home from my high country trip

[high country]

Congratulations High Country.  You accomplished what 99.99% of hunters won't do and about 100% of Greens don't think about.  Just the logistics of hunting the Northend is a worry.  What did your pack weigh? You have a nice looking operation.  That water situation you experienced is especially a problem with the high temps we had.  In a more familiar area a hiker can do it in the dark which minimizes fluid loss.  Many times we do the entry and exit after dark.  Alot of the cramping comes from dehydration and electrolyte loss you probably know.  There are some fluid retention "tricking" techniques that runners use and body builders avoid before contests that a person can utilize on these hunts.  What elevation were the Rattlesnakes? 

the snakes were from 1100 to 2500ft.

my pack weighed about 40 lbs before water, rifle and ammo......so my climb in was about 60lbs, till I hit 3500 then i was about out of water so dock 8-10 lbs. I would have loved to do the trip in in the dark, but I am sure i would have met god. there were MANY times I had to re-stretch my trekking poles after a minimal bobble. not very forgiving terrain, especially solo. as for the cramping, I knew it was gonna happen, I was just hoping I could get to water sooner. the creek was always there, but much of it was a rappel to goet to. I finally crossed it at 4-4.5k twas a welcom sight. if my wifes b-day was not this weekend I would be up in the passy in my "old reliable" hole.

I never consider my high hunt trips a failure unless I quit. I use the hunt as an excuse for me to visit our states wilderness areas, one by one. I can easily get motivated to hunt, but I just can't see a 10k vertical trip for fun, I would rather eat a twinkie

[timbo]

I just got back from my high buck trip about an hour and a half ago. We were up in the Pasayten and same type of deal, glassed for 3 days and not one thing moving. Lots of sign and tracks but no sightings until wednesday night I saw a spike in the woods about 150 yds from camp. We spent the next day hunting that area and not one sound or movement. We talked to several other hunters and we were lucky just to see a spike. Even the drop camps hadn't seen anything. On the plus side it was beautifull weather and a great experience with a good buddy. Hopefully someone got something this past week!
Tim

[Guy]

Back from three days in the Pasayten myself. Solo. Saw one doe... 

Warm. Very dry. Full or nearly full moon every night... Blah!

Still it was a good trip - despite the lack of deer-type-critters!

Camp:


Scopin' out the mountain:

[actionshooter]

high country, A trip like that is always succesful, even if you never saw a hair 
being there is what its about.

[PacificNWhunter]

AWESOME....can't wait till modern opens so I can hit the high country. Heading out next week to do a little scouting in the methow...these pictures are getting my blood pumping.

[300rum]

Hey Guy!

Tell me about that tripod on the spotting scope, where can I check one of those out at? 

I have a lite one but it just doesn't extend enough, I would like to be able to sit on my butt and use it instead of having to find a rock or a log or always have to be on the ground.

[Guy]

That's one of Al Ewing's little scope stands that he builds in Spokane. He's been making bigger ones for the highpower competition crowd for decades, and in recent years expanded into making these little ones for the "tactical" market. I've found it works great for hunting. There are three more sections, so a guy could actually sit in a folding chair and use the scope. There's also a hardened spike tucked inside the vertical post - which can be pushed into soft ground to stabilize the thing in windy conditions.

http://www.scopestands.com/

Al Ewing is one of the good guys and has been a big part of rifle shooting for many years.

Regards, Guy

[Buckoholic]

I know how you feel!!!!  I started my high hunt at 6500 feet dropped down to 3200 feet and decided the honey hole was up around 7500 feet. After a 12 hour hike, 5 tree hugging *censored* and 1 black bear I got back to the trail head!!! The next day we seen 4 does and the day after 7 does. Not a Buck one!!! I have never hiked so far in my life!!! round trip as a crow flies was only 10 miles but felt more like 100..

[Buckoholic]

Guy where did you go in  at??

[high country]

c'mon shag and su.......show us that thing!

[elkaholic]

Awesome story and adventure, wish i wa sthere to feel the pain with you. it would have beat the last week of work.

[grizzlygibbs]

good write up,  I think i will stay away from the REC area until i can get adequate scouting in next year!    Thanks for the tips and good luck on your future hunts

[Wea300mag]

Dock permit $35
Parking $10 per day
Spending 6 days in the wildernesss and not seeing any deer. . . PRICELESS

Thanks for the recap and pics.

[high country]

guy, is that a 8 1/2 lb rifle I see there? you must be the arm wrestling champ of the world.

well mife is gonna kill me. I just went out and bought a megalight, ti cookware and a 3oz. stove. in total I will save about 1.5 lbs and just about no bulk..........I suppose I could have just not ate for a day or two and dropped that much weight but I am addicted.

[DOUBLELUNG]

High Country, were the bighorns along the lake, or on your hunt above Stehekin?