Summary - Final Thoughts and Miscellaneous Musings

Photo at right is of Justin's elk from Day 2 of hunting. A nice 4 x 5.

Roger's solar-powered off the grid lodge had a certain old school elk camp charm about it...which I liked, but there were times where a little more light would have been welcomed. That said, the lodge's timber frame construction is very cool. The beams he used (some douglas fir, some oak) were reclaimed and repurposed from old warehouses and factories in the midwest. Its a perfect fit for its surrounding landscape.

And while the tent Josh and I slept in didn't have quite the same charm as the lodge, we both enjoyed the experience. Our first night was the coldest, about 20 degrees. Most nights we would re-stoke the fire about 2-3 times, but if we let it go too long, the fire would go completely out. In your sleeping bag it was plenty warm, even when the fire went out. It was kinda like the experience of a drop-camp hunt, with the crutch of having the lodge right next door.

Photo below is of the four of us with our guides, Hayden and Moose (gray beard). This was taken right before we departed. Both of guides were excellent...knowledgeable of game, of how to hike the variable terrain, good woodsmanship....and most importantly, they were good humans who really enjoyed what they did.

Of my previous hunts, this one offered the most scenic setting and surroundings. Each ridge you crested seemed to hold an even better view than the one before. It is really beautiful country. The style of hunting is more stand hunt than spot and stalk.