Backpack trip for elk on the cheap!!!

[3arrows]

Make sure your buddies want to go as much as yourself.Go camping on a rainly weekend to test your equipment and THEM.It can be done,have fun.

[Homebru]

Originally posted by 3arrows:
Make sure your buddies want to go as much as yourself.Go camping on a rainly weekend to test your equipment and THEM.It can be done,have fun.

This may seem obvious but, as 3arrows suggests, have your buddies spent nights on the ground with rain when it's in the teens?  It is usually in the 30's in the mountains in September but some years, you're waking up in the teens.  

It's one thing to say "yeah, I'll go" and another thing to say "yeah, I've done that".

homebru

[ksbowman]

Mellon, On our first back in elk hunt I had a pack I bought at TG&Y and my buddy packed in a pillow, can goods and potatoes in a boy scout pack. We packed in 7 miles, stayed 5 days and had a blast. Sure we were young then, but if my old body would tolerate it I'd do it again.

[Scott Barr]

I'm surprised all you guys take a stove at all. Stove and fuel add a lot of weight.  Especially if you add pots. There are so many high energy prepared and dried foods these days. I just leave the stove for car camping.  Take a quality tarp and use as both ground cloth and cover for rain and dew.  Stay light.  Carry much weight all day and it is easy to give stuff up.

[old_goat2]

Here is link to Gil's post, I have it bookmarked!

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=118711#000000

[Wudstix]

All of good advive here, go with gear your comfortable with and test you and your buddies to make sure there are minimal surprises.