Elk Hunt Minus Elk

[Sawtooth]

Here are some photos of my recent solo wilderness rifle elk hunt, MINUS any elk in my pack. I got really close to taking my cow the first morning, but the bulls would not get out of the way for a good shot. The subsequent mornings the elk were not in their usual spot, and my still hunting wasn't productive, despite miles of pussyfooting during the day. Nontheless, I had a great time alone, and the weather was wonderful.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/Sawtooth_1963/100_2921.jpg
The hike in started at 9,200 feet at the trailhead. Camp was at 11,000 feet and the hunting grounds were from 11,500-12,000 feet. This is about halfway up to camp.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/Sawtooth_1963/100_2925.jpg
Loaded up with my Leason Pack, Medium Pod on top, one Komperdell C3 trekking pole in my left hand, my right hand on the butt of my rifle in the Gunbearer, and the other trekking pole stashed on the side of the pack. For my use, the Late Season/Medium Pod have proven to be my go-to rig for just about everything. Just right.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/Sawtooth_1963/100_2935.jpg
Here's my Round Spring Camp at 11,000 feet. This time I used my new ParaTarp/Annex setup. Wow, what a great little shelter that proved to be! My small stove rounded out the setup. I use my trekking poles for the tent poles.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/Sawtooth_1963/100_2932.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/Sawtooth_1963/100_2926.jpg

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The view after sunrise on October 27th. Everyone below was blanketed with thick fog. All clear where I was on top at 12,000 feet. I grew up near the bottom right corner of this photo.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/Sawtooth_1963/100_2939.jpg

The right side of this photo was where the elk were skylined on the morning of October 26th. My ambush was set up in the huge rockpile where this pic was taken from the next day, but no elk appeared. Just my luck!

[wolfmen]

Nice trip and pictures. thank you

[SuperBadger]

took me awhile to notice the rifle hanging on the tree. Nice shots, some beautiful scenery.

[Smokepole]

OK sawtooth, I know I could look this up, but what does the PT and annex weigh?

Nice photos, by the way.

[Sawtooth]

Minus poles (I use my trekkers) and pegs, the combined weight of the ParaTarp and Annex is 16.5 oz. I think that's .5 oz. more than what the book says, but my old scale could be off that much. So, let's just say one pound all up.

[Sawtooth]

Now that I think about it, the extra bit of weight probably came from the seam sealer I used on the central seam and pole points on the tarp, and a small patch job. Duh! /images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

[falcon]

When hanging a rifle in a tree, is it barrel up or muzzle down? /images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Nice pics, alpine elk hunting during rifle season ain't for tenderfoots, looks like you had good weather. Sorry no hero pic though.

So many shelter/stove combos.

[Sawtooth]

falcon,

It's barrel down for me (no round in the chamber in camp). The damn pine squirrels drop stuff incessantly, and I'd rather not have to run a patch through the bore every time I turn around.

[Woods Walker]

Nice country and great looking camp. Just how warm can that small stove get the paratarp with annex?

[Sawtooth]

Hot enough that the top (tip) of the trekking pole gets nearly too hot to grab with your bare hand. That's when the stove is glowing right around the collar and down on the sides of the box. In other words...a good cooking fire. After cooking supper, I always throw in some bigger pieces of wood...around 1.5-2" in diameter for a holding fire that I damper down a bit. Just enough to keep my breath from showing and I dont' have to wear anything but my shirt. I keep this kind of fire going from supper up until bedtime (about an hour or so). I typically bring a paperback book for this evening time, especially in the fall and winter because you're in the dark for so long.

[Woods Walker]

Nice. Your set up looks very UL.

[Woods Walker]

Here is my most UL shelter. I posted this over in the Military side under my Pointman BOB thread.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/100_3924.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Daytraderwon/100_3941.jpg

Sure has tons of room but I was cold in the upper 30's. Maybe a real sleeping bag would have helped. /images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif I have to check out the paratarp again with annex to see if it would fit my fat butt for an ER thing if looking to cut back every oz.

Oh better luck next time with your hunt. /images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[Sawtooth]

RE: ParaTarp/Annex interior room...I'm small and fairly flexible for my age. If you use a ParaTarp, you'd better be willing to do a lot of things laying down, like dressing, reading, arranging gear, etc. Anyone over about 5'5" simply cannot reach down into the foot section of the tarp from a sitting position. It's too low. I'm 5'7", and I have to kind of swing over to the side of the tarp before swinging my upper body down into the foot section. And even then it's tight. The only place you can sit up is right in front of the stove. Not a problem for me, but if you're a very big fellow or just not flexible, a SuperTarp/Annex or ParaTipi might be better for you.

[Woods Walker]

I am kinda big. Don’t know about flexibility. Guessing if I don't know that that is not a good sign. Maybe I will beg for a ST this Christmas. Dump the 8x10 tarp and add an annex for winter. Use the hiking poles to save more weight.

I like the paratipi but think the ST would make a better UL tarp shelter than my 8x10.

[Ken]

Nice pic's Sawtooth...ya gotta love these tarps eh??...

[Sawtooth]

Yes, I do.

[Scoutin' Wyo]

Nice pics Saw!! I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that came home with only pictures to show for their efforts.

I need to put the annex on the wish list for my ST. Maybe a small stove instead of my medium stove too. But maybe the bigger stove would be helpfull warming the larger tarp??? So many options, so little $$$.


Brian

[flamingo 7]

Sawtooth,

Thanks for the pics. A great looking camp and good looking country. Good luck.

[Hoogster]

Sawtooth,
Great pics. I love my paratarp/annex. Only used it one time this year. I also have a paratipi and used it twice this year. I know you have lots of outings with your paratipi and a few with your new partarp combo. Could you give us a rundown of your favorite attributes/tips for each based on your experiences?

[OR_Wildfire]

Nice pictures, that is some pretty country you get to play in.

[Sawtooth]

Hoog,

So far, I've only spent around 10 nights in my ParaTarp/Annex since I started using them around the first of October. I really don't feel qualified to comment on the setup until I have a lot more time with it. I also have not had an opportunity to test it in extreme weather, i.e., hard rain, wind, hail, blowing snow. My initial guess would be that if you have the foot end of the tarp pointed into the prevailing wind and conditions STAY that way, you have a pretty weather-resistant shelter. But if the wind reverses on you, you'll have a tough time keeping the precipitation and/or wind out of the shelter because of the gap between the tarp and the annex. Time and experience will tell. My gut feeling right now is that this duo will be a great three season solo shelter for me. My small stove heats it up QUICK, but poses no problem with overheating the annex fabric. I've had a glowing stove with a 12" flame shooting out of the pipe, but no problems with the annex fabric. The first test with a roaring stove made me nervous, and I had my knife at the ready, in case I had to exit the expensive (and quick) way. Now I don't even think twice about cranking the stove. I do believe I'll be taking my ParaTipi out on backcountry skiing overnights this winter, and leave the tarp at home. I plan to use a pulk, so the weight is a non-issue...and a ParaTipi is light anyway. I'll have a lot more to say about the ParaTarp in a year, as it'll really get a workout next spring and all summer. I have some big plans for it.