Bumping scout trip

[conwaydave]

Last week myself and 3 other elk hunting buddies (included in the group was my 16 y/o son) hiked up the Indian creek area, mosquito valley and Blakenship meadows for a scout trip for our ML season. They name it Mosquito valley for a reason! :yike:They were bad, real bad. We are new to this area, spent 3 days hiking around and learning area. We saw only 4 elk, cows. Just before dusk. Heard a bull at night for a while but that was it. I really hoped to see and hear more elk. I think they were in the timber during the warm daytime, and nothing was pushing them around. Not sure, there's a lot of country up there for them to go anywhere. Very beautiful area up there, it was an awesome hike, even if it wouldn't have been a scouting trip! We found a few camp areas along Indian meadows about 5.1 mi in. Does anyone know are these taken by packed in guided hunts during ML season? We have some back-up areas to camp, but was just wondering how many people may hunt in there during ML season. I will be hunting up there during ML, sorry if I am encroaching on your hunting area, but we had to pick some where for our first ML season, after 25 yrs of rifle hunting. We are interested in maybe getting some help from an outfitter to pack some supplies in. Any recommendations? I am trying this hunt for my son to show him another option of hunting and experiencing something new, other than just rifle hunting. Before I get much older and cannot back pack into an area. Does anyone know if the mosquito's are just as bad for a Oct. 1st opener? I am open for any comment's or recommendations for this hunt. Again, I am not trying to encroach on someones "honey hole". I guess that's why I am sharing info on this area from my scouting trip? I have been elk hunting for 25 yrs and could be helpful to someone in such a remote area if someone needed some help.

[bench beast]

did you draw a tag or will you be Spike hunting?
I drew a tag for archery this year and will be in there somewhere.

[William B.]

Outfitter from deep creek access is Chinook Pass Outfitters and the boundery for his area is pear and apple lakes, Good packer at a fair price. We did a drop camp with Paul a couple years ago. 

[dreamingbig]

The mosquitoes are going to last longer this year given the late melt and the water that is everywhere.  If we get some cold weather (a couple of hard frosts) then it will knock them off considerably.  They name it mosquito valley for a reason.  I was on top of Tumac on Sunday looking down on that area but didn't see you down there.

[Smokey Bear]

This year is definitely different for the skeeters but my experience is they were pretty much gone by Sept. 1.  5 years ago we got 4" snow on Sept. 10 and freezing each night.  I know the area pretty well.  PM me and I can give you some info.  Chinook Pass Outfitters does have drop camps located in that area. 

[dreamingbig]

I remember that year.  A low of 40 scheduled for overnight Friday at White Pass so getting closer.  Currently they are forecasting the archery opener on the 6th to be sunny and 79F.

[conwaydave]

I will be hunting spikes (Bummer) for me.