Backcountry RSS
Trail Etiquette: Know Your Backcountry Manners
As Colorado grows in population, we are seeing a growth in the backcountry as well. This means it’s more important to discuss backcountry etiquette and how to respect the trail. The finer points of trail etiquette will depend on what type of activity you're participating in -- hiking, trail riding, camping or hunting. It’s important that while traveling through the backcountry, you pay attention to the following points to ensure you’re a respectful visitor to the area. Hiking Etiquette: Respect Nature Stay on the trails and do not bushwhack If you need to take a break move well off the...
Backcountry Hunting Essentials: Preparing for a Hunt in the Backcountry
One of the most common questions I get from novices is ‘how should I prepare for my first hunt in the backcountry?’ Hunting for elk and other big game in what can be a dangerous and unwelcoming environment is no small task, but I think I can help make it a little easier for you by sharing some of my backcountry hunting essentials. These are a handful of tips based on my experience as a backcountry hunter that could be valuable to novices and seasoned adventurers alike. Before you head out on your next excursion to remote areas, take my...
Saying Goodbye to Hunting Season
The highlight of owning pack animals is to take them into the wilderness, making it possible for a more fulfilling backcountry experience, whether it’s hunting, fishing or just camping out with family. I am constantly planning and thinking about my next trip. When spring comes and the snow begins to melt in the mountains, I can hardly wait to hit the trail. When the packing season nears its end, I am often planning trips back-to-back, never wasting a moment. Without fail, the last one of the season is bittersweet. It was my second hunting trip of the season. I had...
"Donkeys Walk Too Slowly!"
I read a post recently on a donkey/pack mule online forum where a commenter listed various reasons why he did not care to use donkeys as pack animals. Among other things, one of the reasons he cited was that “donkeys walk too slowly.” Huh, I thought. That’s interesting. I don’t know where he would come up with that idea. First of all, on average, a donkey walks about the same speed as a man. Of course, there are factors like the weight of the load (and how it’s adjusted), the terrain, the weather, and in some cases, the animal’s mood which...
We Make Our Own Luck
Some people seem to have the ability to do a number of things and do them well. These folks are successful in their careers, relationships, hobbies, and seem to be happy and live meaningful lives. Would you consider these people lucky? Along those same lines, why are some sportsmen able to consistently harvest game? I have heard many people say that hunting is 10% skill and 90% luck. After all, you can’t catch fish if they aren’t biting and you can’t shoot an elk in the backcountry if you don’t see any. So when a hunter kills an animal or...
