Hate to see this thread die, so i'm going to ask a question i've been pondering, and bring it back up to boot. I love this idea of backpack in elk hunting. We dabbled in it a bit in '08, but were woefully unprepared. I have upgraded my pack, and tent, now needing advice on a good light,warm sleeping bag, and what type water purifier. Thanks in advance for teaching me, what you learned the hard way.

If I may jump in, I have done quite a bit of backpacking both for hunting adventures and non-hunting adventures.  The Katadyn (used to be PUR) hiker water filter is a good one.  I have used it all over MT, ID, WY, and UT.  Packs up small and is pretty light.  They make some pretty good chemical treatments these days that don't add unwanted flavor but I have not yet personally tried them.  I keep some iodine tablets in my day pack "just-in-case".

I use a Marmot, synthetic 0 degree bag.  I somehow always seem to get wet somehow when hunting/backpacking so I steer away from down.  My bag is just under 4 pounds.  I like the comfort it gives and I will sacrifice the weight for that.  You have to make the call.  Some guys go so ultra-light it is unbelievable but they definately comprimise some comfort.  The synthetics just keep getting lighter and more compressible.  The North Face, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, all make great synthetic bags.  As a side note, I am paranoid about popping an inflatable sleeping pad so I use a ridge rest and am thinking about upgrading to a newer closed foam pad made by the same company but I can't remember the name.  The inflatable pads do tend to be more compressible and more comfortable, but like I said if you pop it you could be screwed and I have been with people who's pads didn't inflate.  I was glad to have my cheap foam pad then!

A couple other things I have upgraded to over the years:

Titanium cookpot
MSR Pocket Rocket
Lightweight headlamps
All synthetic clothing
Eberlestock Blue Widow Pack

Todd, I applied for one of your favorite units.  Not the one in the pictures above.  It is a long shot but we will see.

Nathan

Thanks for the re-read. There is some great advice here for sure. It is enough to get your blood boiling. The snow is deep agian today but the hunt will be here before we know it so get ready if your thinking of doing it. Time to get warm and enjoy some elk stew.

I'm thinking about the "Agnes" bag, it has no insulation on the bottom side, just a pocket that you're pad slides into, anyone have any experience with these? Sounds like it saves weight, and should be reasonably warm. Nothing like someones unbiased review though.

Thanks for the help Todd. Been thinking about elk. I just need to GO DO IT.

This thread is great.  TTT

Awesome thread. I am sending it to a good hunting buddy that doesn't visit this sight regularly.    I hope to hunt elk sometime and it will be a whole lot sooner if I don't have to save the money for an outfitter!

One day...one day in the near future.

Yeah I wish! That is the only hunt I dream about.

So I can find this later...

Great thread    


Thanks

Margly

This has to be one of the best threads ever .thanks so much for all this info in one pkg.I will not let this post die TTT.

Very nice area.
SOMEDAY..........

I just read the whole thing. Gives me a bit more confidence that I might not be getting too old to do this.  Also indicates I should accept an offer I've been made.

I just printed this whole thing out. I didn't want to lose it if the internet dies...! Thanks a ton!!

Extraordinaire work,very useful,thank you

We did a DIY Co. elk hunt this past Aug/Sep. we were out there for the start of the season but you still have to pack for any kind of weather..We hauled 2 of these guys out from WV there were 3 of us,I think besides the $540 tag a 3 day fishing lic. the gas cost us about $300 ea. It's not cheap but I think we did it for under $1200...This pic was taken Aug.31 2010   we can home empty but you can't beat the experience.  

Great picture of the stream, lake and mountain...did you catch any frying pan trout? That sure helps to supplement the menu of freeze dried stuff!

Is that mule yours or did you "rent" it? A llama or a mule would be a big help. Thanks.

We ate fish about every night,there were trout in every hole but we didn't fish that lake we camped a couple miles from that lake... The mules belong to a friend that goes out every year.That was my second time with him,his first with a longbow an also his first time shut out..