One Crazy Ride!: IT WAS EPIC!

This is going to be a long, long entry!

Let me tell you why............

Because this "epic" elk hunt was a long time in the planning!

Once upon a time there was a little family, this little family lived in a small town and enjoyed working and playing together. The family consisted of a mom a dad four sons and two daughters. They were a happy little family and grew up working and playing together.

Fast Forward a lot of years later.........

The eldest of the sons became a man that was "one with nature" he heeded the call of the mountains as they beckoned to him....."to conquer" and become a "mountain man". He often found himself in the mountains alone and many times victorious in the hunt. He had achieved "elk hunter" status and not with a rifle but he was ignited with the challenge of taking down an elk by spotting, stalking and hiking! The thrill of finally planting an arrow from the quiver he wore on his back became something he craved. He was to the fullest degree a "bow hunter"! His younger brothers felt an adrenaline rush as they listened to the older brother share stories of hiking into the high mountain tops to track and hunt the majestic elk! All though they were all hunters of deer they also felt the "call of the wild" and longed to reach the highest heights and hunt these regal animals with their bows.

The second oldest son (my hubby) had detected the excitement of bow hunting already and had accompanied the oldest brother on an elk outing the prior year. He was haunted by the fact that the arrow that had flung from his bow had only injured his elk as they later realized by tracking blood for an entire day. The elk had eluded death and only made the urge in the hunter stronger. This brother was ready for revenge on a mountain and an animal that had outsmarted him!

The third son, knew that he must also accompany his two older brothers but his role was not as "hunter" but as guide and record keeper! He knew that his place in this "epic" hunt was to keep the brothers united and focused on the task at hand. He felt confident in the mantle he carried because......

a. He had a logical mind

b. He had a sense of humor

c. He could talk anyone through anything

(A little Mikey humor)

Now the youngest son was a hunter in his heart as well but he was far away learning and gaining knowledge for his future. He knew that his time would soon come and he would join his brothers on the mountain but he must put his best efforts toward his own personal goals first. He joined the brothers in spirit and wished them well in their endeavors.

The rugged mountains deep in the wilderness of Wyoming was no place for a lady the sisters and wives of these brothers knew. So one of the sisters sent her husband to join the band of brothers for he too had an attachment to the mountains and a love of adventure. He felt implored to join forces with the brotherhood he had been adopted into and face the wilderness, but above all of this he needed a chance at killing the beast!

Now this was not an endeavor that would go unplanned........

The brothers spent months planning and scheming and structuring the way they would hunt! Their were spreadsheets and food and equipment were weighed down to the ounce. The brothers realized that the energy they would expend each day hiking at such a high elevation would diminish their liveliness and strength. They studied high calorie meals and shopped for months for the perfect food that could sustain life and not weigh their already heavy laden packs down. The men prepared not only temporally but physically as well. There were pre-hikes to break in boots, there were 50 lb weights placed in backpacks all the while trudging up hills, stairs and treadmills to condition the legs that would take the brunt of the hunting adventure. There were months of studying websites like CamoFire and many phone calls with excited voices when the last piece of camo clothing was bought. There were texts, calls and pictures sent for months as motivation to keep the band of brothers hopes high for the upcoming hunt. The training was arduous but never dampened the spirits of the brothers. The end goal outweighed any obstacles they may face in the training. One wife even volunteered to be carried in the backpack as part of a training exercise to make sure her husband was ready for the elk hunt. These men would leave civilization behind, vehicles and technology, what they would take into the rugged terrain is only what they could carry on their back! Each man grew facial hair in preparation of cold winds chapping their frozen faces and each wife prayed for the day that all this preparing would end and the hunt would soon come.

The brothers were ready!

The hunt would begin!

One brother started his trip from Oregon while another began from Nevada only stopping to pick up a brother in Utah. They came from different directions but in the end they all drove until the sky became a Wyoming sunrise and they smelled the elk in the air. When reaching the destination they also reached the oldest brother to whom some credit goes to for igniting this bow hunting desire in each of these men we call "hunters"!

Though each brother had his own story to tell we have only been able to get the rest of the story through pictures from the 2nd and 3rd son!

Being the wife of one of the hunters I listened intently to the stories of this "epic" hunting adventure for weeks after.... and although I begged the words of this journal entry to come first hand from the hunter himself....I have failed and you will get the rest of the story in pictures!

Remember the preparation, I think it paid off. I asked if they were starving but they assured me that they ate like champs.

(I don't believe them because all of them came home at least 7-10 lbs. lighter than when they left)!