Well, I'm back from Colorado. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, elkless.
I knew that this years trip to the Flat tops, as my first elk hunt, would be more of an experimental/scouting/see-if-I-can-survive-it trip than a serious hunt.
I asked & received some excellent advice regarding my packlist & now I've been & returned, I have a revision list for 2015......
Bow & 4 arrows (+ 2 blunts for grouse) Blunts not needed at all. Turns out Grouse are not legal in the unit we hunted!
Clothes:
Kuiu Attack pants (on) Yes, worn every day
Kuiu 145 Merino l/s top (on) Yes, worn every day
Kuiu 230 Merino l/s top Yes, worn every day
Kuiu spindrift puffy Yes, worn almost every day
Kuiu Guide jacket Yes, worn every day
No-name poly s/s tee No. Only worn on the hike in. Could've worn the 145
2 spare Exofficio drawers Only 1 spare needed. Wear one, wash one
2 spare Merino socks. Yes, changed & washed daily. Not guaranteed to dry overnight
Kuiu lightweight beanie Yes, worn every day & in bed
First lite brimmed beanie Yes, worn every day
Camp stuff:
Golite SL5, no nest Yes, couldn'tve been better
Kelty 20° down bag No. Too small & restrictive. Will replace
Kelty down pillow Yes.
Thermarest X-lite pad Yes, but exchanged for a larger size
Stove & cookset Will share 1 between 3 people next year. Redundancy
2x gas cylinders Yes, but one carried, per person. Redundancy
2x contractor bags Yes
Mora knife Yes
Micro towel No. Not needed
20' paracord SEE BELOW
Wet wipes HELL yes!
Goal Zero solar charger (the little one) Yes, used 3 times in 5 days
Food:
12 packs instant oatmeal Cut to 6
6 portions trail mix, Snickers, dried fruit & deer jerky (roughly 1/3lb total per day) Cut to ½ weight
6 home dehydrated meals (roughly ¼lb per day & around 1200 kcal) Cut to ½ portion
12 coffee Yes (GOD yes!)
12 tea bags Cut to 6
12 energy powder drink mixes Increase to 24
3l bladder Yes + 20oz bottle
Katadyn hiker pro filter Yes + spare filter. Filter blocked by day 5.
spoon Yes
Food coozy Yes. Saves water by not having to do dishes
Condiments
(Planned for 2500-3000kcal/day)
Daypack:
TZ2220 pack
3l bladder + 32oz nalgene for drink mixes Cut bottle to 20oz Smart Water
Havalon Piranta bolt + 6 blades Yes
Gerber packsaw (one of those tiny things) Yes, used for trimming branches & making a comfy seat. VERY important to have a comfy seat!
8x42 Leupold binos + SL4 harness Yes, used constantly
Spotter & tripod No. Not needed & not taken
Phone + GPS (Garmin backtrack) Yes & yes. Better safe than sorry for 3 extra ounces
Frogg Toggs poncho Yes. VERY handy & versatile. Used 3 times
Compass No. Easy to navigate around the mountains. GPS + spare covers me
Meat bags Yes. Not needed, but didn't kill anything
Trekking pole (bringing 2, leaving one in camp) Yes. Used on climb up to 11,500 & to get a friend down who blew out his knee at 11,400 on the way down.
TP No. Wet wipes work.
Lighter Yes. One carried per person + 1 spare
Princeton Tek headlight + tiny energizer spare. Yes. Used every night
Okay. Y'all told me to take 100' of paracord & I did. Honestly I used 3" of it to fix a busted zipper. Even with an elk down I really, really can't envision the use of more than 30' MAX. Next time, I'll go with my gut & take a LOT less.
One thing I didn't realise & I will know in future is the absolute, complete & utter lack of appetite. Not once during 5 days did I manage to eat more than ½ a day's ration. I honestly couldn't if I'd tried. Literally every single thing I ate, I had to force down.
I need to figure out a MUCH higher calorie/ounce diet for next year. I carried nearly 20 pounds of food up there this year & if I think hard, I reckon I probably buried 15 of that on the last day. I felt tired & worn out to the point that eating a tiny bite of jerky really gave me an energy boost like I've never felt before. I need to get a much more efficient diet for the mountain. This year I tied for healthy food & it's just too much volume for the energy released. Fatty, high carb, high protein foods rule. Even only walking 3-4 miles a day at 11-12,000 feet, believe me. You ain't getting fat! I lost 8 pounds in 6 days & frankly, I wasn't pushing myself.
Something I was aware of, but still underestimated was the effects of the lack of oxygen. If any of you are planning a trip like this for the first time, be prepared. It will kick your ass. Getting in shape is awesome & makes life easier, but as fit as you can get at sea level....that altitude WILL hurt.
Seriously. The 3 of us were pretty well in the best shape of our lives. The last time I was as fit as this, the Army was paying me to be. On the climb up, by the time we'd covered 3 miles, I couldn't make it 50 yards without a 5 minute break to drink & breathe. It got easier after a couple of days, but even by the time we got down, the slightest incline would still kick our teeth in.
After doing a bit of cursory Googleage, I've discovered that it actually takes (on average) 2 MONTHS to 'fully' acclimatize to any altitude over 10,000 feet, from anything under 3,000. You can function after about 2 weeks, but to be able to do up there what you can do down here, with the same physical effect takes 8 to 10 weeks. There is NO shortcut, you just have to accept the suck! :D
Thanks for taking the time to list everything and do a follow-up Rob. Sorry you didn't get to use those game bags.
You might try a Sawyer filter next go around. I got rid of my MSR after my first trip with the Sawyer.
Yeah, the filter was a bit of a bone of contention.
We had a 2 gallon gravity bag in camp (HUGELY handy, although a pain to fill & carry) for camp use & we each carried various filter systems for our own, daily use. I had a Katadyn Hiker Pro with the paper cartridge filter. Using 99% 'clear' water it blocked after 22 liters. Josh had the model up from me with a ceramic filter & using the same water source it survived less than 18 before becoming clogged. However his is cleanable, mine ain't.
Shane carried a sawyer inline. Not impressed at all. Luckily he brought two spares & on the last day had to rely on water from the gravity bag to get off the mountain.
I don't know what was going on with any of the filter systems, because ALL of them are supposed to be good for 'hundreds' of gallons, not 'several' liters. To be fair, all were still working, but the effort needed to make them work was ridiculous. I was genuinely worried I'd snap the pump handle on my Hiker Pro.
great post trip write up~ thanks for taking the time.
L.R.
Good write up. You are right about altitude. It will hurt no matter how in shape you are.
It's worth it though, isn't it!
Oh heck yes! :D
Toughest thing I've ever done, physically.
Most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. Worth every bruise, cramp, ache & sprain!
Only 49 weeks 'til I do it again!
Hey man glad you made it out safe!
What was the actual hunting like? Our 2 first days were good. Even in the rain. But then the elk and the rain kinda dried up...
FWIW, I've done three 10 day mountains treks with the Boy Scouts in New Mexico and the food that is provided is extremely high carbohydrates and minimum protein. Rumored reason being the protein would cause sluggishness and they couldn't afford having a bunch of lazy teenage boys dragging ass or refusing to roll out. The days averaged 9-10 miles some less most more. The first thing I was crazy for was a greasy piece of meat!
wow, 20 pounds of food for 6 days! I'm down to 500 grams, ( a little over a pound) per day and not going hungry. You said you buried about 15 pounds out of the 20, so that's works out to be about the same as me. I'm sweating just thinking about lugging that. You can do this every year and you will still be refining your kit every year. Bet you can't wait for next year already. Got to love wilderness time!
I do not understand the filter not lasting I have used the same filter for four years and this will be the 5th year has not clogged yet no problems at all but taking backup pills or drops are for piece of mind. Glade you had fun it is addictive for sure this will be my 6th year in a row and 5th year in a row backpacking in. I take 1 lb of carry weight food per day. Anyone that measure success by elk harvested on a trad bow hunt you may as well stay home the odds are not in your favor but that is not what keeps us coming back. Widow
Great write up Rob. Something I really don't look at when I get home each year but should. A little different for me though as I'm not packing in. I have in the past but now with the wife we have a outfitter tent and I do day hikes from there.
I'm glad you had a good time and are looking forward to next year already. Sounds like another diehard elk hunter. Honestly, I wait all year for these two weeks. I just finished packing the truck and we are pulling out before first light tomorrow.
Bring it on!
Glad you had a good trip, and realistic goals. Did you have any really close encounters ?
CHuckC
Didn't see a damn thing bigger'n a Marmot! :)
Still the best hunting trip I've ever done. I can really see how y'all get addicted to it!
Rob, great write up. What I really had to read twice was your comments about the water filters. It makes one want to use the tabs even if it makes the water taste terrible. You mentioned the effort needed to just move around not to mention doing some chores around camp.
I
Chores???? I could barely breathe after tying me boots! :D
Try the life straw for a drinking filter. Good up to 1000 liters and I have not had stoppage problems.
Thanks for the follow up. The filter situation is a bad deal. I've been using an msr Sweetwater filter for over 15 years and never had a problem with a filter. I've used filters for 3 weeks straight and just swapped it after because I thought I should, not cause it was clogging. I'd take that katydyne back for a refund.
Thanks for the up-date. Sounds like you had a great experience. The only thing I would dis agree with on your to take or not to take list is leaving a compass home next time. I never leave the camp without one regardless of where I am. I just don't trust myself or battery life in those GPS/electronic devices. compasses weight, "nothing" and can be attached to your pack strap so they are not in your way.
Getting too old to do those mountain trips so I read others experiences and travel with them.
Great summary.
I'd agree on the compass though. An extra couple of ounces of insurance. I have rarely used one, but always have it. Electronics will almost always work but I have had them fail me in the past. And although finding your way around the mountains is generally very easy, I once spent 5 straight days where the clouds had us completely socked in. Couldn't trust walking 100 yards from camp without a device to help find your way home.
I also still think 100' of cord is weight well worth carrying. Again, most often not needed, but invaluable when you do. When I had my bull on the ground last year I couldn't move him to get it quartered. After I got back I learned how to use rope to make a winch with dead limbs that would have allowed me to get him turned over. But it does take a lot of rope.
Also, when you get an animal quartered and need to hang those in trees it takes a lot of rope to get them all out of the reach of bears. I carry four 25' pieces. You might get by with 15 or 20' pieces, but it's going to take 4 good pieces to get all of your meat off the ground.
Altitude and lack of oxygen are eye opening experiences as you found out. Putting an elk on the ground and having to deal with it are another eye opener that is tough to prepare for.
Speaking of meat care, you mentioned that you had game bags. Did you have anything along to deal with flies/bees? They can be a serious problem. On my first elk we boned and bagged the meat. Took one load out and came back within 4 hours to find the rest of the cheese cloth bags were COVERED with fly eggs.
I now carry powdered citric acid and a small spray bottle. Mix water with the citric acid to spray on the meat will help keep the flies off. Some people carry pepper or other products, but you need to have something to deal with them. I also have upgraded my game bags to TAG bags to help keep the bugs off.
Glad you made it back in one piece and had a great trip. If you think you are addicted now just wait until you have a bull rip off a bugle from 15 yards!! You're going to need a jar of Marmite, because you will be toast!
I was one of the three on this trip.
I'll have to remember the thing about the citric acid. That's a good tip and lightweight. Thanks
The water thing was very annoying and a bit scary. What if we'd been miles back with no other way to deal with it. I'm definitely bringing some kind of chemical treatment backup from now on.
I cannot be overstated how badly the altitude beat us down. I've been in better shape before than now, but before we left I was going on 4-5mile non stop hikes with a 55lb pack on every other day with no trouble. When Rob says it was 50yds between 10-15 minute breaks he's being very generous. It was probably closer to 30 yards. When putting on your boots you had to take a break between the L&R boot.
Great report. I love the lessons learned format.
Your trip sounds very similar to my first one out there. We went to the Flattops. Drove 25 hours and hiked straight up to 9500'. I was done for 3 days. Sick to my stomach, headache, and miserable. My pack alone weighed 45#.
The thing that most helps me now is to take at least a couple days between 5000' and 8000'.
I have the Pur/Katahdin hiker filter. I have used it for multiple trips and not had it clog. I wonder if mine is different than yours??? But, I now use water treatment tabs with neutralizer for weight reasons.
I used to have a really bad appetite in the mountains too. It was my 3rd or 4th trip before I could eat normally. Now I am always starving out there. I take 1-3/4" pounds of food per day and always run out the last couple days.
I use a compass all the time. I take at least 3 with me. But I love my Garmin Oregon 450. It will not fail you in the mountains.
I use cordage a lot but I also have a tarp instead of a tent so it is required.
My pack weighs about 40# for a 7 day hunt.
Yeah, we were well north of 40# with our packs. lol
Seems like our camp was right at 10,500.
Rob, I purchased and downloaded the Backcountry Navigator Pro app after you mentioned it in your other thread, but haven't had time to figure it out yet.
How did it work for you out there?
Shane, it was 11,500!
Archie, the BCN app worked flawlessly. With gps turned on all day to keep a track & in airplane mode, we were getting around 48 hour battery life. Only using the gps to drop waypoints & locate ourselves, I could get 5 full days.
The topos were accurate & it allowed us to discount areas we thought previously would be worth checking out.
All in all, I'd give it a solid 90/100. I'd give it a full 100, but self location was a little slow. That said, the GPS antenna in my phone is about the size of a lentil. An addon antenna would VASTLY improve functionality.
Rob, if the altitude is bothering you this much try getting a prescription of cialis. I have a Dr. friend that hikes high altitude around the world and swears by it.
SEE YA in Florida
NO WAY I'm going into a remote camp with Rob if he's been taking Cialis for days.
:laughing:
QuoteOriginally posted by Supercracker:
NO WAY I'm going into a remote camp with Rob if he's been taking Cialis for days.
OMG that's too funny. I think the blood goes out of the big head into the little one. Leaving room for more oxygen in the big one. Too funny! :rolleyes:
Lordy...what a crew that must have been!
Dealt with altitude sickness first time thru Casper WY at a Conoco picnic on MT Casper at 10K feet.
Sucks!
Few weeks in Helena living and hiking MT HELENA (not MT ST.Helens) really gave me an edge.. but not when you drive and then start! Gracious!
The banter had to have been superb with this crew!
I'm still laughin at the comments... Mr Suttles is no slaggert in camp either with his antics and wit! :rolleyes:
Just as an idea of the banter: The Quote Of The Week goes to Mr. Supercracker.....
"It's such a nice change to sit next to a campfire that doesn't have a ****ing tire in it."
You can take the boy outta the South..... :rolleyes:
Quote
You can take the boy outta the South..... :rolleyes: [/QB]
:knothead:
Awesome.
Rob, the paracord is more for when you kill the elk. That didn't happen this trip so it wasn't needed. But just you wait !
Also, I am a compass guy. I carry two and use one all the time. Yup, most places I don't need it, but on nearly every trip I take a shortcut that screws me up and i need to find my way. I do it much more quickly with a compass.
Yeah, those fire tires get old.
ChuckC
Thanks for the update, Rob. I returned last night from CO as well. I think I was a few miles south of you. We used the SteriPen for purifying water, and that worked well , but we took tablets as a back-up.
Interesting comment about lack of appetite because I find the same thing happening to me, although we were mostly at 8500 feet. After a few days it did get better. One evening I ate two mountain house meals!
I basically ate one MH granola(my favorite) and blueberries in the morning. For lunch and during the day I carried trail mix, a piece of jerky, and a Cliff bar, plus a liter of water.
As far as walking, at age 62, anytime I am going uphill, I can go about 50 yards and then take a break. I tried the breathing method of really forcing the exhale and that did seem to help. For lateral moving I did well at the altitude we were at, it was just the climbing that kicked my butt.
I can't tell you how happy I was to not have the problems with my leg/knee that I encountered last year. I am positive the pt and yoga that I did this past year really, really helped me.
Hopefully we have another year to try it again. One of these years it is all going to come together. As long as my son is willing to put up with the old man, that is.
Gary
SO- been around TG for a number of years now. Mentioned before. I would still LOVE to see a Gear Category where guys share these packing lists and tips for ongoing archives. We don't need a lot of thread responses- just hunt parameters, lists of gear (with perhaps edits.) Would love the resource.
Just my 2C
Dan in KS
great write up.
altitude kills
hydration is seemingly more important than food-only until week 2. Then you will need to replace calories.Did you measure how much weight you lost?
Unbelievable that three different water filters plugged up in clear water. Maybe a coffee filter or a bandana on the input side would have helped. I have mostly used pota aqua tablets to treat water on most BP trips.
How cold where the morning temps?
I also keep the paracord with not only for success but also if I need to make an emergency shelter in bad weather. A food for thought.
copied, pasted, printed! Thanks Rob! Congratulations on a successful trip, even Elkless!
Thanks for taking the time to post - still a "wanna be" - or should I say "wanna try" the out west run- Got two years to wait though trying to listen to you crowd and learn as much as possible.
J
Great thread! Thanks for sharing the updated gear list. I like the concept of not bringing duplicates where one can be shared between all hunters is so logical yet we all have to bring our own. I have been going to CO DIY Elk hunting for the last 4 years and leave on the 18th for my 5th year. I am Zero for 4. I find by day two I can get around very well but when I start taking elevation at a steep incline, regardless of how many days I've been there, it's humbling...got to stop a lot to catch my breath and let my heart slow down. I have the SteriPen too and brought it on one bivy trip only to find the batteries were too low to work...had no alternative so we boiled the water and prayed...which worked thank god! I now make sure I have new batteries along with back up set. I have also bought the pills as added safety measure. I have been using Hammer Nutrition HEED High Energy Electrolyte Sports Drink in Lemon/lime in my hydration unit and love it...it is not sweet just a slight lemon lime taste so you do not get sick of it. It is very important to stay hydrated. After the hunt I also use Hammer Recoverite which works wonders to eliminate cramping and sore muscles from climbing mountain or just hunting in terrain where you are going up and down. The first 4 days is crucial as sore muscles can really slow one down. Elk hunting in the MTs is by far the most physically demanding hunting I do and it does pay to get in shape and do a lot of walking long distances in the boots you will wear...5 miles plus a day before going. Getting your feet used to very long walks will help you stay hunting. I just bought the TAG game bags, they are lighter, more compact and reusable. Pricy but worth it IMO. If I get dehydrated I find my appetite is impacted even more than normal.
I just realized, there are a few things I took & used but haven't listed:
Diamox (prescription)
Rolaids (1 small pack per day)
Chewing gum
Duct tape around 20oz bottle & trekking poles (used when a branch fell through the tent)
Condiments: Olive oil packets (Took 20, used 1 per meal)
Taco Bell hot sauce (Took 20, used 'em all!)
Single serving honey (Used 1 per oatmeal & carried for emergency energy during the day. Took 20, used 'em all)
It sounds odd, but condiments can really make a meal. Josh had powdered cheese with him & a teaspoon added to some meals really transformed them!
The food I dehydrated was simple & I tried to get a good balance between protein & carbs. Fat is a problem as it doesn't dehydrate well, hence the oil packets.
The menu was as follows:
Venison chilli with Penne pasta.
Simple Venison spaghetti sauce with cous cous
Ground turkey Madras with brown rice.
Corned beef hash with baked beans & mashed potatoes.
All the meals (apart from the Corned beef) were made with way more vegetables, spices & garlic than usual as dehydrating tends to mute the flavors. All portions were done as 4 cups (rehydrated) per person, per meal which is great at home, but turned out to be way too much on the mountain. Next year I'll cut that back to 2 cups.
All the meals were vacuum sealed to save space, but also the bags were used to rehydrate. IT's much simpler to cut open the bag, add boiling water & sit the whole thing in a coozy for 20 minute to cook. No pots to wash & all the bags can go on the fire.
Things I wished at some point I'd had with me:
Needle & thread.
Safety pins.
Nail clippers.
Seat/cushion
Thin gloves
Sunscreen
Saline nasal spray
It's been a funny old time, compiling exhaustive lists of things I 'needed' to take that I ended up not using & things I didn't take that I really could've used.
I know that had I/we got an elk on the ground, there would be things that would've been needed (like the paracord) & I guess that's something I won't know for certain until it actually happens.
More stuff I took & didn't use......
Deodorant. You're gonna stink, deal with it.
Body glide.
First aid kit. I know, I know, but one good kit would be fine between all 3 of us. We all took one.
Pocket knife I always have one, but between the Havalon & Mora, I was covered.
Multitool Again, always have it along, but never needed to use it. Small pliers would do & weigh less.
5, 1 gallon ziplock bags Always in my daypack & I'm really not sure why! :D
Thanks for sharing Rob. There are some good ideas in this posting. After the earlier GPS discussions and the mention of the Backcountry Navigator, i looked into it and have tried out the free demo version just a little. still trying to figure it out. Did you use it, B.N., much or did you use the other GPS more?
I only used BCN. It worked so well, I've pretty much scrapped the idea of a stand alone GPS.
I took the Backtrack, more as an insurance policy. Next time I probably won't bother.
Sorry to keep dragging this out! I keep thinking of stuff that folks might find useful in future.
My total initial pack weight was 68 pounds (shutup) The frame itself is 5ish & my daypack is 2½.
I used a Cabelas Alaskan Outfitter frame, without the top loop & a Tenzing 2220 daypack.
I could easily cut 3-4 pounds by upgrading packs to a Kuiu or Exo 3500 next year.
The Exo is something I've been looking very hard at, but being brand-fire new & heavily backordered I didn't want to risk it this time out. www.exomountaingear.com (http://www.exomountaingear.com) is their site.
The Kelty down sleeping bag I took was too small (78"x31") & heavy for it's size (around 2½ pounds) & I'll be changing this out ASAP for either an Enlightened Equipment Revelation or Hammock Gear Burrow quilt, which will cut a handy pound.
Ideally I'd like to get my pack under 50 pounds & with a few gear changes & the knowledge & experience gained from this trip I doubt it'll be a problem.
Me, I weigh in at 260 & that WILL change by 40 pounds by next year. I doubt I'll ever be a toothbrush cutting, gram counter. I like my comforts too much & I don't want to have to 'baby' all my gear, but a few sensible omissions & dollars invested here & there will certainly make future trips less torturous!
I doubt, however, that they will make it any more enjoyable.
Pain is fleeting, accomplishment lasts forever!
Great Post:
I did my 7th Elk Hunt last year and still seem to eliminate one or two items each time.
I don't even cook anymore! My daily food supply weighs in at about 1.5 lbs. No stove or fuel needed.
Compass is a must. I actually use my Compass 90% of the time and use GPS as a backup. The Compass always works. I have seen many occasions where the GPS unit didn't work or took a long time too fix a point. It also requires batteries. I don't have to carry spares.
First aid is a must if you hunt different areas from your party. Items to stop and control bleeding are all that I carry.
I have used the Katadyn hiker for many years and have not found a better way to filter water. I usually get a full year or more out of my filter and that includes hunting and backpacking trips. I don't like using chemicals but they seem to be the lightest way to go.
My Basic list for 7 day hunt:
3 pairs socks
1 lite pair merino underwear
1 pair hunting pants
1 pair hiking pants
1 hunting shirt
1 lite weight merino wool vest
1 rain coat - Cabalas lite wt.
1 Heavy wool shirt
1 Bandana or lite cap
1 Wool watch cap
1 pair gloves
2 knives
3 ways to make fire
Tent - Tarp
Sleeping Bag
Pack
Disposable toothbrush with toothpaste
Maps
Compass
GPS
Water filter
50' Para chord
Game bags
1 package of wipes
TP
small survival kit
My pack usually weighs in at just a little over 40LBs.
I rarely say "I wish that I brought that"
It is usually "What the hell did I bring that for"
As far as Altitude Sickness the only real remedy is Acclimation. The time will very depending on your condition. There really is no other remedy. Headaches and lack of appetite are very common.
Thanks for starting this thread, lots of good information.
QuoteOriginally posted by robtattoo:
Pain is fleeting, accomplishment lasts forever!
I like that!!
Robtattoo
More good info! Thanks for adding on as you remember...I have now added a few useful things to my list one never think of until you read it!
With down bags, the higher the down count the better the insulation and lighter the bag will be. KUIU has a waterproof down bag now that is 865 count rated...which is near the very best. When I first started going to CO ELk hunting my buddy and I bought down bags from Cableas and had no idea there were varying types of down...and our bags weighted a ton. My KUIU 0 degree long bags come in at 2 lbs 10 oz. The 30 degree long is 1 lbs 10 oz.
I bought a dehydrator and plan to make my own food at some point for my trips. Did not have enough time this year. There is some good info and recipes on the Rocslide.com site.
Do the Rolaids serve some other purpose?
I use a nasal gel, like it better than the spays...people who are from the humid state like MI will find their noise dried out, hurting and bloody within days. So good call getting that out there!
I have added a medical Stapler to my first aid kit. The air is so dry in CO the wood does not decompose...it just gets rock hard. on the 3 day walking back to camp I walked over a dead fall and a small broken off branch put a dandy gash in my shin. We were able to clean it really good but could not get the would to stay shut. I lost a full day of elk hunting when the bulls were going nuts because I had to ride a horse out to my car so I could go to Ft Collins emergency room for 8 stiches. I knew if I did not get it stitched it'd be busting it open several times a day in the country we were hunting. Had I had a stapler then, I could have taken care of it myself. While I hope I never need to use it, it is there if I need it.
Great info guys!! Like the stapler idea a lot. I was thinking about carrying suture kits but the stapler would be easier.
Great ideas and tips!!
Thanks for sharing. :archer:
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Chappell:
Robtattoo
More good info! Thanks for adding on as you remember...I have now added a few useful things to my list one never think of until you read it!
With down bags, the higher the down count the better the insulation and lighter the bag will be. KUIU has a waterproof down bag now that is 865 count rated...which is near the very best. When I first started going to CO ELk hunting my buddy and I bought down bags from Cableas and had no idea there were varying types of down...and our bags weighted a ton. My KUIU 0 degree long bags come in at 2 lbs 10 oz. The 30 degree long is 1 lbs 10 oz.
I bought a dehydrator and plan to make my own food at some point for my trips. Did not have enough time this year. There is some good info and recipes on the Rocslide.com site.
Do the Rolaids serve some other purpose?
I use a nasal gel, like it better than the spays...people who are from the humid state like MI will find their noise dried out, hurting and bloody within days. So good call getting that out there!
I have added a medical Stapler to my first aid kit. The air is so dry in CO the wood does not decompose...it just gets rock hard. on the 3 day walking back to camp I walked over a dead fall and a small broken off branch put a dandy gash in my shin. We were able to clean it really good but could not get the would to stay shut. I lost a full day of elk hunting when the bulls were going nuts because I had to ride a horse out to my car so I could go to Ft Collins emergency room for 8 stiches. I knew if I did not get it stitched it'd be busting it open several times a day in the country we were hunting. Had I had a stapler then, I could have taken care of it myself. While I hope I never need to use it, it is there if I need it.
I'm in the process of upgrading the bag already. The Kelty
seemed like a great first down bag. Not too heavy & still a 750 fill. The problem was solely down to the fact that I have a ridiculous shoulder/chest measurement & I plugged the thing like a champagne cork! I've just placed an order for a 20º Long, extra wide Enlightened Equipment quilt with 850 fill down. I was on the fence about buying one before the hunt, as I'd already got a few nights in the Kelty, but at temperatures in the 60's. It wasn't a problem until it really became cold & I
had to rely on the uncompressed insulation.
The Roliads, I'm told, do help with altitude sickness problems. Don't know why, but the guys on Rokslide (notable Luke Moffatt) told me about them. Tums & other antacids don't work for the same thing. I couldn't tell you why they work, but they really do!
I've never tried the nasal gel before, but I'll definitely give it a go next year. The lack of humidity, compared to Middle Tennessee, sounds like it'd be awesome, but it's honestly as tough to deal with as the altitude. I had a constant 'smoker's' cough after 48 hrs. I haven't coughed like that since I quit the coffin nails 8 years ago!
Just thought: Pack cough sweeties next year too! :D
no "preserve" for around the campfire lol??
I don't take 100 foot of cord either. 50 should be plenty. sounds like you took gods plenty of food too. I usually do oatmeal in the am, one granola bar and/or jerky for a snack, a peanut butter and bacon on a bagel for midday, and a mountain house. oh and coffee lol..
and I never hunt without a baseball in my pack for luck. ever
;)
Well...... it wouldn't be hunting without a little 'nighttime fortification' now would it?
8oz of J&B Rare :)
A teeny snort goes a long way with no food in you & at over 11k!
Rob,
Forgive me if I overlooked it in the comments by others... but where I have hunted elk it has been necessary to hang our food up to keep it from attracting bears. That is my main use for paracord. Also... if you get one down, it is very helpful for holding the legs out of the way while de-boning. Also use it for clothes drying, airing out sleeping bags, etc.
Thanks for the thread.
Funny is should stumble on this thread the same morning that I'm heading out for an elking trip. I struggle to keep pack weight low but it's a tough thing to do. I'm really in the camp of if ya gotta cook only boil food an dI'd much prefer a handful of twigs instead of a stove.
About the water filtering I use an MSR but we always put the water into a pot and let it settle out before filtering. The MSR is great because when it plugs it's easy to clean, sometimes the water leaves a slime on the filter cartridge and the slime plugs it easily. I really like my steripen but wish it didn't have batteries. I've used it in a lot of places and haven't been sick yet. The place we hunt elk has cattle too so the pristine looking mountain water is rife with nasties and no problems so far.
I'm also keen on the 100' of cord. If you get an elk down you can easily use that to tie the legs back while gutting/quartering plus hanging meat bags. Compass for the few ounces it weighs is always in my pack.
As far as for the nose I carry a small tiny can of Vicks vapor rub and line my noise a few times a day. I also keep some Vicks spray to sleep at night if needed.
great info robtatto and others.. thanks that will help refine my pack this year
On the Rolaids thing, every time my brother and I head out to CO we start eating 3-4 Rolaids a day for about 2 weeks( we are at sea level).We rarely have had any problems with altitude. My sons did Army Ranger school a number of years ago and told us that when you get up in altitude your body chemistry starts to change due to the low O2.They took them for their mountain training school.Can't remember exactly what they offset but Something in the Rolaids speeds up the process and will lessen the effects of High altitude. Just need to learn how to breathe thru a straw to get in shape.lol