tahr and chamois quest 2013

[Al Kidner]

Do you guys recommend the trekking poles? Always thought of getting maybe one for those steep climbs...


AK.

[chinook907]

Those boulders look awesome. Looks like a neat trip, thanks for the pics.  What are the temps like ?

[ozy clint]

Al,
absolutely we recommend trekking poles. i'd pack it before my bow. it gets more use. HA HA.
they allow you to set you foot down with control instead of taking a step and hoping you don't slip or having a rock move etc. especially with heavy packs on.

bear with me guys. photobucket doesn't seem to be loading my pics. just says it's loading for hours on end with no result. hopefully mark can keep the thread ticking along.

Waiting for more, Clint! Looks like a great adventure already, and the hunting has not even started yet.

Bisch

[John146]

Clint & Mark,
Thanks for sharing this adventure! This is Hard Core Hunting for sure. Can't wait for more.

PS. I am using imgur instead of photobucket and so far very pleased.Might want to try.

[tomcat8910]

I keep looking for updates!

[Marksman Quivers]

After our fern camp we set of again up the creek not knowing what obstacles lay ahead.
And obstacles there were a plenty!!!!!

We made ok progress, then the creek gorged out becoming impassable waterfalls, we started to try and negotiate through them but the reality soon kicked in that it would be a suicide mission.
We decided to take the next best option, a small side creek/slip which was going the same way we were heading ....up.

After climbing to the top of the slip where it entered the bush we decided that's where we were going to have to go. It was even a struggle just getting out of this sheer sided creek and into the bush with a full pack on.
One saving grace at this point was that I filled my water bladder up with 3 litres of crystal clear h20, this would be our only water for the next 1.5 days.

 

 

We had to put our crampons into use at this point on the loose leaf litter and sliding wet mud, they instantly warranted the cost and 600 grams(1.33 lbs) of weight they added to our packs.

 

Looking down.

As we were on a knife edge spur with sides heading straight down to the rocky creek below, the chances of stopping with a loaded pack pulling you down would be pretty slim. the photos don't do it justice. it was quite fatiguing mentally and physically.

[coaster500]

Some rough stuff!!!

Hope it opens up a bit for you???

 

[Hummer3T]

Cool adventure, keep it coming!

[Shinken]

Holy Cow Batman - CRAMPONS - to get up the hill!

       

Keep it comin'!

This is AWESOME stuff!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[mmgrode]

Keep it coming, fellas!

"The photos don't do it justice."  That's the truth! That westland country is formidible and intimidating...and soggy! I'm suprised to hear you fellas had trouble finding water in the westland! Takes a ton of effort to get anywhere in that bush.  You really have to see it to believe it!

Which Kifaru tarp/tent did you guys utilize? Did you like it/how did it perform? Considering buying or sewing up a similar one of those myself. Looking forward to the rest!!

Cheers, Matt

[Cyclic-Rivers]

You guys are doing a great job so far, Keep it up.  Great Photos.        

[gringol]

Great photos, guys.  I never remember to take photos of the journey, but that's really the way to tell the story.  Thanks for taking the time to stop and snap a few.

Better you guys than me!!!!! Tuned in and waiting for  more.

Bisch

[ozy clint]

mark has my pics on CD now. he will post them for me till i get them going myself again.

the instant we put the crampons on and started climbing we both looked at each other and without saying a word knew that the other guy was thinking, "why haven't we used these before?" and "i'll will never come here again without these!"
i love crampons!

[Wolfkiss]

Know what you mean, i remember thinking the same first time i used them, felt like i could walk up a wall. Great Post Clint, looking forward to it paning out.

[ron w]

That terrain is just incredible.....it's like watching a hunting show and Lord of the Rings at the same time!!

[Marksman Quivers]

Originally posted by mmgrode:


Which Kifaru tarp/tent did you guys utilize? Did you like it/how did it perform? Considering buying or sewing up a similar one of those myself. Looking forward to the rest!!

Cheers, Matt

Hi Matt, We were using my SuperTarp, it is a very flexible shelter you will see all through this story the different combinations we used it in, and if you were to add the annex to it you can make it even more usable in cold weather plus you can add a stove    .

Im glad I took it with me as we would not have been able to put our tent up in any of the locations during our journey to the tops.
Cheers
Mark.

[Marksman Quivers]

I have loaded some of Clintons pics on to Photobucket now, so lets continue the adventure.
(I will initial his photos, credit where credits due)

 
CM.

The higher we climbed the denser and lower the scrub got.
It became awkward as there was still room to move between the trunks, But the tops of the trees started to become intertwined.
This was causing us to constantly be ducking and with a fully loaded high pack on this meant almost dropping to your knees.

Just before we stopped here for a bite to eat we had to remove our packs and drag them through a particularly thick section so instead of put them back on we stopped for lunch.

 
CM

 
CM

Then started the 3 hour death crawl............The bush got lower, so we had to follow suit and do the same.

[ozy clint]

need knee crampons next year.

this is day 3 now. the previous year it took us 3 days and we were camped at the tops. it seemed like we were going nowhere.

it was pretty mentally draining bashing through that sub alpine scrub but hunting tahr and chamois in the alpine never ceases to give me the motivation to get to the tops.