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On top of the world

Aug 3: woke up at 5:30, saddled the horses at 9:00 and left camp heading for the next valley over. We stopped to glass as it started to open up. RAMS! It was a small band but there were a couple in there that were legal so we took out the spotting scope for a closer look. We decided on how we were going to make our stalk, tied up the horses and headed up the mountain. Half way up we stopped to make sure the rams were still in the same spot, so I opened my pack to make sure the video camera would be ready. I stuffed the other contents back in the bag but failed to notice that my digital camera had rolled down the hill and into some bushes. The rams had bedded and we continued up the mountain, which got steeper and my pack got heavier. At one point I was ready to drop the pack and just carry on with my rifle. We finally got where we wanted to be elevation wise (almost the top), then headed up the valley. The closest we could get was 138 yards, so I started the video camera, handed it to George, then got the Brno rested. The ram was bedded facing away from me and slightly quartering away. I asked George if he had the sheep framed in the flip out view finder and he confirmed. I settled in and set the trigger. To rifle went off and I heard the "THWACK" of the Hornady 139 gr hitting home. The ram stayed down but then suddenly stumbed up and turned towards me, not offering a shot. He then staggered over the hill and started to roll and cartwheel at least 150 yards down into a rocky chute which was fed by a spring. We made our way down to the ram, as one of his buddies stuck around and watched. All right, picture time. Where the hell is my camera? I'm pissed off. We take some video and hopefully I can take an image from one of the frames. We carefully cape and debone the ram on a small landing, then I pack out the meat, cape and head while George takes everything else. It is a slow go but we safely reached the bottom and the horses. Then it started to hail. Since we had not taken a pack horse, my pack was cinched into the saddle, and I led the horse back to camp, but lost my walking sticks that were on my pack on the way. At camp the head and cape goes into a game bag and I pull it up into a tree. Hopefully we will not get any unwanted visitors tonight. The meat is put into a pack box and we put it into the creek. I cut the tenderloin into medallions and fry it up with butter, pepper and garlic salt. It is suprisingly tender and tastes fantastic. I get to eat the whole thing as George is a vegitarian (he gives all his meat away). I get out the video camera to watch the footage and George, who had not been wearing his glasses, filmed the bench beside the one the rams were on. I laugh and give him a hard time. George spots a black wolf running up a ridge, and he is big and fast; probably on the lookout for sheep and caribou. Sleep comes easy.

Pics with my back up camera

Aug 4: Had a good sleep in. I got up and there was quite a bit of frost outside. We stayed in camp the whole day. I finished caping the head, turned the ears, lips, and nose. The big excitement of the day was when a 1200 lbs bison walked into camp without being heard. I was fleshing the cape, and when I turned to throw the bits of meat into the fire, there on the other side of the fire at 20' stood a bison bull staring at me. George was basking in the sun another 20' from me (without his glasses) and when I wispered his name and he looked up, all he saw was a big, dark, hairy thing. He jumped pretty good! The bull trotted off through the horses. We are expecting the other guys back in a day or two.

Close up

Aug 5: Another morning of frost. We were about to head out on foot at 9:00 when Aaron walked into camp. Curtis had shot a ram the previous day but they had to spend the night on the mountain. He did not get it with his bow though, but this country is not that suited for bow hunting. I help Curtis turn his cape and we put his meat into another packbox. George and Aaron will head out tomorrow with the horses.

More bison

Aug 6: The guys head out while Curtis and I look after the horses and cut firewood. After lunch we highline the horses and head out to find my camera. We go up and over instead of around, and find a beautifal bowl and a caribou. I get to where I took my shot, and then back track to where I thought we had stopped to check on the rams. There's my camera. We head down and walk the trail back to camp and Curtis finds one of the walking sticks. The foam grips had been gnawed on but were still alright. We get back to camp and an hour later George and Aaron show up. They had found some legal rams but nothing special. They had left the horses ground tied and hobbled on top of the mountain while they had glassed, but when they returned, the horses were gone. They finally caught up with them about 1.5 km from camp. That night we had a backstrap bbq'ed over the coals and the clear sky started to dance with the northern lights.

Aug 7: G & A leave again to go up the valley where I had taken my ram. C & I lounge and nap back at camp. The guys return without seeing anything. It is decided to head out tomorrow.

Packed up

Aug 8: We break camp and head out for the lake to pick up our caches of goods. When we get there, we spot a band of goats skylined. We continue and walk out about 30 km in eleven hours. I'm tired but I had a great trip. I hope to go back there for moose but I know this fall is out of the question.

Heading out

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It's the journey, not the destination.