30 years ago this week....

[Sitkaspruce]

something great happened....stay tuned!!

***SPOILER ALERT, THIS IS HUNTING STORY, not a Political, COVID, Vaccination story***

Way back in 1991, four redneck twenty something fishing guides from the Island came up with this hair brain idea to climb mountains and shoot a sheep. Three if us were somewhat experienced blacktail/Mule deer hunters and one was a complete newbie. We were sitting around the kitchen table that spring BS’ing about the usual stuff when one of us, not sure who, came up with the idea that we drive 26 hours, catch a plane and shoot some sheep.

After picking a bunch of peoples brains on the 5 W’s – Where – to go?, When – to go?, What – to bring, Who – to fly with and most importantly WHY??, we decided on a location, time, who to fly with and a big reason to go.

September 21, we loaded up two trucks and headed to the mainland and beyond…..

We drove all night and arrived in Fort Nelly the next afternoon. We saw the sign for cold beer and stripers, so we stopped. The Fort Nelson Hotel gave us two rooms, some entertainment and a view of the North that none of us had seen before. After the drive, we grabbed showers and headed for the entertainment. While we were drinking cold beer and waiting for burgers and fries, the “entertainment” came on stage. We all had our jaws hit the floor……She was one of the most beautiful we had (and have) ever seen.

Dinner arrived while the “entertainment” was wrapping up. Then something happened that none of us were aware of……If any one can remember back in those day, the FNH had a door that opened up to the side street, with a crosswalk,, the highway, with a crosswalk and most importantly, the Trappers Den (I think that was what it was caller…it was 30 years ago!!). After the show, the room emptied except for us. Everyone went over the Den for the next show there. 30 minutes at each place. While we were sitting there wonder what the hell was going on and enjoying our burgers, the “entertainment” came into the room, walked over and sat down….Holly Sh*t, all of us were tongue tied. Finally we stopped staring and got to talking. Long story short, she was a second-year nursing student that said she made way more money doing the northern tour than back on the Coast. She would do a couple weeks up North and then go back to school. She left us just as the crowd came back in. We watched one more show and headed off to bed, dreaming of either sheep or a the striper!

The next day, we found out we had to drive north of town to catch the plane, so we did a last minute check and headed out of town. We arrived at the lake and unloaded two trucks worth of stuff. Remember we had never done this before….so there was LOTS of stuff. Urs stared at all the stuff we had and shrugged his shoulders and said in his accented voice, lets try to see if it all fits. Well it almost all did. A few things stayed behind. Apparently, weight was not an issue!!!

Off we went and man was it a flight!! We saw gin clear rivers, mountains, old burns along with elk, moose and goats. Too soon we were at our lake. We unloaded all of our stuff while we BS’d with three hunters who were flying out. They had seen and shot nothing…. not good news. Soon the plane was off, and we were standing around going WTF do we do now!!!

We decide that two would head straight up and two if us would walk along the lake to the other end then head up. I drew the walk along the beach straw along with the newbie. Off we went!!

Along the way, we both realized that we had WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!!! So, when we made camp at the other end of the lake, we tore our packs apart. We created a yes, no and maybe pile and when we got up the next morning and left camp, there was two, yes two garbage bags of stuff left hanging in a tree. Remember, we were all newbies at this, so we packed for every possible scenario…including bring the kitchen sink.

Back then there was no SITKA, KUIU, Stone Glacier or all the other light weight back packing gear we have now! So, we were wearing Stanfields, wool pants, jeans, cotton shirts, HH heavy rubber rain gear and non gore text heavy leather boots made by Viberg. Our stoves were white gas Coleman Peak 1’s and our cooking gear was aluminum pots and pans. Packs were a mix of Camptrails and Gregory; sleeping was thermarests and 5-7 lbs sleeping bags. Food was boil in a bag, trail mix, itchiban soups and those just add water oatmeal just to name a few. We guessed our packs were 80 lbs+ when we set off, we figure we knocked it down to 50 when we left the first camp. Who needs underwear, socks and a pair of jeans!! We’re hunting!!

Cont.

[Sitkaspruce]

Anyways off we go and as we get down to the lake, we see three moose feeding in the lake. Cool, but them we see something on the beach; a grizzly, a big grizzly, and it was walking down the lake shore towards us and the only tag was up in the mountains….. We moved back off the beach and watched the bear walk by us at 20 yards. That was cool and the newbie was shaking like a dog sh*tting razor blades!!

We started up, when we heard an elk bugle above us. Newbie froze and asked what was that!!

I pulled out my cow elk call and gave a couple chirps and here he came. He stopped about 30 yards from us screaming and thrashing brush. We had elk tags, but it is 6 pt. and the best we could count was 5. Soon he got tied of the no see em cow and walked away. Not bad, first real day, 9 am and we had seen three moose, a grizz and a bull elk. The rest of the day was spent hiking up and up and up. At tree line we found a flat spot and set up camp for the night; we were drained and exhausted and slept like dead that night.

The next day, the newbie was not sure he wanted to keep going up. He had blisters, was stiff and still tired. And I was not far behind!! Since were in sheep country, we should at least look around, so we hiked up to a saddle and spent some of the day glassing and looking for sheep. We saw moose and goats but no sheep. We also saw two of the biggest mule deer bucks I had ever seen; both had to be 350 lbs.+ and over 180. We had tags, but they didn’t open until November.

https://i.postimg.cc/K8P2V04x/Valley-2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/FFCsgCk6/Hiking-the-valley.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Sitkaspruce]

The next day, we decided to head back down as newbie wasn’t feeling good. On the way down, we chased some elk but couldn’t seal the deal. Once back at the lake, we headed to the second lake we had seen in the distance when we were higher up. Along the way, we found an old cabin that looked dry and comfortable. So, we decided to make this our base camp and see what was around.

The next day, I headed up a valley and saw 10-12 ewes and lambs and a couple banana rams. That afternoon I glassed the other side of the lake. I found some ewes and three rams, two that looked good. But they could have been on the moon because they were across the lake, and we had no boat. It would have been an all-day hike with a big river crossing to get to them. So, all I could do is watch.

The next day I went for another hike and saw more young sheep, but no legal rams. When I got back, newbie let me know that he had found a canoe and a horse, yes, a horse. It was hobbled and had a big bell on its neck. It would follow him around as he walked along the beach but would not allow him to approach.

The next day, day 6, I went for another walk. I set up the spotting scope and was glassing the hills above the camp when something dark caught my eye. A check with the scope showed….A RAM!! At least I think it was with the old Spacemaster 15x45 spotting scope at 45 power!! Then I noted another RAM!! Both were feeding in an open bowl that was accessible from below. I quickly packed up and ran back down to camp. I told newbie what I had seen, and he got these big eyes and asked What Do We Do???? I looked at him with this WTF do you mean??? Grab your pack, your gun and bino’s and lets go!! So off we went.

Cont.

[Sitkaspruce]

About halfway up, on an rocky outcropping, we stopped to grab our breath and see if we could still spot them. I set up the scope and soon had them focused. Newbie took a look; you could see the energy surging through him. Now you could see that they were both mature rams, although still not sure that if they were full curl. No 8 years back then. On the way up, while hiking through some timber, we came across a spring that filled a small pool before heading down hill. We topped up and head up. Two hours later we broke out of the timber. We found a spot to settle down and to see if we could figure out where we were. Once we figured out that we had come out exactly where we wanted to, we planned our next move.

We snuck up to a small ridge and peaked over the top…..nothing, we glassed and glassed and saw nothing. Then I caught movement above and across the bowl from us. We waited and glassed and glassed. Then I saw the movement again and focus on it. Then I saw what it was. It was the top of the horns of a ram that was feeding in a small depression in the bowl. We searched and searched for the other ram but could not find it. We had agreed that who ever spotted the animal would be the shooter. I told newbie to stay in place and keep an eye out for the other ram while I would sneak over the ridge and drop down and sneak up to the next one. I dropped my pack and slipped over with just my bino’s and gun.

I didn't take many pictures, but I managed to take this one, which I don't really remember why. Ram is supposed to be just over the ridge in front of me.....

https://i.postimg.cc/XJH3LXq5/Mountains-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[smallfry14]

This is F'n awesome ! looking forward to the rest 8-)

[huntingfamily]

Oooweee! Keep er goin...

[Sitkaspruce]

I got to the next ridge and took a few minutes to settle down. The wind was blowing straight across the bowl and into my face. Then I did something that I still cannot explain to anyone. I slipped off my boots…… and crept up to the ridge. I peaked over and immediately saw the dark-haired ram about 250 yards across and slightly above me. I put the bino’s on him and saw what I was looking for; full curl with lamb tips. I grabbed one of my boots to put my gun on (maybe that is why I took them off…..), settled in, put the cross hairs behind the shoulder and squeezed the trigger. At the shot the ram dropped and started rolling down the slope. Yes!!! Holly shit I just shot a Stone Ram!!!!

I looked back to see newbie running down the hill towards me, a serious look on his face. I looked back at my ram to see it trying to get back up, so I settled down again and put another one into its chest and it dropped. Then newbie crashed down beside me and said there was two other rams…..WHAT!!! I had tunnel vision on my ram and didn’t see the others. I quickly looked to find the others; I found one that was making its way across the bowl to the far ridge. A quick look determined that this ram was HEAVY and broomed off!! He was walking three quarters away and we could not tell if he was full curl. Newbie then said what about the other one. He was standing above where my ram was originally standing just looking around. I told newbie to get settled on this one and we would see if he was legal. He settled in, while I used my boot….again as a rest, to watch this other ram through my binos. After a couple minutes, newbie asked what I thought, still couldn’t tell. Then the ram turned broadside and dropped his head down to feed; I saw horn well above the bridge of the nose and said yes he was legal. It seemed newbie shot at the word yes as his shot caught me off guard!! I watched the ram and it was still standing with its head up. Did he miss??

Then I heard cursing and looked over to see newbie fiddling with his gun! He said it was jammed….so I slide mine over to him and told him to hold dead on. As he was getting ready, I watched the rams front legs buckle and he slide down the slope….Holly Double Shit!!…two stone rams down!!

We sat there in silence for what seemed like an hour, all you could hear was our breathing. Then we both looked at each other and started to laugh and giggle like little girls!! We watched both rams, plus the big broomed of bugger who now stood broadside at 350 yards and gave us both a regal stare and showed us that he too was legal, before he sauntered over the ridge and out of our lives!!!

* sorry I can no longer find the couple field photos I took. Lots has happened in 30 years!!

[Sitkaspruce]

Newbie got his gun sorted out; apparently, in his haste to rechamber, he had short stroked the bolt, which caused it to jam! I put my boots back on….with a weird look from newbie, then walked down and across to where my ram was. He was dark caped, full curl ram with lamb tips breaking about 2.5” above the bridge. I was ecstatic!!

We then walked up to newbies and as we got closer, I was starting to see just how big he was. When newbie picked up his head and turned it sideways…..WOW!! he was a stud ram!! Light caped, light coloured horns that dropped way down below the jaw and back up to break the bridge by an easy 3+”!

We quickly dressed and caped the rams and took the hinds, back straps and tenderloin in the packs and headed back down….yes we left the horns, cape and fronts buried in some rock as we were both spent from the hike up and excitement of the hunt. Dumb, rookie mistake!! Darkness overcame us as we descended the mountain. Old, D Cell flashlights came on as we made our way down. Soon, newbie and I were discussing how we were not doing that well and that we should take a break, but we were still on a steep slope. So, with encouragement to each other, we kept going. As anyone knows hiking downhill with any significant weight is a real leg burner, especially to us islanders who are used to living and working at sea level, quite literally.

As we were stumbling around in the dark, we came across a beautiful site….remember that spring we hit on the way up…well we stumbled upon it on our way back down. We crashed beside it, I made a small fire and newbie pulled out this huge box of semi sweet chocolate (the Bakers kind used for cooking). We drank water, ate chocolate and sat around the fire. Half an hour later, newbie says he feels better and he wants to keep going. I thought we were spending the night there, but he was ready to go. Fire out, water filled up and packs on our back, off we go.

There was a moon that night and when we broke out onto one of the open bluffs, it was magical to see the moon reflecting off the water in the dark! It gave us some more encouragement and we soon made it to the horse trail and onto the cabin. We quickly hung the meat high in the trees and then grabbed the whiskey bottle and had a toast at 0230 (that 2:30 am for all of you that can’t tell real time….:p). We had left to chase the sheep at 1500 (3 pm) and 11.5 hours later were back at the cabin. We were spent like a spawned salmon. We hit the fart sack and passed out fast.

[RE1960]

Fantastic story !!

[whitlers]

Wow great story. Keep it up!

[Sitkaspruce]

The next morning we woke up, grabbed some oatmeal for breakfast and headed back up….remember we still had our sheep up there. With no drive, a lack of sleep and being tired from the night before, it took us an extra hour to reach the sheep.

We studied the kill site and where we had stashed the sheep and saw nothing but ravens, no bears and no wolves. We took our time getting our packs loaded and set up because we now had a ram head and cape as well as the front quarters, rib and neck meat and our gear to pack out. Then we took our time heading down. I think we started with 200 yards, then rest, then it went to 100 yards and rest. Legs burning, lungs screaming and feet hurting, we stumbled back to camp late that afternoon. We finally had time to admire the rams.

My Ram

https://i.postimg.cc/htWnpkD2/Ram-on-pack.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Newbie's Ram

https://i.postimg.cc/X7TjtZ8c/Ian-ram.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/Y9qMQQrk/Ken-sheep.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/RZgNyCWM/Cabin-shot-2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Note how small the door is, makes it tough for a bear to push the door in as they can't stand up and use their full weight.

We were sore but it was fully worth it!! We were on cloud nine!! I went to the river beside camp and soaked my feet for an hour in the cold water; it really helped. We ate like kings that night!! Sheep tenderloin with KD and Crown!! To this day, that was the best wild game I have ever had, and it was extra special because of the accomplishments we had done!

[Sitkaspruce]

The next day we decided to see if that canoe found earlier would float…..we packed every thing up and hiked to the canoe. We gave the canoe a once over and could not see any gapping holes. We loaded it and climbed in…..did I mention that it came without paddles, so we used a couple small logs to paddle/push our way along the lake.

https://i.postimg.cc/6QK95DF8/Canoe.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The wind was at our back and that helped. It also did leak, quite a bit, so we took turns paddling while the other bailed. It was about 4k back to our main camp and it took us a few hours to get there.

When we arrived, we saw that our partners had been back; there was a ram head sitting in the lake!! THREE RAMS!! And as we approached camp, there was a nice bill hanging in a tree. Three rams AND a goat! What a hunt!!

https://i.postimg.cc/prmv6x56/Rams-on-the-beach.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Sitkaspruce]

As were setting up our tent and getting things sorted out, the other two came back after chasing elk behind camp. It was great reunion! Stories were told and retold and got bigger and funnier as the level of the bottles got lower!!!.

The other two had headed straight up and soon burned themselves out, so as they broke out into alpine, the hastily made camp and crashed out, only to wake up the next morning 10’ down the slope. They had set up on what they thought was flat ground, but apparently it wasn’t! They were soon spotting animals and that afternoon spotted a group of rams, with a couple looking good. They bedded them and made plans for the next day. Well, as most sheep hunters will know, they are not always where you left them. They had disappeared. Later that day, they found another group and managed to put the stock on a legal ram and made a one shot kill. RAM DOWN!!

The next day, as they were making their way back down, they came into a kind of box canyon and in that canyon was a goat, a really nice billy. So packs were shed, bino’s and guns were grabbed and off they went. They had to wait until the billy had fed into an area they could access and one shot, a small tumble and they had a goat down!!

[dru88]

Great story thanks for sharing

[Sitkaspruce]

The only hunter without a ram wanted to head back up to see of we could find one more. So, the next morning and hungover, three of us packed up enough stuff to over night and headed/stumbled our way back up. Newbie stayed back at camp to fish and relax and work on the capes…..probably slept all day the bugger!!

We reached the top later that afternoon and immediately spotted sheep in a hanging valley across from us. We studied them for an hour and determined that at least one ram needed further investigation. We crossed the valley and dropped all our camping stuff at the small creek, then worked our way up a side valley so that we could come out parallel to where the sheep were. It all worked out until we couldn’t find the sheep. We looked and looked and couldn’t find one of the 8 sheep we had seen. As my buddy leaned out further to see up the valley, all hell exploded below us. Sheep seem to come out of the ground in front of us. Immediately we found the ram and as he stopped about 200 yards away after a loud whistle, we could see he was full curl. Then something happened that I didn’t believe could and I never saw again, my buddy flat out missed!! And that was all that was needed to put the burners to the ram as he turned and ran out over the ridge. I will never forget that scene as I watched the ram skyline 600+yards away and you could see his flare! My buddy came up to us and we all started laughing…..he had given himself the Leupold Kiss…..blood was streaming down his face!! We patched him up and headed back to spike camp for some boil in a bag goodness and Crown!

https://i.postimg.cc/yYJ6fhF8/Glassing-the-valley.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/KcWxgKdS/Valley-3.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/NFZthV1f/Valley-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Camp that night. Tent cover, thermarests and sleeping bags. The next morning we woke up to a good size bull caribou walking past or spike camp

https://i.postimg.cc/jdJK6xbW/Spike-camp.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Sitkaspruce]

The next day, we packed up and headed back to base camp. When we got back, Newbie had a story to tell.

He woke up that morning and was working around camp when he noticed a chocolate brown black bear walking down the beach WITH A SET OF HORNS in his mouth!! He grabs his gun, yells at the bear and when it turns, he drops it! Then he realizes that not one, BUT TWO sets of horns are missing!! The ones the bear has and another set. See, we had again made a rookie mistake and had left the horns in the lake, letting the small fish and water loosen up the flesh on the skull, not thinking about the bears!!!

Now he has a dilemma; go look for the other set of horns or skin the bear. And what to do with the bear carcass 100 yards from camp! When we get back, he had the bear skinned out (he had shot a big black bear that spring and kind of knew what he was doing…kind of), some of the choice meat hung and the carcass dragged down the beach further…..but no horns had been found! And they were from my sheep!! SHIT!!! So we grabbed some food and set out in search of the missing horns. Long story short, scope face was walking the timber when he noticed a few Whiskey Jacks flying in and out of a clump of bush, so he walked over and low and behold, there sat my horns no worse for wear other than the nose was crunched up.

The rest of the day was spent packing up, hanging everything higher in the trees, fishing and unwinding.
The next day we watched the plan come, skip across some waves and finally settle in. Urs was shocked to see three stone rams, a goat and bear on the beach ready to be picked up.
The flight out was anti climatic, other than the rear door popping open while in flight, and too soon we were back to civilization! A quick stop at the FNH to scarf back a big greasy burger and ice cold beer before we hit the road for the drive back to the Island and real life!!

[Sitkaspruce]

Epilogue: For four rookie sheep hunters, we not only did very well, but we survived with just a scope kiss!! We learned a lot on that trip, and it really prepared us for our future adventures. Remember that stuff we hung in the trees back in day two, well it was left there as we completely forgot about it! So if someone else was wondering around in the country in 91 and found some socks, underware, jeans size 34 and XL tee shirts and they fit you....your welcome:smile:!

There is not a lot of pictures as we video taped the trip with a VHS video camera, which must have weighted 4-5 lbs. I have not had the tape put on a drive yet but will have to do it at some time, it’s a pretty cool 1.5 hour video of an amazing hunt!! Way before it became a "thing" to sell to the public, we were taping hunts and fishing trips for our own and friends enjoyment.

For anyone who cares, Newbie’s ram was 42.5x39, mine was 37.5x37.5 and goat killers was 35x36, the goat was 9 ¾ both sides and the bear was 5.5’ chocolate cream. Guns were: Newbie – 06, Scopeface - 300 Weatherby, Goat killer - 7 mm Rem mag and I was shooting a 270 Win with 140 gr Hornady SPBT.

This trip opened the door to discovering the north and hunting the animals that live there. We went north for 16 years; sheep, goats, moose, elk, caribou and grizzly were chased and sometimes killed in our adventures! Those will be for other stories later!

This is a rather long story that I hope you enjoyed. There was too much fun to condense into a short few lines!!

Cheers

SS

[tinhorse]

Can't wait for the ending and hopefully pics of the horns and capes you left on the hill..

[huntingfamily]

Fantastic story! Great hunt with a bunch of buddies. Thanks for sharing!

[whitlers]

Wow. That was one of the best stories I have read on here. Thanks for sharing!

[browningboy]

Really enjoyed your stories, and I love looking at old pics like that, thanks for bringing me back! Loved it

[webley]

I am an old man now but you brought back some good memories for me. I have been in there a few times and recognize all the places on your pictures. It really is a nice place, back then not many people got to go in there and it was very peaceful except when the guide came through with his clients, when we bumped into them we would have a chit chat and a lot of his American clients were in aw of the place. anyway thanks for the memories. Steve!

[ElectricDyck]

Awesome story of epic adventure!

[LBM]

Great rams oh the old days when you could see the quantity and quality of animals, cant beleive no one had a trapper nelson pack.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Great share SS!
Thanks for taking us back with you!

30 years…wow! Time sure does fly, eh?
Surprised you’re not back celebrating in those same mountains right now!

Great story!


SSS

[Kopper]

What a trip down memory lane.
Great story, great rams, good stuff.

[835]

That was a Wicked Read Ken.
honestly in my life that is one of my regrets. Never having put that together. I went on 2 large road trips up north fishing, but never hunting. Not in the cards for me now.
Way to not get killed on the first go! lol..

[boxhitch]

well done, great tale of olden times )
Beauty rams
I still have a pair of the same German army surplus wool pants that Newbie wore
Wonder if anyone ever sang a song of 'finding a Horse With No Name and a bell

[Knute]

Great share, thanks for the story and pics.

30 years but the memories are probably still fresh, epic!

[northof49]

Awesome memories….thanks for taking us back. Really enjoyed that. Back in the day I frequently used to take my boots off to stalk in close on deer with my bow…..but that wasn’t on mountain top on rocks. Stealth mode!! epic :)

[BCHunterFSJ]

What a tremendous hunt and story! Truly epic...

[The Hermit]

Now that was a good story! Thanks

[IronNoggin]

... This is a rather long story that I hope you enjoyed. There was too much fun to condense into a short few lines!!

Epic read Ken! Awesome in fact!
Takes right back to the Good Old Days here, and certainly is a reflection of what real hunting / hunters are all about.

Thanks for sharing this! Made my day!

Cheers,
Nog

[Patman7]

Awesome, thank you very much! Back in 93 my brother and I also killed 2 beauty rams in the upper Muskwa area, reminds me alot of what you guys did when we were young, determined and strong! Thanks again!

[J_T]

Great story. A good hunt story doesn't have to be current. Something for all of us, that are hesitant to share, to remember.

[MB_Boy]

Awesome story Ken.....thanks for taking us along!!

[wideopenthrottle]

thanks so much for taking us on that adventure..epic

p.s. 30 years ago this week (Sept 23) I started with my current employer...it has also been an adventure hehehe

[Leaseman]

Thanks for sharing Ken, have enjoyed many of your stories!!

Take care buddy!8-)

[kennyj]

Awesome story, really enjoyed it!
kenny

[HarryToolips]

Great writeup and pics, great thinking using your boot as a rest, congrats and thanks for posting....

[RackStar]

Very epic story. Thanks for sharing

[srupp]

Hmm wouldn't have expected anything less Ken..well done and shared.
Thank you.wonderful adventure..the trophies although wonderful truly are secondary to the adventure.
Cheers
Steven

[kodeman]

Awesome..just awesome. Thanks for sharing the story

[Jarrett]

Thanks for sharing - great story and photos!

[SaltPepperGarlic]

Awesome experience. Been hunting for over 12 years now and just joined the forum. Don't have a joke for my first post, so instead I just wanna say thx for sharing this experience with all of us.

[250 sav]

Nice write up. Thanks for sharing!

[headhunter2]

Brings back memories. Great story, great hunt.

[Sitkaspruce]

Thanks to all for the comments! We need more of this content!


I am an old man now but you brought back some good memories for me. I have been in there a few times and recognize all the places on your pictures. It really is a nice place, back then not many people got to go in there and it was very peaceful except when the guide came through with his clients, when we bumped into them we would have a chit chat and a lot of his American clients were in aw of the place. anyway thanks for the memories. Steve!

Hey Steve, thanks for comment. You remined me of another time we were in there and we could here this loud voice coming down the rail...Whoa Boy, Whoa Horse, Nice Horse being repeated over and over. Finally the guide came down the trail with two "Clients" one of who doing the yelling. He was leaning over the saddle and trying to hang on to the reins as close as he could to the horses head The guide had the biggest grin on his face and as we stopped to chat, he turned to client and said "either get off the horse and walk or shut up!!" I will never forget that! The whole time he was smiling!


Great share SS!
Thanks for taking us back with you!

30 years…wow! Time sure does fly, eh?
Surprised you’re not back celebrating in those same mountains right now!

Great story!


SSS

Thanks Brent, time sure does fly!! It just seems like yesterday and that sheep will always be remembered for not only being the first, but also for being the driver to do more!! It really pushed me to want to explore the North!! As for going back, the old knees will not let me go back, at least not up. Maybe sideways. I have wanted to and might still, but right now it is not in the cards.




well done, great tale of olden times )
Beauty rams
I still have a pair of the same German army surplus wool pants that Newbie wore
Wonder if anyone ever sang a song of 'finding a Horse With No Name and a bell

Thanks Boxhitch for reminding

A couple other things I forgot to mention

The Horse! It seemed that it was hobbled but would not let us get close. When we left with the canoe, it was standing on the beach watching us. The next year, I ran onto the G/O at the time and asked him about the horse. He told me that it had come up lame while back in the mountains and they made the decision that it would not survive the pack trip out. So the put a big loud cow bell around it's neck and left it to fend for itself. The next spring they went in to do some clean up and there was the horse, no worse for wear, but very skittish at first. The horse soon joined the pack and was back to packing or being rid. The bell is supposedly well known to the preds of the valley and they hoped that it would keep the wolves at bay, which apparently it did!

Lack a Nookie Lodge was a great place to stay when we needed to....But it had the biggest population of mice!! And we had no traps. Every nigh we would get woke up to them fighting, trying to dig into our stash of food or them running across your face! It was an adventure just to get sleep!!

Glad everyone is enjoying the old story!

Cheers

SS

[Treed]

What an amazing adventure! I loved every minute of it. It would be great as a short storey in a book of hunting tales.

[Nimrod]

Great story and well written.
really enjoyed that.

[LBM]

Another thing found interesting was the mule deer, when in the muskwa in the early 80s seen some very nice bucks in there as well.

[Getbent]

Thanks for the share! Scope face…lol

[Leaseman]

Brings back memories of all the old threads on hunting.....sure was some great stories.

[Steve W]

A well told story. Thanks for taking the time to tell it.

[nature girl]

A great story.
You got to see some boobies. And you got some horn. You cant ask for anything better then that.

[Alpine Hunter]

What an awesome story. Very impressive you remember it in such detail after 30 years. I believe this is Urs’s 40th year flying up there which is also an impressive feat. Thanks for taking the time to share that with us and for taking such great photos when it wasn’t all that common to do so.

[4blade]

thanx great read

[HuntNmemories]

thanks for sharing your memories, it brought back some of mine too
cheers

[twoSevenO]

Amazing read. Just finally had the time to read it all. Sounds like you guys worked hard AND had lady luck on your side to accomplish so much in one trip.

Truly a fantastic experience. Just amazing.

Thanks so much for sharing with us!!!

[albravo2]

Fantastic story! Thanks for sharing.

[gcreek]

We’ll come on, the rest?

[robertmcallan]

thanks for the story it was a great read

[todbartell]

awesome story Ken, thanks for sharing!

[Greenthumbed]

Thanks for the great story!

[scttlp86]

Great story!! Thank you for bringing us along on memory lane

[BrianS]

Wow!! What a great hunting story. Had some good laughs ( scope face ) shit that would not feel good. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.