Well, we have returned. What a quick turnaround trip, but a great father-oldest son experience. No success. As a matter of a fact, our friends have been hunting this area for 8 years and had never seen it this slow. In an area that is heavily hunted and an area where a gunshot can be heard for 5 miles, not a peep this morning. Our first day out, we departed 545am and walked back into camp 5pm. Of that timeframe, we probably hoofed half the time. Back out again this morning from 6am-10am, not a hint of an animal. Although there was an ATV on site, our trail was a mere hiking route about 2 foot wide and plenty of fallen timber, so no way you could get a snow vehicle of any kind on the path.
On our drive back, Cam reflected on our Texas hunting trips. He did confess that harvesting an animal in our Colorado mountains is something you can boast as 'true hunting'. In terms of sheer beauty, nothing compares to the glistening snow and evergreens at 9500 feet. Our friends here treated us as family. BUT, Texas hunting was full of activity, not near the work (not that work is a bad thing) and his Aunty Sissy and Uncle Jon's meals are second to none. We talked alot about the differences and he had a great attitude about trying Colorado again and came out of their really respecting the efforts most hunters have to exert to have success. On the other hand, his dad cant get back to Texas quick enough once and for all-- not just for hunting either. Enjoy the photos....
WOW---it is hard to describe even in pictures what an adventurous workout this weekend was. Down in the middle of the snowpack you will see a green cluster---that was our 1st stop at the beaver ponds where we watched for about 2hrs. It took us almost 1.5hrs just to get to that spot as our camp is even further down and no where in the picture. I am guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of a 800 ft ascent in the dark, cold and snowpack of the Rockies leaving camp at 545am, plopping down at 715 am for our 1st hunting stop.
Cam, all geared up! This was actually the green cluster area near the beaver ponds I mentioned before. Literally, without embilishment, it would have taken us 3 grown men 4hrs to even think about trekking down a harvested elk. The thought and benefit of Cam being a helicopter pilot did cross my mind SEVERAL TIMES! We sat right at the evergreen tree right behind Cam for a couple hours. Yes, we had buns of steel when we got up.
Over 2hrs more and another 800 feet, we reached the highest ridge in our hunting area. Without question at this point, the marathon I ran 2 years ago was easier than this as I was packing about 30 lbs of equipment on my back, and, in some points, 16" of untraveled snow, and temps around 20 or so..
What I want to see on my next deer hunting trip in the Rockies...
