The Experiment

Published 2008-10-25
We decided to conduct an alpine experiment. How much ice would there be on the Beehive in late October? Would we be able to climb it? Could unseasonably warm days, cold nights, and an early storm, create the necessary ingredients for ice…or not? Not quite sure what was in store for us, we brought along […]

Falling Right Into Place

Published 2008-10-25
No special tags had been drawn, so this year was going to start just like any other. Before the rifle season started I was searching the mountains trying to find a bull. I talked a couple of my friends into helping me glass around their work schedules. One buddy had already killed a bull during […]

Seven Minute Elk

Published 2008-10-25
An unusually warm October left the high country without one of my favorite hunting ingredients – tracking snow. And with no lead on a big bull from my scouting efforts, I was left crossing my fingers and praying for good luck. Even so, I was exited for the opening day search for a western Montana […]

Close Doesn’t Count!

Published 2008-10-08
Well, I can’t say I didn’t have my chances. I hiked into a completely new area and spent a total of 2 days scouring for elk. I saw 18 different bulls with only 2 being shooters. I had an opportunity at a smaller 5 x 6 on the first evening but he wasn’t what I […]

Random Encounter

Published 2008-09-29
In my never ending search for total compatibility, commitment through hard times, and good looks, I have had many letdowns in my years. Friends have told me to lower my standards, get over myself, and to lay-off the pursuit. It wasn’t until early one fall in Montana that a friend paired us up. Being […]

Bighorn Dream Hunt

Published 2008-09-14
Big Horn Sheep – Successful. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read those words on the Colorado Division of Wildlife website. The entire neighborhood could hear me screaming with excitement. Now that I had drawn a Bighorn Sheep tag for Southern Colorado, the pressure was on. I immediately called my good friend and outfitter […]

Inspired

Published 2008-08-31
He’d been shooting his bow for months. The dedication was intense. He spent the shortening days of the fading summer quivering with excitement and expectation. And now the season is here. It’s Friday, but he’s been packed since Tuesday. We split work as soon as the boss relents to our incessant pestering. Scouting has paid […]

Camp Patriot Mt. Rainier ’08

Published 2008-07-17
Wow, what a fantastic trip. Once again it was an incredible experience to work with these amazing men like Joey, Chad, and Ryan. I am left with many rich memories. Thanks for all of your support, thoughts, and blessings. All went as planned and it was a jam packed week indeed. Picked up all the […]

Ascent into the Blue Room

Published 2008-06-13
My sleeping bag looks more like a frozen loaf of bread this morning and less like the slightly lofted down sack I had once considered satisfactory for this adventure…. The word synthetic comes to mind. I definitely didn’t get the best sleep last night, and the spindrift has built up outside to somewhere around 18” […]

The Flying Windmills on Denali

Published 2008-05-23
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Capt. Keelan McNulty, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49, and 1st Lt. Graham Ward, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, reached the 20,320-foot Mount McKinley summit May 17 despite often debilitating challenges during all stages of the expedition. The first major challenge […]