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    

Great pics and write-up!  

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!

 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