Consolation Goat

[Vek]

I was after the nonresident triumvirate, but only the goat cooperated.  He was a gift goat, only a mile down from the put-in airstrip.  Due to the length (or lack thereof) of the put-in strip, we had to haul goat arse 14 miles down to the takeout airstrip.  We iced him down nine miles from the kill site for ten days while hunting sheep.  The takeout airstrip is being stripmined of griz type bears by the exclusive outfitter and his hired gun, which is fine, but is a bummer for the likes of me.  Only a blackie availed himself in the two days at the tail end of the hunt, and I didn't want him. 

We failed at getting into the tiny hanging valley full of ~18 rams (3-4 legal, one gorilla) due to the small size of the valley and the preponderance of eyeballs.  Wasted four days trying to get that figured out, twice failing to get in at first light. 

The hike out was typically brutal, even having taken the goat out most of the way over a week earlier.  The terrain is such that you never really recover and strengthen, you only get more and more hurt.  Worried about the 12-day-dead goat cape and meat, we pulled the plug four days early. 

A little steep:

First hero shot:


Result of first hero shot - goat falls rest of way to creek:

[Vek]

Easier hero shots in creek bottom:



Initial 1/4 mile packout to camp:


On ice:

[Vek]

Horns measured 9.25" with 5 3/8" bases, and appeared to show 7 annuli. 

Cape squared about 6.5':


Useful tools award goes to the axe.  We used it as a crush-proof walking aid, a sleep-site prep tool (it does a hell of a job digging out rocks), a tent squeegee, drying rack, and myriad other uses.  Special order 100cm "capra" by SMC (factory in Ferndale, WA), as anything shorter is useless for a walking tool on all but steep slopes for me.  If they made it 110cm, I'd get it...:


Duct tape snow goggles proved unneeded as a handy cloud sped into position during the snack break prior to the hour of white-ice walking:


Shangri-la 4+ is the usual castle for two:


One of a number of interesting and dangerous ice oddities:

[jackelope]

Vek-
Your threads never disappoint.
Thanks for sharing and congrats.

[Special T]

Verry cool. You are absolutly right on the ice ax... you know you are on goat hunt if you have one!
What is the nonresident triumvirate? and where was the hunt?

[Vek]

Dall sheep, goat, brown/griz bear. 

Deepest Darkest Alaska (I'm a resident)

[blacktailer]

Jerry, you are truly the Man...  Once again, great write-up and pictures and Awesome Billy.   You are living the dream..

[GoldTip]

Vek, as always, looks like a helluva trip!  congrats on an awesome goat!

[boneaddict]

You're a monster!

[PacificNWhunter]

Awesome Vek! Look forward to your hunts every year.

[seth30]

Great job!

[shanevg]

Super jealous!! Great job on the goat, go get the sheep and grizz next time!

[Wea300mag]

Thanks for another great adventure.

[JPhelps]

Jerry way to get it done.  Every one of your hunts is EPIC!

[Jason]

Looks like you had a good time,  congrats and thanks for the sharing the pics