Goat Country

[steepNdeep]

Work & family has me pinned as a weekend occasional warrior (as usual) & I can only get away a couple times this year. I'll try to make the best of it on goats & muleys!..

1. GOATS: Bored with the usual suspects about a week ago, I decided wet bushwacking pain should be in my future. Talked to a few guys, flew some country on G. Earth & headed for the alpine in hopes of spotting some high mountain critters. My partner was interested in an alpine buck & me a goat.

Fresh snow up top meant for a slippery, soggy trek on the bush stairmaster...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-w.jpg

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-cr.jpg

6 hours later, we made it to the alpine & set up camp...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-c.jpg

[Fella]

This looks like a gooder!

[warnniklz]

OOOOHH SHIT!! I'm in already!

[Husky7mm]

My you like it dirty..... I get it!!

[~T-BONE~]

And......…………?

[steepNdeep]

My you like it dirty..... I get it!!

Well, I don't get to work in the dirt like you, but I definitely like to play in it... ;)

Sorry for the delay, but I had to deal with the boys & made a pot of chanterelle mushroom soup...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1-mush-s.jpg

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Well, I don't get to work in the dirt like you, but I definitely like to play in it... ;)

Sorry for the delay, but I had to deal with the boys & made a pot of chanterelle mushroom soup...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1-mush-s.jpg

That soup looks a tad dry.

[RiverOtter]

That soup looks a tad dry.
I guess you didn't notice the soup stock in the middle of the pile.:-D

[steepNdeep]

e
That soup looks a tad dry.

Hahaa - yeah, that's how we do in the Koot's, Brent... add some venison & what more does a guy need??? 8)

Well, the country looked even better in person than flyin' in Google! It was my partner's 1st hunt in the alpine & he was blown away!! I've even been to the Himilayas & I was lovin' this spot. We were camped in the edge of the timber at the bottom of the scree of a HUGE glacial basin. It was shrouded by a massive glacier that drained down dozens of waterfalls into a small hanging lake. There was ~6" of fresh snow up top & the clouds were starting to crawl down the mountain...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-gl3.jpg


It took me a while to realize just how big this area was. The more I looked the bigger it got. To give you an idea, here is the little area around the tongue of the glacier in the top left corner. That tongue is ~200' tall & there is a lot to glass it that tiny little area ...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-z.jpg


Well, I glassed for ~45 min. & as the clouds enveloped the top of the mountain & the rain began. I never realized it would be so hard to pick out goats in their terrain, but there were dozens of white boulders, snow patches & wet reflecting rocks... Well, I eventually picked some of it apart, found a goat or 2 & went back to finish setting up camp with a smile & made some dinner. Freeze dried lasagna - it ain't the Colander, but as hard-earned as it was, it hit the spot! Sleep came easy despite the big piles of grizz shit in the alpine meadows. Easy access billy goats danced in my head, to the tapping of the rain on my tarp...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-g.jpg

[markt308]

loving this

[HarryToolips]

This is shaping up to be a gooder....

[markathome]

Nice! Can't wait to see/read some more - keep it coming!

[ElliotMoose]

Attention acquired..

[steepNdeep]

Stoked as I was about this spot, after listening to the rain all night, I had my doubts about the next day. We awoke IN the clouds...

http://fluidstudios.tv/1g-mist.jpg

Just like that, the game was over. My partner had commitments & had to be home that night. It rained pretty much the whole way down & we never got another look at the basin...

I doubted we could kill a goat on a bonzai trip first time out, but was willing to try. At least we got a good start & found some great country & the goats. TO BE CONTINUED...

How long do you guys plan to be out there for your goat trips??? I'm thinking 4 - 5 days minimum.

[calvin L]

As always a great read . I see your sleeping quarters are still air born

[Steelpulse]

Nice hunt, I'm using a hammock too, heading next week 2-3 nights for deer, camping at 6000ft was a nice temp last week when I hunted, no tarp clear skies and moonlit night was nice falling asleep under the stars, too bad about the rain

what model hammock is that, the fly as well?

[mr604]

wow..... f#$*ing awesome!! ....all i can say dude is those pictures, your enthusiasm...so so inspiring....the fact you didn't get anything is standard issue for all us hunters on a short trip, but if that is what your pulling off in a couple of days...me thinks your going to be going to have to buy a second freezer in no time....wow...awesome country

[Dash]

Breathtaking photos! I love your sleeping set up too

[MB_Boy]

Hey Steep....with the mention of a blacktail for your buddy, assuming you're chasing in your "newer" back yard. :biggrin: :wink:

[Backwoods]

Beauty man!! Like the camp set up! How much does the set up weigh in at?

[steepNdeep]

Thanks boys! These goat mountains are big & steep. One of my toughest hikes, without meat on my back.

Hey Cal, Seen 2-stroke at all lately? Talked to him the other night & he's been out deep chasin' bulls hard...

Yeah, I only sleep in a 'bear burrito on a string' now! lol I use a Hennessy Expedition hammock. It weighs ~3 lbs. You get them at MEC or order them online here: https://hennessyhammock.com/products/expedition-asym-classic (Cabela's has many knock-offs now) For me it's way more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, you don't have the weight of a thermarest & you don't need flat ground. Two of my hunting partners are converts. My partner on this trip was in a little bivy & didn't sleep well on a small uneven slanted spot & slid off his thermarest all night long... However, hammocks are too cold for winter camping with the air circulating under you. I use a car windshield reflector as a pad in the hammock.

One score that I found for this trip were mini-crampons. They worked awesome, & saved my ass many times going down wet shin-tangle bush & wet logs. I highly recommend them & will use them for late-season muleys & elk... https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5017-316/MICROspikes-Traction-Device

[twoSevenO]

That sleep set up looks nice and light. But I toss and turn a lot and know for a fact i'd get this unbearable desire to turn on my side half way through the night and i don't see that working well in a hammock.
That hike looks miserable though .... Reminds me why i hike into the alpine for the season opener only. That, and the ever increasing chance of zero vis later in the season.

Cool trip.

[calvin L]

I have not talked to old two stroke . I knew he would be out for bulls , I am good. Trying to get to your old stomping ground oct 6

[steepNdeep]

That sleep set up looks nice and light. But I toss and turn a lot and know for a fact i'd get this unbearable desire to turn on my side half way through the night and i don't see that working well in a hammock.
That hike looks miserable though .... Reminds me why i hike into the alpine for the season opener only. That, and the ever increasing chance of zero vis later in the season.

Cool trip.

Thx. Actually, I'm a side sleeper (with a wrecked shoulder) & these hammocks work best on your side with knees bent. Yeah, I'll be watchin' the weather closely for the next ...

Surfin' Youtube for goat hunts I came across this guy on the opposite end of the spectrum. Pretty cool toy he's got, but it's a joke & pretty much helicopter hunting... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_tzrhYfm7w

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Great pics, Dean!
Those hammocks are cool until you try setting up in the alpine. Haha.

[steepNdeep]

Great pics, Dean!
Those hammocks are cool until you try setting up in the alpine. Haha.

Yeah, then you gotta add a thermarest & you're back to square 1.. ;)

That's a helluva a corkscrew in your avatar!! When did you get him?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urkCK85hToA/TqipcnIOXII/AAAAAAAABNg/5kS3QvoZ3Eo/s1600/DSCN2024.JPG

[Iron Sighted]

One score that I found for this trip were mini-crampons. They worked awesome, & saved my ass many times going down wet shin-tangle bush & wet logs. I highly recommend them & will use them for late-season muleys & elk... https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5017-316/MICROspikes-Traction-Device[/QUOTE]

I saw those in your picture earlier in the thread and immediately thought of how much they might help when descending through all the wet, super greasy rhododendron on the steep hills leading up to my goat draw area, looks like a good find.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

That's a helluva a corkscrew in your avatar!! When did you get him?



Id like to tell you when but I can't. They erased my memory after that trip.

[358mag]

Id like to tell you when but I can't. They erased my memory after that trip.
That's what happens Brent , as we get older . Happy Birthday .

[Xenomorph]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urkCK85hToA/TqipcnIOXII/AAAAAAAABNg/5kS3QvoZ3Eo/s1600/DSCN2024.JPG

Beautiful place. What the weight are those hammocks rated for? I'd hate to have it break, then I'd have to catch a bear to cuddle to sleep.