Sorry guys, it is taking forever for my computer/ connection to download these into photobucket.... I also forgot my church had a members banquet tonight, so I didn't get to work on the downloads much tonight. Tomorrow night I'll at least get some more done....but I do have a softball game also tomorrow.
On with the story!
Now, where did I leave off?
Oh yeah, heading out on my own the first day, my own little opening day. Temp was about 80 degrees (F), wind a little swirly. on the way in, I had to put out some little "chortens" or piles of rock at the forks in the road in. Our camp choice number one was taken, the only other group on the mountain. So on the way out for the afternoon/ evening hnt I had to place one more pile. My arms are full with my bow and a bunch of rocks. I then headed south from camp, ghosting through the trees, pausing for long breaks to glass and watch. The terrain is, here at least, a gentle slope to my left, flattening out into the valley floor to my right, wind in my face, sun at my 3:00 or so. There is a bit of an opening on my right, I am hoping the edge cover will produce some elk sign, maybe a well used trail leading from the timberline down into the valley floor. Just a finger meadow off of the floor, the opening looks promising and as it narrows I pick a pine tree to sit underneath and let the evening develop. My back is to the tree and the wind seems to be both dying down and becoming a bit less sporadic in direction. I see nothing but a squirrel and some birds, but enjoy the evening quiet. It usually takes me a while to slow down after the drive and the stress of work/ everyday life, so I relish the time spent in "my" mountains. I head back to camp, cook up some grub and watch the stars. Fellas, if you haven't been in a "dark" area, an area without any light pollution, I can't tell you how amazing it is to look up, to see a million stars, see, actually see, the milky way.... there aren't enough words, cameras don't capture the wonder.... I used to lay on my back for hours and look at the stars, get up to take a leak, and lye back down, the other way and feel upside down. If you haven't experienced this, put it on your list of things to do. Amazing. I slept well until the dogs woke me up. At first I thought it might be wolves, it wasn't coyotes, and there were a lot of them. 5? 8? 10? I couldn't count, but I knew if it was wolves, I was out of luck this year, on this mountain.... but then I put it all together, it was the sheep dogs! Earlier I had seen a shepherd's wagon aways down south of camp.
I woke up early and prepared a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and coffee....
Man, I am tired of waiting for my pictures to upload, I am going to tease you guys once again and start posting the pictures tomorrow.... sorry to do it, but I can't post and upload at the same time.... but I promise to have lots of good pictures!
Topic: Another elk adventure... the journey continues with pics! (Read 951 times)
