and very steep.
(http://i.imgur.com/Q9iwtRE.jpg)
Our water source for the week. We found a little seep/spring coming out of the side of the mountain. We dug it out a little to direct it into a make-shift collection basin where the sediment would settle. The water was delicious and ice cold. Just 20 yds from the tent.
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Couple pictures of camp.
(http://i.imgur.com/gepblHb.jpg)
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This little MSR Pocket Rocket was the berries for boiling water for our meals – great system.
(http://i.imgur.com/dubTBne.jpg)
Then the rains came and life pretty much revolved around staying dry and trying to dry stuff out. We finally got to the point where we settled for whatever was the least wet. If anyone knows of a boot that will stay dry in persistent wet conditions please let me know.
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We did get a few brief moments of sunshine.
(http://i.imgur.com/4RDyFDr.jpg)
Riding out the rain with a little Yahtzee and making dinner.
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Up high in the talus fields.
(http://i.imgur.com/yHDIEFe.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/BW1d36y.jpg)
Way up here and we find remnants/trash of years gone by. Looked it up, it was a popular Cola in the 60's and 70's on the west coast.
(http://i.imgur.com/26Mp0nA.jpg)
Looking Good!
(http://i.imgur.com/sOJg1IX.jpg)
Few random pics of the area we hunted.
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(http://i.imgur.com/QS6S34J.jpg)
We weren't alone in the woods – plenty of bear sign.
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Awesome... this makes me want to get back to the mountains even just for a good hike.
Taking a well deserved break.
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You have to take time and observe natures beauty.
(http://i.imgur.com/Ckec3LS.jpg)
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Already planning for the next trip!
Great pics and it looks like a great trip to the mountains... Funny, when I was a kid learning to deer hunt my dad would always buy each of us a Craigmont soda! I have happy memories of sitting on the hillside drinking a grape soda and eating lunch with dad on our deer hunts.
Thanks for taking me along on your hunt.
JW
Great photos!
Wonderful photos and i like the way you shot all the detail pics.
Not every hunt ends in animals but the experiences last forever. looks to me like you had a great hunt!
Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
Nice, no way to know to plan for that much rain! It caught everybody here by surprise. People went to sleep thinking it was just a normal rain storm to wake up with their town totally cut off from the rest of civilization, no way in or out. We are heading back out tomorrow for a week, weather is supposed to be a lot nicer than the season has had so far.
absolutely awesome! I love the mountains. I have been up there several times and not taken an elk yet. I sure hope I get to go again next year.
Bisch
Great pics! Being wet for days reminds me of my military days. Hated it. Glad to see you guys didnt let it get you down.
Sounds like fun regardless the weather and no-kill outcome.
Gotta love that.
Thanks for sharing.
thxs i enjoyed pics and sharing with us
Troy thanks for sharing those pics buddy. At least you guys got out there,saw some beautiful terrain,and some Elk were seen. You hunted. Congrats on the experience,rat'
Well done on following your dreams! The memories of this trip will be with you forever. Thanks for sharing. How about the elk? Any encounters to tell about?
great pictures, sounds like your hunt mirrored mine, great time but very wet!
Your photos quickly reminded me of our week hunting in CO. Kind of hard to put into words why spending a week or so in those types of conditions
is something I am willing to put myself through again.
You captured the reality of hunting this year in CO very well.
BTW, my feet were dry for six days of rainy hunting last week. My son's boots were wet after the first day. I wore Meindl Perfekt Hikers, treated very well before the hunt. There are probably other boots just as good, but I am unaware of them. This is my third elk hunting trip in my Meindl's and I have not been let down yet. They are not cheap, but worth every penny to me.
Thanks for sharing,
Gary
thanks for sharing. Your experience was a lot like mine, saw elk, got wet and had a great vacation in the high country.
Looks like an elk hunt in western Washington ... wet ! But elk like rain and I have seen some nice critters when I was soaking a$$ wet. Really enjoyed your pictures, looks like a beautiful spot. Did you get any close encounters or hear any bugles ?
Thanks for all the comments guys. It was a great trip despite the rain. We learned a lot! for the next trip. #1 - Cut the weight of what we pack in. Our packs were way too heavy and it took its toll on the way in going up some very steep terrain.
We saw and heard elk, but no super close encounters.
I was pleased that my elk bugling was actually better than I thought. I called in 2 hunters thinking I was an elk and they both said I was pretty convincing.
Had a real neat encounter with a gentleman who was 71 years old (he was one of the hunters we called in) He spends the entire month bivied out on the mountain every year. He said he had been doing it the last 17 years. He was a wirey raw boned guy and you could tell tough as nails. He got talking to us and was asking how many times we had done a pack-in trip like this - we told him it was our first time. He looked at us in amazement and said "what the heck are you doing up here - all the years I've been coming here, this is the first time I've ever seen anyone venture to the top of the talus" He may have just been being nice, but he said he was impressed, and that we had our act together for the first time.
He gave us a ton of information on the mountain and gave contact information to the nearest rancher who could help us pack out with horses if we got one in real deep - just drop his name. He said he would really like to stay in touch with us and we exchanged email addresses. He was super kind and freely gave us info and direction where to go.
We think we may have been there just a touch too early, the bulls just started talking the last 1-2 days. We got some replies, but they were usually far on another ridge. Another part of our game plan we may adjust for next time.
It was neat to share the experience with my brother, and it was interesting how we both said we would do it again even though the weather and hunting was not exactly what one would hope for. It was a great adventure!
Nice pictures...sounds like it was an awesome trip despite the rain!
Great pics!
Awesome pictures. I love these hunting threads, kill or no kill
Great Pic's beautiful country :shaka:
Great pics and write-up! :thumbsup:
:archer:
Thanks for the pics!
Like the others, very nice pics of a special place. Thanks for sharing
was that up on Red Mt. Pass, Hwy 550 south of Ouray?
Looks like a fine adventure, nothing like the mountains this time of year..
Eric
Great pictures... I'm ready to make another trip.
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Heading there in a few days, elk or no elk the memories have to be priceless.
Thanks for taking us along. Sounds like you had fun and got to
Meet some interesting people. That can brings back memories! The only thing better than a cold Cragmont soda when I was a kid was a cold Cragmont Black Cherry Soda!!
Great Pictures Thank you for sharing!
:clapper: very nice....
Westbrook, I don't recall exactly where we were when those pics were taken, but it could have been where you described, we were definitely on 550 near Ouray at one point.
another double post - stop that
Very nice pictures! It's really beautiful country! Even though you were hampered by the rain it sounds like you learned a lot and are excited about trying another trip. Thanks for sharing!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
up
Looks like a great time, thanks for sharing!
Cragmont soda, wow, haven't heard that one since the 70s!
You're in good company with wet feet. Read Fred Bear's field notes - seems he was always having to take 1 day out of four just to dry out.
Glad you guys had fun!
AJ
I have started bringing two sets of boots plus some merrel shoes. I hate wet feet.
I really enjoyed your post and the pictures. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure with us.
Great Pics! Thanks for posting your story.
Great to see people living their dreams. thanks for sharing
some updated pics added
Stumbled on this old thread of mine, brought back some good memories!
Way to go... you did a great job on sharing your elk hunt... I now have elk fever to go along with my spring fever.
Joe
Thank you for sharing :clapper:
Lazy Sunday afternoon.
I took some time and resurrected this post with new photos I was able to transfer over to Imgur after the whole Photobucket fiasco.
Makes me smile looking back at that first Colorado trip. Heading out in 2 weeks for another go at it!
Thanks for adding the pictures with IMGUR. I always enjoy seeing those Elk Country and Hunting pictures. :thumbsup:
A couple weeks to go.
Thanks for taking the time to repost pictures.
Heading west to some of my old stomping grounds in about a week, can't wait to get back in the high country.
Definitely beautiful country and a great experience for you guys. Thanks for the pictures