|
[ Return to Contents
| Post a Reply
| Post a new message
]
dumb teenagers
Posted by martyv on Feb 12 2006
Four of us teenagers were sheep hunting. I was the old man at 19, I think the youngest was 16. We carried open sighted rifles and lever actions.
We had a camp on a ridge about 5,500' up in the Talkeetnas early in the morning saw some sheep on the next ridge with a deep valley between. We decided to split up and come from two directions toward the rams. We left our camp with only our rifles and two candy bars each.
Both groups met empty handed later in the day on the ridge where the sheep had been. They gave us the slip. We knew that sheep would likely be in the vicinity again the next morning so decided to just stay up there that night. We each ate one candy bar. Of course by night it was really cold so we made our way down to the valley in the dark to make a fire.
We were able to sleep a little by the fire with one person taking turns keeping it going. We each had 1/2 candy bar left and by 2 in the morning we more concerned about food than anything else. So Brian and I said we would climb up to our camp and get some food and bring it back down. We still wanted to go after the sheep the next morning.
We climbed about 3000 feet up a very steep mountain by moonlight. Before we got to the top my legs were cramping almost every step. I would have to keep stopping to staighten out the cramp. I hadn't had enough water I realize now. When we reached to top we were completely exhausted. So we decided to catch just a little sleep before we headed back.
Well we overslept and awoke to daylight, and hurried down the mountain with our packs and enough food. When we got back to our campfire, no one was there. We searched and called to no avail. Finally, worried, climbed back up to the camp on the ridge. We were so relieved when we saw the tent door open and an empty can of beans laying outside that we laughed till we cried.
That was pretty much the end of our sheep hunt. We had exhausted ourselves with poor planning.
As far as other siwashes. That's close to my moose hunting method. A small tarp, a sleeping back and food that doesn't need cooking. No fire, no pans, no stove. It's easier that way, and faster and less odor. I only build a fire if I really need one to dry off.
Previous: Siwash Style Brian Richardson Feb 12 2006
Next: Siwash Rod in Wasilla Feb 12 2006
 Message Thread:
|
