Evidence!

Back out trying to put the hammer down on a few doe's I found some sure sign of a future first rounder! Even though the cuddeback was within 40 yards I wasn't able to snap a mugshot. Stay tuned...

The Plan Comes Together...

I never heard him coming. I looked over and he was just there, 45 yards to my left. It was obvious by the buck’s demeanor he spotted the decoy placed just 15 yards in front of me. The buck was focused in and my set up was about to be put to the test.

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Getting ready for this season I had high hopes of not re-living 2009. In the end 09’ turned out (Persistence…), however using all of 4+ months of the season trying to catch up to the right whitetail got a tad long to say the least.

Keeping this in mind I was committed to being aggressive. Last year I learned a valuable lesson when I rattled in a bruiser to 30 yards and left my decoy sitting in the truck. This time however, in an effort to pull out all the stops, my decoy was out and ready for action. If I saw the right buck I had high hopes of bringing him in.

For those that are not aware here’s a quick decoy lesson….most can be made into a buck or a doe by simply adding or removing the antlers. They should always be placed up wind and if the decoy is a buck then it should be put in a quartering to position and if it is doe it should put in a quartering away position. Both set ups are designed to place the approaching deer in a shootable position for the hunter.

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As he walked behind a tree I grabbed the Pearson. Now at 20 yards from the decoy he was closing fast and about to deliver a serious beat down. He stopped, laid back his ears, puffed his hair, put his head down, and walked towards decoy as if the joints in his legs were missing. Hooking my release I readied for the shot.

At 8 yards the buck moved into position and I released. The Victory Vforce pin wheeled him as he circled to 20 yards before stopping to look back. Taking advantage of the opportunity I loaded up and released again. In the end, either arrow alone would have done the trick however he gave me a second opportunity so I took it. Expired, the buck lay just 45 yards from the tree.

The whole experience was amazing. I’ve seen this work before on TV but never like this in real life. From start to finish I had a front row seat and I just couldn’t have written the script any better.

With a great buck in the books the quest now turns to trying to knock off a few does and running cameras to prepare for 2011. There’s a couple of bucks on my radar that to date, I haven’t gotten any pictures of and I'd like to see where they are and what they're doing. Stay tuned, lots more season and action to come….

See you on trail!

September Memories...

Time goes by way to fast. This post is long overdue and what feels like an eternity has really only been in reality, 5 weeks since my dad and I returned from the mountains. A trip of this kind to the backcountry was the first for my father since he started bowhunting in 1977. In my life Dad has always been there for me and knowing he has always wanted to take an elk with his recurve I was proud to think I might have a hand in helping make this happen for him. (For more check out the Man, the Myth, the Legend).

Preparation…
Once dad was in we spent the spring getting up to speed. We combed through gear, separated out the “whitetail” vs. “elk” equipment, and made the long list of to do’s. We also talked a lot about the critical importance of being ready physically. A trip like this takes a huge level of commitment and dad knew what he was in for. For over 5 years he has been with me on more elk hunt, marathon, 50 miler, and 100 mile stories than just about anyone besides Jor. He knew first-hand how tough this style of hunt would be. To get ready Dad was committed to riding his bike and walking with a loaded Badlands and I was committed to knocking out some ultra’s, including my first 100 miler.

Travel plans were pretty simple. To make the most of our time we would leave after work, drive the 22 hours straight, arrive, throw on the packs, and head in. Once in, we would plan and move according to what the elk were doing.

Arrival Colorado, September 11 - 6pm…
Parked the truck at over 11,000 feet, threw on the Badlands, and dove into the backcountry. We only had 2 hrs before dark so we pushed to get in as far as possible before stopping for the night. Up at day break we quickly re-packed and headed out. Our mission was to roll on some major ground (7+ miles) and put as much distance as possible between us and civilization. After a long day we arrived at our first real base camp, roughly 9 miles deep. That night we drifted asleep to bugling bulls and high expectations of the days ahead.

The hunt…
Looking back we were the closest on the first morning (day 3 overall). Working our way down a canyon we caught a bugle. It was behind and up on us so we turned, put the wind in our face, and started to close the distance. Unfortunately at 30 yards the 5X5 spotted us, turned, and gave no opportunity for a shot. It was a quick but close encounter that left both dad and I excited for what was yet to come.

A second opportunity came coming back out of the canyon that same night. Moving quietly I spotted the same bull at 40 yards. When I first saw him he was above us and working his way in the opposite direction towards a small cut. I quickly turned to dad and signaled. We needed to move fast as our opportunity was to make a run at getting to the cut before the bull. Thermals were falling and if we beat him there we just might have a chance. Moving to the cut we lost sight of bull only to never see him again. He was gone and so were our hopes of trying to get an arrow in him.

The next best opportunity and the one that had me dialing the satellite phone to our packer, was in the same canyon, 2 days later. After catching a bugle below we dropped in elevation closing the distance. At 33 yards I spotted a cow. She was standing broadside and looking behind her. As dad and I quickly set up the bull bugled again and it was clear he was below her. After his bugle she turned and ran only to be followed by 2 more cows traveling on the same path. Dad and I sat there, tension on the strings just waiting for the bull. We waited, but nothing. As a big, 800lb bull elk does, he just disappeared.

Over the course of the next 6 days we tried to chase down the bugles every day, but for whatever reason, just couldn't close the deal. This was the 2nd year in a row I have rolled out of Colorado with an un-punched tag. I feel defeated and I despise it. It really bothers me and to be honest, I believe it bothers me more than the average person. Let me explain...

Since 06’ elk hunting has shaped my life. Good or bad, depending upon who you are and how you look at it. I have suffered, fought, pushed, smiled, laughed, climbed, ran, puked, and cried in the name of it. I have gone from running 0 miles in 07’ to finishing a 100 mile ultra-marathon this past August because of it. I have tried to do everything I can to set myself up for success. One cannot plan, prepare, and go on a trip like this without getting 120% involved. It becomes you and what you do and when you fail it hurts.

They always say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so I’m committed to make next year different. I plan to work harder and prepare better.

All in all it was a great trip. Dad and I got to spend time together gutting it out in some rugged, beautiful country and I will cherish those memories forever. Dad, I know you’ll read this so I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how proud I am of you. Throughout your life you have done and conquered the unconquerable. You are a fighter, a warrior, and an example of what life is all about. From start to finish you dug deep, you pushed yourself, and I feel like you showed yourself what I already knew.

Thanks for being committed pops, not many will realize the amount of effort it takes to do what you did. I couldn’t be prouder to be your son and I’m grateful for being able to share in those brutal, tough times together in the backcountry. To me that’s what it’s about….elk or not. The great Teddy Roosevelt once said… ”It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, sweat, and blood…and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”

Elk hunt 2011 started the day I re-packed my Ox to come out. I’m committed and I have 317 days to make it different…

See you on the trail.

Badlands Ox In the Field

Returning from the backcountry of Colorado I wanted to follow up on my earlier post, The Ox, First Impressions. As stated, this trip without a doubt put it to the test. It was packed, repacked, dropped, swung, thrown, pulled, and in short.....abused. The results? Smack dab between awesome and excellent and just north of best pack period.

Leaving home bag fully packed I was pushing just short of 54lbs. Upon arrival in CO and before leaving he trail head pops and I rearranged a few things and my final weight ended up being somewhere around 63-65lbs for the 9+ mile trek into the backcountry.

During the voyage it became clear to me that one of the design points to this pack was working just as described....."the Ox is designed in such a way that pushes the frame back (which is light) and the pack forward (which is heavy) to provide the user with a sense of balance only dreamed of three years ago." Dead on....I knew I was carrying the weight, but it didn't feel like I was carrying the weight. It really did carry like a dream.

Packing the Ox was a breeze, all compartments were well located and just made sense. I had no problem fitting all my items plus some addition's in its 9 pockets and 7 compartments. Straps and zippers were strong. I piled and pushed and fit in more items than should be and never once did a strap or zipper bust, break, or even budge.

All in all I would sum up my first experience with the Ox as a great one. Over the years going into the backcountry there are a few choice items that I refuse to leave home without and the Ox by Badlands was just added to the top. Full story on the elk hunt coming soon....see you on the trail.

The Ox...First Impressions

When the folks at Badlands decided to throw on the label of "The Ox", they did so because this pack, after 2 years in the design room, is built to as they say....take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

The Ox is an external frame pack that without question raises the bar weighing in at a mere 9lb, 3oz. The pack boasts the lightest (1lb, 9oz), and strongest (T-6 aluminum, zero welds/zero weak spots) external frame built and can operate solo by simply separating from the pack bag. Once separated, the frame can be broken down and stowed, used as a hauling sled, or placed on your back to transform you into a meat hauling machine.

The Ox boasts 4400ci of storage in the form of 9 compartments and 7 pockets that all function with zipper closure. A bow/rifle holder, left or right spotting scope pocket, and 96oz. hydration bladder pocket are all features incorporated in the design.

The Ox is new from Badlands and to be honest has a lot to live up to when compared to the slightly larger, internal frame pack in the 4500. Both the 4500 and The Ox are logical choices when planning to be out more than 4-5 days. To this point, I have had a very long, devoted, wholesome relationship with my 4500...it's been a rock, a classic, a legend. Two years ago coming out of the backcountry I piled in over 110lbs of meat in that sucker and all it could do was say thank you sir may I have another.

The Ox (key features)
*Removable pack bag

*Molded foam suspension

*Integrated meat shelf

*Superior center of gravity

*Ultra light, zero weld aluminum frame

*4400 ci (27"x16"x9")

*16 pockets (7 compartments/9 pockets)

*9lbs 3oz
*Max 1 or Realtree AP

The real test with me is going to come in a matter of 2 days when I shoulder it up and head 12 miles into the backcountry. With trips like this, quality, tough, failure is not an option gear is essential. It's always a tight schedule with big expectations and I simply cannot budget the time/energy worrying about my gear. Like anything I have ever owned from Badlands this pack is built rock solid, which by the way, is just like the reputation of the company. I'm very anxious to put to it to the test and see just what this pack is made of. Full performance report when I return.....see you on the trail...

100 Mile Madness

"Wars are not won by evacuations." ~Winston Churchill

Over the course of 100 miles I repeated the quote a thousand times. To me it meant sticking with it no matter how bad it got. To date I have finished every ultra I've entered and I wasn't about to let that go. I made a committment to myself and I was prepared to "win the war." Running a 100 miles was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, period.

A runner once said “If you have a weakness, a 100 miler will find it” and now speaking from experience I can say I have never heard anything more truthful. Below is my story....

The set up…..
The Burning River 100 was something that when I signed up I really wasn’t even sure I could do. Before this the furthest I had ever run was 50 miles and after that I felt decent at best. Thinking back I could have probably went another 10 or 15…but another 50? I’m not so sure. So using 0% logic I bucked the odds and registered. This falls elk hunt was going to be a doozy with destinations over 9 miles in and elevations over 12,000 feet. I figured a little extra prep wouldn’t hurt, plus it would be good to see what I was made of.

Preparing for the race I broke it down into 3 major sections….first 50+miles to Happy Days (64.1), Happy Days to Covered Bridge (85.5), and Covered Bridge to the finish (101.1). I was pretty comfortable with myself up until Happy Days but after that I really wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Using my best guest estimate I planned to be at Happy Days at 6:51pm (race clock 13hrs,51mins) and the finish at 5am (24hrs).

I had 5 drop bags that I planned to access during the race which would help me resupply with essential items. Wilderness Athlete gels, Hammer nutrition perpetuem, socks, Badlands Reactor, headlamp, etc. My lone shoe change was scheduled to take place at mile 54.

My pacer Dave and I were scheduled to meet at the Happy Days aid station near mile 64 (for those unaware a pacer is a runner that can run a portion of the race with you). Not all runners have pacers but I was lucky enough to find one, and Dave was worth his weight in gold (Dave, I know you’ll read this and I can’t thank you enough for helping me!!).

A quick run down of events looked like this…start the day at 2am, leave the house at 2:45, bus ride to the start 3:45, race start at 5am. By my pace schedule I was planned to wrap up by 5am the next day. A far cry from the 28hrs, 51mins, and 42secs it took me.

The first 50+ to Happy Days….

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine

When I saw this quote at mile 40 it literally gave me chills. Someone at the Ottawa Point Aid Station (AS) had made the sign and slapped it to a tree. It was the last thing you saw before disappearing again into the woods.

To this point I had been going since 2am (up for 12 hrs and running for 9 of them) and I still felt strong. Hammering down the trail I repeated the quote….”don’t sacrifice the gift, don’t sacrifice the gift”…. In my plans I was right where I needed to be. The first 35+ miles had rolled on smoothly and I was now on my way to the Snowville aid station scheduled to arrive around 3:27pm. I had knocked out a touch over 40 miles and had a little more than 60 left to go.

Rolling on the miles I chipped away at it. Snowville…Boston #1…Boston #2 and it was on my way from Boston #2 to Pine Lane (one stop before arriving at Happy Days to meet Dave) where things started to fall apart. 3 miles into a 4.2 mile section my stomach decided it had had enough, and I went from feeling good and being positive, to complete misery and just trying to survive. I just kept putting one foot in front of another trying to get to the next aid station.

Finally arriving at Pine Lane I sat down to pull things together. I was now in my first real battle with pain and losing some major time along the way. Knowing all I had to do was get to the next aid station (Happy Days) I forced myself to get up and move on.

Looking at my watch I was running over an hour late and I knew Jor and Dave would be worried. Walking away I asked an aid station volunteer to text Jor to let her know I was ok and on my way. It wasn’t until about a mile into the next section I realized I gave the worker my cell number not Jor’s.

In route to Happy Days it went from worse to impossible. First, I continued to linger on the thought that my family and Dave would be worried, so I was worried. And second, dealing with my stomach was just consuming me. I could barely run and now had fallen into the dreadful cycle of run/walk/run and there was nothing I could at the moment to escape it. I didn’t have mental or physical strength to break through it. I tried to battle on.

On the forever journey to Happy Days I was finally caught by Tammy who was pacing Simon from Germany. As they rolled by I forced myself to get in behind them and run. It was everything I had. Nearing the aid station I caught a glimpse of someone running down the trail at us. It was Dave. God bless him, knowing I was in trouble he left to find me. As we ran together we caught up and took inventory before finally arriving at HD.

Happy Days (64.1) to Covered Bridge (84.4)….
Before coming out of the woods to Happy Days Dave got me up to speed. He said my family was there and were worried, but ok. He told me that he was talking with Jori and asked her “no matter how bad he looks, don’t let him quit”. I laughed as I could only imagine what Jori was thinking.

Arriving at Happy Days I walked up, sat down, and Dave started to bring me food. I knew I needed to eat but to be honest it was the last thing I wanted to do. I hit my drop bag, ate some potatoes, and drank some ginger ale before walking over to see Jor and my brother-in-law Brad. We didn’t stay long. Knowing I had to get out of there I said my good byes and grabbed my headlamp. I had now been at it for over 15 hours and it was starting to get dark.

Walking out of that aid station I can honestly say I had no earthly idea how I was going to make it to the next one, let alone cover the 35 miles left in the race. At this point I felt sick and exhausted and trying to figure out how I was going to make the last 35 miles just made me feel even more sick and exhausted. I felt like a walking zombie. As we hit the trail head we flipped on the headlamps.

Plodding down the trail dodging rocks and boulders I asked Dave if he would lead. This section was 6.8 miles long and I didn’t even feel like I could think anymore. We pushed on….turn after turn, hill after hill, down hill after down hill until finally arriving at the next aid station (Pine Hollow). I walked up, sat down, Dave got me food, and we left. The whole stop wasn’t 5 minutes. We were back at it into the 3.3 mile loop that would bring us right back to Pine Hollow at mile 74.2.

When we left Pine Hollow I was really struggling keeping things together. Physically my stomach was still upset and mentally the remaining 35 miles almost seemed too much to even get my hands around. As we plodded down the trail I just stared at the 10 foot circle created by my headlamp. What the heck I was doing out here? Why on earth did I think that I could do this? Like 98% of the other normal people in this world I should be at home in my nice cushy bed. I had now been running for over 20 hours and the majority of every thought bouncing around in my head was negative. I was about as down and out as I have ever been.

We finally emerged from the dark timber to an open meadow full of glow sticks lining the trail back to Pine Hollow for our second stop. Walking up I heard the familiar voices of Jori, Brad, and Darb. Looking back, this was a point and time that things really turned around for me. I walked up and sat down. Dave started bringing me squares of hot grilled cheese sandwich. Hammering away at the food I told them that over the course of the last 15 miles, suffering through my stomach issues, I realized this was the most stupid, idiotic, ridiculous thing I have ever done. At this point even I myself couldn’t believe I was doing it. We all joked and laughed before getting up to go. 74.2 miles done, 26.9 miles to go.

Covered Bridge (85.5) to Finish (101.1…or 103.1 “unofficially”)
As we moved over the next sections (Covered Bridge #1, Covered Bridge #2, O’Neil Woods, Merriman) things became more and more weird…..towards the end I had been up for over 30 hours and it was really starting to catch up to me. I was tired, beat, and something was going on with my left ankle because it was starting to swell. Every time I would sit down at an aid station it would get harder and harder to get moving again. These sections were all pretty uneventful with the exception of taking two wrong turns at Covered Bridge #1 which in the end cost us 2 miles and 40 minutes.

After 27 hours of being at it we finally reached the last aid station around 8:30am, 95.4 miles down, 4.8 miles to go. I used an aid station volunteers phone to call Jori and let her know I was heading towards the finish.

Leaving the final aid station I could hardly believe it was all coming to an end. As Dave and I walked we talked about the many low points, high points, wrong turns, and the insanity that running 100 miles is all about. Many of the moments over the course of the last 4.8 miles seemed surreal.

As we neared the finish I could see Owen and Jori. I could hear them yelling and see the smile on their faces. I will never forget looking at Jori as I heard everyone start to clap. I walked over, grabbed Owen, and asked Jori to walk with me. Whether they know it or not they were with me every step of the way. The two of them are the most important things in my life and I wanted them to share in this moment with me as I crossed the finish line. Official finish time 28hrs, 51mins, and 42secs. I had done it. I finished my first 100 miler.

Thanks You’s…
A lot of people who put this together deserve to be thanked. The Burning River 100 is an awesome, well organized event that all that helped should be proud of. The organizers and volunteers did a fantastic job! Thank you.

Another group of very special thank you’s go out to the following…

Dave Blankenship…man what can I say.....you are a machine Dave. I thank you from the very bottom of my heart for all you did and put up with out there. You were an awesome pacer that if you had not been there I don’t know if I would have made it. I wish you the best of luck in Leadville! (Dave’s running his first 100 miler at the famous Leadville 100 in Colorado on August 21!) I know you are going to hammer it my man!!

Brad, Jess, Carter, Caitlin, and Coby & Darby, Jen, and Bodey thank you for coming and your support. It was awesome to have you there and you all helped more than you’ll know. A very special thanks to Brad and Darb for staying up most the night with Jor and hitting aid stations to see me. Jess & Jen thanks for “manning” the kids back at the ranch.

Jor & O – I love you guys. There is no way in the world that I could have done this without you. I’m the luckiest man alive. Jor you are the most supporting, loving, encouraging person I know. No matter how crazy or ridiculous, you are always helping me to chase my dreams. I know 100%with all my heart that you believe in me. I can’t thank you enough Jor, I love you and O more than anything. I know I have told you this before, but thoughts of you and O kept me going. Whenever I’m out there, alone, trucking down the trail you and O are 99% of what fills this crazy head of mine. You both help me in ways I can’t explain.

Next up in 5 weeks is the whole reason I do what I do…..elk hunting the mountains of Colorado with Pops and I can’t be more excited! After this 100 miler I’m ready and so is Pops. He’s been working hard and I couldn’t be more proud of him. All that work is going to pay off when he puts an arrow through his first elk! Stay tuned, stories from the elk trail coming soon.

See you on the trail-

Burning River Progress...

To check progress click here....look for bib number #148