Bowhunt Quest: June 2010

June 22, 2010

Help a Fellow Bowhunter....

Please see the link below and help if you can. This is a friend of backcountry bowhunter Cameron Hanes. Full post can be seen at link. I can attest that Cameron is a good dude and if he is asking for help, it is very much needed...

http://www.cameronhanes.com/?p=711

Another Step Closer....

Davis, West Virginia, the home of beautiful mountain tops and the Highland Sky 40 mile ultra marathon. It was not only a chance to take part in an awesome ultra, but more importantly a key stop on the road to the Burning River 100 and hopefully success in Elk country.

The race traversed the Dolly Sods wilderness area and Canaan Valley which by way of the West

Virginia Mountain Trail Runners, is some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in WV. The area ranges in

elevation from 2500 to 4700 feet and the views are breathtaking.

The course was tough and in fact, the most technical, rocky, murky, steep, unforgiving course I have ran to date. It varied from rock, to woodland paths, to boulder, to upland bogs, to sand, to mud. Going into it I thought I would be able to knock it out in around 7-8hrs….a far cry from the 9hrs and 16minutes it took me to cross the finish.

All in all a great, tough as nails run. With 3 days rest under my belt and only 31 days until Burning River its time to get back at it. Stay tuned…

The Reason.......

Motivation. Determination. Drive. This is what I have committed myself to. This is how I become a better hunter. This is how I prepare for mountains, canyons, hunger, pain, backbreaking meat trips, and most of all, the moment of truth. The moment where everything you have worked for, everything you have dreamed about is right in front of you, and it's what you do in that second that determines success or failure. For me, it's not a question of if I have what it takes, it's a question of when. In my book failure is never an option, it's only a temporary obstacle.

My hope for the following information is plain and simple. To make certain there is no question that I did everything in my power to prepare myself for bowhunting success. That through my training, shooting, and thought, I have pushed hard enough to take "chance" out of the equation. My father, a very accomplished bowhunter and all around wise man told me "With bowhunting, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey". Wise words from the man I owe my love for this sport to. Below is my journey.