RidgeRoamingRichard
Well-known member
I had the distinct privaledge of spending last Thursday through Sunday in the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness area. We hiked into a series of covered ridgelines and set up camp tucked back on top of the tallest, about 5600 ft. 
The first day was mostly spent getting in (we were much fatter than previously believed) and getting camp set up and our bear line slung. We glassed out a nearby valley that evening and made friends with the locals.
The next day, we decided to head downhill, into the thermals and hunt some of the valley further down. We ended up crossing the no hunting boundary and decided to fish for awhile. They were jumping all around us and we were wishing we were fly fishermen. The hike down was about 2000ft in three miles. The hike up mustve been 5 times that! I was butt-naked under my rain gear!
The next day was my favorite. After waking up too late (didn't set my alarm), we climbed to the peak and spent a glorious, sunny day looking for bears and spotting elk. That day will be with me long after the memories of my trophies fade.
The last day, we got up early and glassed around camp. I spotted 17 elk and 7 deer before breakfast! Got to watch two calves snuggle from about 50 yards, one of my favorite experiences in the woods yet. We then had a tremendous breakfast, booked it down the hill with our way-too-much gear in tow, and capped our trip with a beer abd burger at the York bar, even though the bartender was pretty sure we were 13.
You'll notice a distinct lack of bears in these pictures. We didn't find any, but that didn't diminish the trip for me and I hope it didn't for Bill. I can't wait to get back out there to take my rifle on another walk. Thanks for checking out the thread! Keep hunting!
The first day was mostly spent getting in (we were much fatter than previously believed) and getting camp set up and our bear line slung. We glassed out a nearby valley that evening and made friends with the locals.
The next day, we decided to head downhill, into the thermals and hunt some of the valley further down. We ended up crossing the no hunting boundary and decided to fish for awhile. They were jumping all around us and we were wishing we were fly fishermen. The hike down was about 2000ft in three miles. The hike up mustve been 5 times that! I was butt-naked under my rain gear!
The next day was my favorite. After waking up too late (didn't set my alarm), we climbed to the peak and spent a glorious, sunny day looking for bears and spotting elk. That day will be with me long after the memories of my trophies fade.
The last day, we got up early and glassed around camp. I spotted 17 elk and 7 deer before breakfast! Got to watch two calves snuggle from about 50 yards, one of my favorite experiences in the woods yet. We then had a tremendous breakfast, booked it down the hill with our way-too-much gear in tow, and capped our trip with a beer abd burger at the York bar, even though the bartender was pretty sure we were 13.
You'll notice a distinct lack of bears in these pictures. We didn't find any, but that didn't diminish the trip for me and I hope it didn't for Bill. I can't wait to get back out there to take my rifle on another walk. Thanks for checking out the thread! Keep hunting!
