I decided to post here rather than the hunting subforum due to the fact, no animals were taken, hope no one minds.....
Well, its that time of year again. The hunts. This year I took off for a week from work to go out with a friend and his family for the elk hunt. Now bear in mind, its not about hunting just being out an about in nature, usually we do not have rounds chambered in the rifles, and in the last 10 years, no one has bagged anything and only one has shot at an animal. This year however, it will be the last outing for one of his uncles due to illness so it was nice to just get him out there and enjoy the time together.
I went up 2 days before the start of the hunt to set up, reserve the camp, and well, I needed the time off of work. I did not pack in, due to some unplesent weather that was already being forecasted, so being I was car camping I had a few more luxuries. Canned food, fresh meat, and ended up opting to take the Kifaru 8man tipi. This shelter and its large stove is easily packed with 2 or more people, is roomy for a week long stint for 3-4 people, but with just little old me in there it was VERY nice. The camp took place near Whitney Reservoir off the mirror lake highway approx 30 miles from the Wyoming border.
On the way up the canyon, it had already started snowing. I took the shorter route past Park City, Jordanelle Reservoir, thru Kamas, around Bald Mountain to camp since I did not have a trailer. I stopped at the Bald Mountain overlook to catch my first new snow fall of the year, pretty nice view of the storm at 10,700 ft.
Got to camp, already had 2 inches or so on the ground. Found my spot and started setting up the tipi. Even fighting the snow, cold hands, setting up the stove, and using the side of my boot to scrap as much snow as I could out, after setting up, it took just over 1 hour to get everything setup, warming, bedding unpacked and configured, and everything in its place. I could have done it faster, however fighting good snowfall, temps around 20*, and freezing hands on occasion since I did not want to risk my OR alpine gloves to the sharp edges of the Kifaru stove, and instead used plain old mechanics gloves for setup, wood chopping and gathering, etc, my fingers were sore a bit. But one that fire started, ohh was it nice. I need to practice stoking the large stove a bit more. With my small stove and supertarp or paratipi, I am quite often able to keep it very nice all the time in the shelter. With the larger stove, there is more of a learning curve I am positive. A few times it got so hot, I ended up zipping down the top zipper on the door to help vent it, but by the end of the week I think I finally got the hang of it. Anyways, due to the great amounts of snow falling, I decided to lay in the tent and read a book till dinner, then have a quick easy dinner and call it a night since the weather report said snow should end thru the night.
My sleep gear was a space brand space blanket, inverted to have silver side up, with a ridgerest base pad, with a Exped downmat 9dx for comfort, This is my standard late fall, winter, and early spring loadout. The sleeping bag is the new piece, usually I take Wiggys but after coming across some money late last year I upgraded to Kifaru regulator systems. I have a 0MOB, 0 and 20 slick bags. The Kifaru bags are FAR more compressible, MUCH lighter, and just a comfortable in my opinion. I was a little worried about temp ratings after first getting them since they are so much thinner, lighter, etc than all the other bags I have but after testing them on my patio I found the temp ratings to be close to what they stated. I did end up taking the woobie as well since they are just so light, great for wrapping when waiting for animals to come by, taking a rest, etc, that it is pretty much always in my pack even if Im just flying around the world since I worry about the airline blankets, and on some trips they now CHARGE to use them, WTF. On 2 of the nights I ended up waking to being slightly cool, I could have made it thru the night but figured WTH and grabbed my woobie near my feet and slid it in like a bag liner to the MOB and within minutes was nice and toasty, and slept for a few hours longer before having the get the stove stoked, shelter warmed, water for breakfast boiling and then getting up and ready in a nicely warmed tent. I hae said this before, but I am HUGH fan of floorless shelters with snow, and the like outside since you can just walk right in and get out of the stuff.
Anyways, Im out there the first night alone before everyone else sets up so I called it a night and pass out. I awake in the morning to a niec and quite outside. GREAT it stopped snowing. I start the stove and while hearing the occasional crackle for the hot box, I hear all the snow slip off the wall of the tipi. It is now much brighter and Im hydrating some 9 grain cereal, cinnamon and sugar in a freezer bag, and getting ready. Steip outside to a brisk 28*, and decided since I have many hours till anyone is expected to show Ill go on a hike and see what I can find. Pack up the camel trizip with lunch (instant rice, chicken in a pouch, MRE PB, curry, chicken bullion, coconut milk powder), IFAK, stove, fuel, torrentshell top and bottom, spare glove/ watchcap, leg gaiters, 454 Alaskan, camera, and a few other things and head off. Ended up doing just over 6 miles up road hollow to the south meadow, then off road up the north mountain, then meet back up with the road to return to camp. Found 3 moose, a few herd of deer, and some great scenery as seen here.
My ugly mug
The rest the party shows up and we set up their camp which with trailers it is much more civilized. His family is still convinced I am a nut liking tent camping over trailer camping, but after being out a few times with me, know Im pretty well prepared for anything so are at ease with the idea. Anyways, it has started snowing again, and the weatherman states should pass by 3PM Okay. It is now 10PM and still snowing like no other, I decide to head to my tent and call it a night and capture this shot..
I knock off the snow, scoop around the base to prevent too much build up while I sleep and pass out. Wake in the morning to my watch alarm at 0530, still dark, still cold, but its silent, GREAT snow stopped, lean over and light the stove, and get it hot to get naked and babywipe bathe, and then I experience my first heart pounding moment of the hunt. All of a sudden, I see the entire tent move and jiggle, then I smell something burning! Throw on a pair of smartwool, my boots and open the door, which a ton of snow piles in. CRAP it is STILL snowing! The stove warmed the snow on the tipi which slid off again and piled across the bottom of the tipi, I am SO GLAD I spent the time last night to scoop away the base, since the accumulated snow is going about 3 feet up the tipi, I turn to grab some gloves to get the stress off the tipi and notice the center pole is no long straight, but bowed like a traditional wood bow! Then I see the source of the burning smell, the tipi is dished a bit and the stove jack slid down about 2 inches to push the 550 cord loop on the stove pipe ring into the hot stove pipe. Glad it was nto more, so out I go to clear the snow load off the base of the walls. Get that done and head inside to warm up and get breakfast going and said screw the baby wipe wipedown, but I notice the tent is still dished, but the pole is now straight again. Look down and notice my durapeg to hold the pole up from drilling into the dirt is bent at @70 degress killing my pitch! CRAP. Remember I set up in the snow, so I could not find a rock to use so I opted to the peg trick that Patrick mentions in his video, and that I have used many times, well the snow load killed that peg. I just go out and start dragging my boot across the ground and took about 5 rocks till I found one that would work and correct this issue right now. Eat breakfast, have some Starbuck VIA coffee (best instant FYI), and suit up and head out to see if anyone still wants to head out opening day. Notice a few people also running around crazy like I was just earlier, the snow wreaked havoc on one of the ez-ups, and a few other things. GREAT! What a starting day. Anyways photo captured some of the events.
Anyways, out we go for a short trek to just say we got out, ended up just walking around near camp. One of the guys radios in saying well I found a moose family, all 3 of them, and they are not letting me get to camp we ask where he is, he says, ohh about 200 yards west of camp! Said he had the bull moose grunt and drop his head and look like he is about to charge a few times, the first time the 44mag came out. I grab the 454 and 45-70 and slowly walk around to see where abouts this is taking place and to see if I can give him a chance to get away peacefully. I only spotted the bull, but found out the mother and her calf were about 50 yards behind this guy in the treeline you see, anyways, the other guy gets away, then I back away and we meet up to discuss heading out after lunch since the snow has stopped.
Here are just a few random photos of scenery, moose, etc. We never even spotted a elk the entire trip. Also after returning to camp on day, we notice Mr Bullwinkle had returned and wanted to check out our camp. He walked around the tipi, and right past my Hyundai. You can see the tracks go right past the front of the Santa Fe Glad he did not decide to dance on anything. Think the entire trip we spotted 13 moose, most from a distance but 2 pretty close which always makes your adrenaline flow. Hope you enjoy the rest of the photos and thank you all for the space.
Another moose
And another moose
Moose print near tipi and my size 10.5 boot for comparison
HOT TIPI! This was bath day.
And another moose
Tents are not very common out here anymore, nice little springbar camp here.
Moose prints past the car
Again another moose
Mommy and calf moose
And again, another moose
Tree vs lightning
Bald Mountain on my way home
Notch Mountain further down the road
Well, its that time of year again. The hunts. This year I took off for a week from work to go out with a friend and his family for the elk hunt. Now bear in mind, its not about hunting just being out an about in nature, usually we do not have rounds chambered in the rifles, and in the last 10 years, no one has bagged anything and only one has shot at an animal. This year however, it will be the last outing for one of his uncles due to illness so it was nice to just get him out there and enjoy the time together.
I went up 2 days before the start of the hunt to set up, reserve the camp, and well, I needed the time off of work. I did not pack in, due to some unplesent weather that was already being forecasted, so being I was car camping I had a few more luxuries. Canned food, fresh meat, and ended up opting to take the Kifaru 8man tipi. This shelter and its large stove is easily packed with 2 or more people, is roomy for a week long stint for 3-4 people, but with just little old me in there it was VERY nice. The camp took place near Whitney Reservoir off the mirror lake highway approx 30 miles from the Wyoming border.
On the way up the canyon, it had already started snowing. I took the shorter route past Park City, Jordanelle Reservoir, thru Kamas, around Bald Mountain to camp since I did not have a trailer. I stopped at the Bald Mountain overlook to catch my first new snow fall of the year, pretty nice view of the storm at 10,700 ft.
Got to camp, already had 2 inches or so on the ground. Found my spot and started setting up the tipi. Even fighting the snow, cold hands, setting up the stove, and using the side of my boot to scrap as much snow as I could out, after setting up, it took just over 1 hour to get everything setup, warming, bedding unpacked and configured, and everything in its place. I could have done it faster, however fighting good snowfall, temps around 20*, and freezing hands on occasion since I did not want to risk my OR alpine gloves to the sharp edges of the Kifaru stove, and instead used plain old mechanics gloves for setup, wood chopping and gathering, etc, my fingers were sore a bit. But one that fire started, ohh was it nice. I need to practice stoking the large stove a bit more. With my small stove and supertarp or paratipi, I am quite often able to keep it very nice all the time in the shelter. With the larger stove, there is more of a learning curve I am positive. A few times it got so hot, I ended up zipping down the top zipper on the door to help vent it, but by the end of the week I think I finally got the hang of it. Anyways, due to the great amounts of snow falling, I decided to lay in the tent and read a book till dinner, then have a quick easy dinner and call it a night since the weather report said snow should end thru the night.
My sleep gear was a space brand space blanket, inverted to have silver side up, with a ridgerest base pad, with a Exped downmat 9dx for comfort, This is my standard late fall, winter, and early spring loadout. The sleeping bag is the new piece, usually I take Wiggys but after coming across some money late last year I upgraded to Kifaru regulator systems. I have a 0MOB, 0 and 20 slick bags. The Kifaru bags are FAR more compressible, MUCH lighter, and just a comfortable in my opinion. I was a little worried about temp ratings after first getting them since they are so much thinner, lighter, etc than all the other bags I have but after testing them on my patio I found the temp ratings to be close to what they stated. I did end up taking the woobie as well since they are just so light, great for wrapping when waiting for animals to come by, taking a rest, etc, that it is pretty much always in my pack even if Im just flying around the world since I worry about the airline blankets, and on some trips they now CHARGE to use them, WTF. On 2 of the nights I ended up waking to being slightly cool, I could have made it thru the night but figured WTH and grabbed my woobie near my feet and slid it in like a bag liner to the MOB and within minutes was nice and toasty, and slept for a few hours longer before having the get the stove stoked, shelter warmed, water for breakfast boiling and then getting up and ready in a nicely warmed tent. I hae said this before, but I am HUGH fan of floorless shelters with snow, and the like outside since you can just walk right in and get out of the stuff.
Anyways, Im out there the first night alone before everyone else sets up so I called it a night and pass out. I awake in the morning to a niec and quite outside. GREAT it stopped snowing. I start the stove and while hearing the occasional crackle for the hot box, I hear all the snow slip off the wall of the tipi. It is now much brighter and Im hydrating some 9 grain cereal, cinnamon and sugar in a freezer bag, and getting ready. Steip outside to a brisk 28*, and decided since I have many hours till anyone is expected to show Ill go on a hike and see what I can find. Pack up the camel trizip with lunch (instant rice, chicken in a pouch, MRE PB, curry, chicken bullion, coconut milk powder), IFAK, stove, fuel, torrentshell top and bottom, spare glove/ watchcap, leg gaiters, 454 Alaskan, camera, and a few other things and head off. Ended up doing just over 6 miles up road hollow to the south meadow, then off road up the north mountain, then meet back up with the road to return to camp. Found 3 moose, a few herd of deer, and some great scenery as seen here.
My ugly mug
The rest the party shows up and we set up their camp which with trailers it is much more civilized. His family is still convinced I am a nut liking tent camping over trailer camping, but after being out a few times with me, know Im pretty well prepared for anything so are at ease with the idea. Anyways, it has started snowing again, and the weatherman states should pass by 3PM Okay. It is now 10PM and still snowing like no other, I decide to head to my tent and call it a night and capture this shot..
I knock off the snow, scoop around the base to prevent too much build up while I sleep and pass out. Wake in the morning to my watch alarm at 0530, still dark, still cold, but its silent, GREAT snow stopped, lean over and light the stove, and get it hot to get naked and babywipe bathe, and then I experience my first heart pounding moment of the hunt. All of a sudden, I see the entire tent move and jiggle, then I smell something burning! Throw on a pair of smartwool, my boots and open the door, which a ton of snow piles in. CRAP it is STILL snowing! The stove warmed the snow on the tipi which slid off again and piled across the bottom of the tipi, I am SO GLAD I spent the time last night to scoop away the base, since the accumulated snow is going about 3 feet up the tipi, I turn to grab some gloves to get the stress off the tipi and notice the center pole is no long straight, but bowed like a traditional wood bow! Then I see the source of the burning smell, the tipi is dished a bit and the stove jack slid down about 2 inches to push the 550 cord loop on the stove pipe ring into the hot stove pipe. Glad it was nto more, so out I go to clear the snow load off the base of the walls. Get that done and head inside to warm up and get breakfast going and said screw the baby wipe wipedown, but I notice the tent is still dished, but the pole is now straight again. Look down and notice my durapeg to hold the pole up from drilling into the dirt is bent at @70 degress killing my pitch! CRAP. Remember I set up in the snow, so I could not find a rock to use so I opted to the peg trick that Patrick mentions in his video, and that I have used many times, well the snow load killed that peg. I just go out and start dragging my boot across the ground and took about 5 rocks till I found one that would work and correct this issue right now. Eat breakfast, have some Starbuck VIA coffee (best instant FYI), and suit up and head out to see if anyone still wants to head out opening day. Notice a few people also running around crazy like I was just earlier, the snow wreaked havoc on one of the ez-ups, and a few other things. GREAT! What a starting day. Anyways photo captured some of the events.
Anyways, out we go for a short trek to just say we got out, ended up just walking around near camp. One of the guys radios in saying well I found a moose family, all 3 of them, and they are not letting me get to camp we ask where he is, he says, ohh about 200 yards west of camp! Said he had the bull moose grunt and drop his head and look like he is about to charge a few times, the first time the 44mag came out. I grab the 454 and 45-70 and slowly walk around to see where abouts this is taking place and to see if I can give him a chance to get away peacefully. I only spotted the bull, but found out the mother and her calf were about 50 yards behind this guy in the treeline you see, anyways, the other guy gets away, then I back away and we meet up to discuss heading out after lunch since the snow has stopped.
Here are just a few random photos of scenery, moose, etc. We never even spotted a elk the entire trip. Also after returning to camp on day, we notice Mr Bullwinkle had returned and wanted to check out our camp. He walked around the tipi, and right past my Hyundai. You can see the tracks go right past the front of the Santa Fe Glad he did not decide to dance on anything. Think the entire trip we spotted 13 moose, most from a distance but 2 pretty close which always makes your adrenaline flow. Hope you enjoy the rest of the photos and thank you all for the space.
Another moose
And another moose
Moose print near tipi and my size 10.5 boot for comparison
HOT TIPI! This was bath day.
And another moose
Tents are not very common out here anymore, nice little springbar camp here.
Moose prints past the car
Again another moose
Mommy and calf moose
And again, another moose
Tree vs lightning
Bald Mountain on my way home
Notch Mountain further down the road
