2022 Colorado Elk Odyssey - C1 EP 1

Our story begins in the dark morning hours as the four hunters, including two compound bow and 3 stickbow shooters, meet at BWI airport en-route to Denver Colorado.  Two of the group, Dave and Jeff, started out as just a couple local Maryland guys who read my first DIY elk hunting adventure online and were inspired to do it themselves many years ago.  We eventually met them out in the elk woods and we have become close friends and hunting buds ever since. Neil, joined my brother and I the previous year in the San Juans.   His hunting mentor and friend Dave was started on the hunting journey by my brother Chris decades ago.  Now the five of us are all united at the gate after going through security.  

                         Here Jeff, Neil, and Dave wait for baggage at the Denver airport.

The area we are headed for was new to my brother and I, but Jeff and Dave had some good encounters there several years ago.  Everyone was excited and apprehensive to discover if the change in area would bring us more luck or less pressure then we had experienced the previous year. 

We would again hike into the hunting area carrying everything we would need for a week in the backcountry far from the vehicles. The hike in would sure be a little easier than the extremely steep 3 miles and 27 switch back "Hill of Death" just to reach the hunting plateau we were accustomed to in the past.  The trail would still be challenging with a few similarly steep sections near the top of the high saddle onto the area.  I was a little anxious to see if my stubborn brother Chris had remembered the lessons of the past and packed light.  After all, he was one year shy of his 60th birthday this year!  I was no younger either but I made darn sure to keep my total carry under 50 pounds. 

At the end of the flight we landed and secured two vehicles.  One was a full sized suburban and the other a 4 door ram pickup.  We headed to walmart to get some butane for the stoves and to buy Jeff and Dave's tags!  They wanted to wait until they got there, and of course the computer was down and we had to drive out of Denver to another walmart a hour down the highway.  

While we were waiting for the pair in the parking lot, my brother decides to change into his "field clothes".  Quite amusing the rest of us, and the walmart shoppers, he sported a wonderfully mismatched camo ensemble complete with a sleeveless woodland DBU shirt that looked like he had just cut them with a dull bent steak knife before he left.  All I could think of was Burt Reynolds in Deliverance crossed with Larry the Cable Guy!  

 

I was fairly sure the homeless guy at the gas station when we made our first stop for fuel was coming over to get him out of "his turf" until he reached the suburban and opened the door.

In any event, we made it to the trail head after several hours of driving and stuffing down junk food.  Yes, we were headed from sea level up to 11.5K in one day...again.  I was a little concerned when we parked along the road at the trail head when I counted about 10 vehicles lining both sides of the road.  I reassured myself though, it was a Friday before a long Holiday weekend and the trailhead also served a very popular hiking trail and vista.   We were in it for the long haul! This year seemed special.  We had 5 backs to haul meat and I felt our chances were good.  One thing was certain, we were going to hit it HARD....