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Posted: 7/14/2025 3:55:55 PM EDT
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So I'm taking one of the kids out west this fall. She drew an elk tag. The chances of her shooting an elk are slim. The chances of us packing it out by ourselves are even slimmer. We will probably, unless we happen to score very close to the road, pay a local packer to help with that. I've already explored those options and set aside those funds that I'll happily spend if needed. So this isn't a meat-packing thread. This is a 'I have never been backpack camping and I'm 'bout to learn the really hard way' thread. Yes, we're in decent physical shape. Yes, we know what's involved (I spent months trying to convince her to do something easier but she wants to do this and time is short, might as well try it) So at this point we are halfway planning to truck-camp but the reality is that we suspect we are much better off at least for a day or three if we can backpack and be set up at elevation near where we expect to hunt for a couple of days. We won't be a dozen miles in, committed to one place. I'm thinking we will be more like 1-7 miles in depending on terrain, weather, future weather WX, and other things. Yes, I know that one mile and seven miles are two different worlds. Yes, we'll be there days early to acclimate and have planned some shorter day-hikes to scout for elk and determine whether we hunt from the car or from a distant spike camp. To answer the biggest question first, we are actively and regularly doing practice hikes with dummy-weighted packs (anything from armor plates to a bunch of water bottles). To be clear - we've been hiking with heavily weighted *day packs* that suck for that. But we've proved to ourselves that we can handle the weight, it just needs to be distributed in a proper pack. If I can handle 40# in a daypack I think 45# in a proper trail pack will be easy, even at elevation. I can't rush out and buy a $500 tent or $500 sleeping bag or a horse to haul this stuff. But I *can* buy basic mid-weight stuff in the sweet spot of weight-to-price ratios so that we might not have the lightest gear but we can have manageable gear. I have sort of budgeted our weights like so: Me/her: Pack 4/3 (I need input on packs. A buddy showed me his Osprey Aether? and I like it but can afford an REI much better for less than $200. I need to know how much volume I need) Sleep bag 3.5/3 (Hyke and Byke Eolus? is 3.4# in my size and 3.1# in her size) sleep pad 2/2 (generic amazon inflatable pads) rollup pillows 1/1 tent 6/0 (that's a 2-3 man tent I'll pack and we will share) - hyke and byke Yosemite, just under 5.5# fr a 3 season tent tyvek ground cloth, tent cover/porch, and game processing base cloths 2/0 (three 9x12 tyvek sheets weigh 2 pounds or so) paracord: 0/1 (one pound is ~200 feet and she'll likely carry that water filtration: 1/0. Or, I'll carry a 1-pound filtration system, she'll carry nothing, both of us will have a backup "lifestraw"? and iodine tablets for our water bottles, those weigh almost nothing and will be split between us for redundancy stove:2/0. I've already bought a firemaple stove kit and with a 100g fuel bottle it weighs well under 1.5# and I'll likely grab a second cup for her, so still under 2# Food: 3 days, 3/3. That's mostly protein powder, coconut oil, some pecans, a pound of PB, all of which make a nice morning hot-cocoa-ish soup, and dried fatty beef for midday snacks. This is hunting, not fine dining. My goal here is nothing more than meeting daily calorie and protein macros as light as possible. We'll bring electrolyte powders too. It'll suck, but only for ~3 days. knives/cutlery/paracord/game bag - maybe a pound for our game bags; call it 2/2, if we shoot an elk we will have to prep it and tote it to the nearest horse-accessible trail or points accesible by trail. Yes, we know what that entails. Basically we empty our packs and put deboned meat in the shade and shuttle it back and forth to the trail. I expect I can do 50# per trip and she can do 25# or possible 30 which puts us close to 3 trips to bring out most elk. We might even do it in 2 trips. We also will have flashlights and a camp lantern and headlamps, red hiking light and extra batteries. I'll have a garmin inreach and she'll have a mini. Printed paper maps. Possibly laminated pre-trip. We will likely bring at least one phone to tether to the inreach for comms. We might bring a tablet type PC to run google earth for hunting references depending on what I can do with the inreach. I am expecting to get her rifle in at exactly 10 pounds (rifle/optic/bipod/sling/ammo), but we'll need a soft case that will weigh a few more ounces, I think, to look friendly on hiking trails in/out. We'll have less than 4# of optics - one binocular each. We'll leave the spotting scope in the truck - with a couple coolers full of ice, etc. We'll have trek poles. I already have one set and have been swapping them between us on our hikes. I expect to wear most of our clothes in, plus extra socks/undies/light t-shirt and shorts. This will be a mid-October trip in southwest-ish CO where temps should be mild. If the Wx calls for snow or even heavy rain at high elevation we will either stay by the truck or stay closer to it, and maybe day-hike in, as we'd swap clothes and I don't mind hiking multi-miles in heavier clothes but don't want to bring a whole wardrobe 5+ miles in. I don't have exact locations nailed down but right now I have picked out multiple possibilities scattered across the ~700,000 acres we could potentially hunt. All of them are at between 7500' to ~11800' with one or two spots that we might get above 12k just to say we did it, if nothing else was happening at the time. I fully realize that weather changes and if the local town forecast calls for an inch of snow the mountains might get a foot. Been there, done that, learned to take wx seriously. I want to bring my entire pack in as close to 40# as possible. I'll also likely wear a bino harness chest pack - likely a cheap generic one - for binoc, rangefinder, emergency firestarter, maybe a small water bottle and some jerky. I intend to bring a very small and light day-pack for keeping the basics of meat handling with us - rubber gloves, knives, saws, sharpener, game bags, tyvek sheet. Maybe a couple plastic contractor trash bags in case we need to dip the meat into a creek to help cool it. Maybe a pulley in case we need to hoist it into a shady tree to get airflow. Water seems to be widely available across the entire area we plan to go. Specific questions: -Should I just go to REI and get fitted for both of our packs? -How much pack do I need for the above gear? I suspect I can get away with less than a 70L pack, right? -Can I handle drinking iodine water for 3 days without getting sick of the taste? We tried it the other day (on a hot-day long hike) and it wasn't terrible. -Am I correct that if my daughter isn't going to carry more than perhaps 20-25 pounds of gear, she's fine with a child-sized pack of 40L or less as long as it fits her? -If you have suggestions on brand names of tents or bags that beat my weights for similar or less money, I'm all ears. |
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Originally Posted By Grendelsbane: @DVCER Yeah, I'm hoping he checks in. I saw a picture of his pack in another thread. Also - we will bring a handful of emergency firestarter tabs and lighters, I also want a portable solar cell/gps/tablet charger. Any suggestions there? |
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Since this is a 1 time thing I suggest you look into renting the gear like bags, tent, pads,packs, stove, etc. REI used to rent gear, I don't know if they still do. Other smaller outfits probably rent gear too. Also I would get a Platypus Gravity Works for water filtration. very light and small and for 2 people will filter 4 Liters of water in 4 minutes. Get the 4 liter one not the 2 liter one. Buy your boots months out to break them in or you will regret not doing so. Read up on altitude sickness like HAPE and HACE. Know the symptoms and have a plan to get down asap or have a sat device like an inreach mini. People do get altitude sickness at those altitudes. Have a good first aid kit, one you put together yourself. If something bad happens, 10 miles or 1 mile will feel the same if you do not have good supplies and a small medical book to reference. |
Mach
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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Director of Marketing and Ad Revenue
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Originally Posted By Mach: Since this is a 1 time thing I suggest you look into renting the gear like bags, tent, pads,packs, stove, etc. REI used to rent gear, I don't know if they still do. Other smaller outfits probably rent gear too. Also I would get a Platypus Gravity Works for water filtration. very light and small and for 2 people will filter 4 Liters of water in 4 minutes. Get the 4 liter one not the 2 liter one. Buy your boots months out to break them in or you will regret not doing so. Read up on altitude sickness like HAPE and HACE. Know the symptoms and have a plan to get down asap or have a sat device like an inreach mini. People do get altitude sickness at those altitudes. Have a good first aid kit, one you put together yourself. If something bad happens, 10 miles or 1 mile will feel the same if you do not have good supplies and a small medical book to reference. We're going to buy because I genuinely hope it becomes a recurring thing. We are already making some plans for next year, but it's too soon to really talk about those. I'll look at the Platypus.  I have good quality boots and a second pair in case it snows, but I will have to put a lot of faith in forecasts there - I don't want to lug spare boots into the backcountry. I am very aware that my daughter needs high quality footwear and if you have any suggestions for good, light, waterproof-ish 8" or so hiking boots, I'm all ears, as they are a priority right now over almost everything else. We've both been to 10,000 or more and I think we will do OK at altitude. We intend to be there several days in advance as that seems to be the biggest factor in how people handle altitude. Also, I understand that hydration is tied closely to handling altitudes. We'll have a StB/IFAK kit and both of us have done StB classes and I hope to do a refresher before we leave. |
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Yeah since you are carrying everything on the backs, iodine/chem water treatment would be simple and light. I never liked it, but haven’t tried it in years. I like a gravity filter like a platypus. Bigger is better. Probably want a big bladder dedicated to catching the filtered water. I do keep a sawyer squeeze in my day pack cause I often burn thru my camelback. Tiny and light and you really don’t want to supply camp water with one, it would take forever. Packs are so individual it’s hard to recommend one. 70l size should do for you. Smaller obvi for the others. I like Kuiu and ExO, but there are dozens of great choices not so spendy. I like a bladder compatible pack when it’s not freezing out. Never hurts to have a Nalgene bottle. Little single use crazy glue can save the trip from a leaky bladder or air Mattress. I use OnX on the phone. Download all maps of the units. Chances are no cell service. Put phones in airplane mode and the batteries will go 3 days easy. That short of a trip, just have everyone take a 10kmah battery bank. I would leave the tablet in the truck. You’ll be lucky to hit 40 lbs as is. October weather calls for warm clothes. I probably wouldn’t take a separate day pack either. Compress the main bag and use it as a day pack. You don’t want to toss in a few mountain house meals? |
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I know the weather then can be anything. I’m not sure a gravity filter would be a great choice? I’m used to September when it rarely freezes. The tube would definitely freeze, but mid day temps should keep it flowing. This thing is incredible and $$$. MSR I think, it’s a friends. Fills bottles so quick. Attached File You all will need a lot of water. If you can draw clean flowing water, No beaver dams upstream. I won’t recommend it, but I often drink it untreated. A few drops of whatever treatment you pick would probably be fine. This is my camp setup. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By DVCER: I know the weather then can be anything. I’m not sure a gravity filter would be a great choice? I’m used to September when it rarely freezes. The tube would definitely freeze, but mid day temps should keep it flowing. With a stove with us and the ability to build a fire if the temps drop I'm not terribly worried about ice. I mean, it oculd happen, but it doesn't honestly scare me that much. If I see any reason to expect temps below maybe 25 I'm much less likely to stay on the mountain overnight. |
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I say your edit. I know we'll be in a lot of places with flowing water but I won't make it a habit of drinking any of it. When I was a kid we found a winter creek flowing through a cave/waterfall and we actually filled up a 3-gallon water jug with that water because it looked so clean (I doubt it was....) and brought it home as a souvenir of sorts. (Zapata Falls south of Great Sand Dunes NP.....absolutely gorgeous when frozen in wintertime) |
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I know October can just be so fickle with the weather. Good call to not be afraid to change plans if needed. The water issue can definitely be handled easily with chem treatments. I should know better than even mentioning drinking untreated. Got giardiasis about 30 years ago. Still…. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By DVCER: And a pair of crocs or similar is very lightweight and awesome when you are back in camp. It’ll give the boots max time to dry out too. I fuss at my kids all the time about not wearing crocs outside or when feeding our cows and pigs or whatever. They'll get a kick out of me mentioning them for camp use. ETA: should I tote in a couple of lightweight folding camp chairs or just sit on the ground or sit on my pack? Or, finding a log to sit on shouldn't be an issue with all the beetle kill. |
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This is a 4 day load in September. A chair would be nice, but not needed. Your pack will already be stuffed. Trek poles are not a bad idea either, I use them but I have a knee trying to give out. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By DVCER: This is a 4 day load in September. A chair would be nice, but not needed. Your pack will already be stuffed. Trek poles are not a bad idea either, I use them but I have a knee trying to give out. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/857/IMG_5061_jpeg-3587385.JPG I have enjoyed the trek poles thus far. They really do seem to help redistribute some of the load and they can of course be used as shooting sticks or stabilizers for binos. |
I understand you’re not going UL but 40lb for a 3-day shoulder season pack seems pretty heavy. I come in around 38lb for my winter 2-day pack w/2P4S tent, -10F bag, Xtherm, etc. Not UL by any stretch of the imagination. This particular pack is over 40lb because of the snowshoes but normally I’m wearing them, in which case I won’t have the spikes. I’m also carrying a 1P tarp instead of the 2P4S tent, for a couple pounds less weight.  Winter pack loadout I have a bunch of gear I’m looking to sell, tents, sleeping bags, packs, etc. Good stuff I’m not looking to get rich off. PM if interested. |
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Bear canister or have some other plan to keep food out of reach of critters. Ideally, don't eat where you sleep. Have layers of clothing and more layers than you think you'll need. It's one thing to be moving, another thing being stationary at night. Oh, and keep the filters like Sawyer close to your body so they don't freeze: the water expands as it turns into ice and destroys the filter structure. |
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Originally Posted By ME2112: I understand you’re not going UL but 40lb for a 3-day shoulder season pack seems pretty heavy. Again, that includes a 10-pound rifle and a 2-pound binocular. I would *LOVE* to come in at a lower weight. I've done 6-mile hikes with more weight (45+ pounds total not including water) but those were fairly flat, though done under time constraints (under 2 hrs). Fortunately we generally won't have time constraints for this. We could easily hike in starting early one morning and take 5-7 hours to get there if we want. Maybe even more. |
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Originally Posted By voyager3: Bear canister or have some other plan to keep food out of reach of critters. Ideally, don't eat where you sleep. Have layers of clothing and more layers than you think you'll need. It's one thing to be moving, another thing being stationary at night. Oh, and keep the filters like Sawyer close to your body so they don't freeze: the water expands as it turns into ice and destroys the filter structure. You know, we are pretty careless with food around camp, and have yet to have a bear come in. It sucks apparently, they will trash a camp. Nothing wrong with being bear aware for sure. I see them on the hunt every year, they are there, just never around my camp. They have usually run the other way once they spot or smell me. We even spent a few watching a big ass bear tearing fat off our elk hide one year, about 30 yards from the quarters. Once he started heading towards the quarters I said “hey bear”. He hauled ass. |
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| Bring your inflatable sleeping pad with a foam flod up or roll up. Can't remember what I did last Thanksgiving but shot for R5 and slept comfortably down to 15F overnight. You'll want insulation from the ground, not just a warm bag. I have done cedar branches before but you'll want a liner under you for the little bit of sap that comes along with it. |
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| Another thing I had was 1 liter water bottles with a neoprene cover. Didn't have as much chance of water freezing and you could stick it in your coat sitting around camp for a little warmth. Right before bed boil water up and throw the nalgene with cover in the foot of your bag and it'll slowly let off heat all night. |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: Again, that includes a 10-pound rifle and a 2-pound binocular. I would *LOVE* to come in at a lower weight. I've done 6-mile hikes with more weight (45+ pounds total not including water) but those were fairly flat, though done under time constraints (under 2 hrs). Fortunately we generally won't have time constraints for this. We could easily hike in starting early one morning and take 5-7 hours to get there if we want. Maybe even more. I gotcha, I figured your daughter would be carrying the rifle which was why her pack is lighter. What’s the water situation in the area? Unless there’s a drought I’m imagining streams everywhere. If there’s a lot I wouldn’t carry any water, but rather a Katadyn BeFree or Platypus QuickDraw(?) and an empty water bottle each. Keep it empty in a pocket, filter and drink when you get thirsty. At the last water source before camp filter, drink, then fill the empty bottles and filter bottles. That’ll give 2l of water each for overnight and morning. Don’t bring clean clothes to change into, other than an extra pair of socks. It’s only 3 days and if the temps are mild you shouldn’t stink too badly. Depending on overnight lows a lightweight baselayer set just for sleeping might not be too bad. Lights seem to be a place you can save some weight, too. A headlamp each, preferably rechargeable, and 2 air pumps with built-in lanterns. Maybe a single small flashlight. Don’t forget a power bank. If you’re not absolutely dead-set on a 2-3P tent I have 2 1P tents for sale that’ll come in right around 4lb total. Definitely buy packs last, after you have all your gear. |
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Originally Posted By ME2112: I gotcha, I figured your daughter would be carrying the rifle which was why her pack is lighter. What’s the water situation in the area? Unless there’s a drought I’m imagining streams everywhere. If there’s a lot I wouldn’t carry any water, but rather a Katadyn BeFree or Platypus QuickDraw(?) and an empty water bottle each. Keep it empty in a pocket, filter and drink when you get thirsty. At the last water source before camp filter, drink, then fill the empty bottles and filter bottles. That’ll give 2l of water each for overnight and morning. Don’t bring clean clothes to change into, other than an extra pair of socks. It’s only 3 days and if the temps are mild you shouldn’t stink too badly. Depending on overnight lows a lightweight baselayer set just for sleeping might not be too bad. Lights seem to be a place you can save some weight, too. A headlamp each, preferably rechargeable, and 2 air pumps with built-in lanterns. Maybe a single small flashlight. Don’t forget a power bank. If you’re not absolutely dead-set on a 2-3P tent I have 2 1P tents for sale that’ll come in right around 4lb total. Definitely buy packs last, after you have all your gear. Originally Posted By ME2112: Originally Posted By arowneragain: Again, that includes a 10-pound rifle and a 2-pound binocular. I would *LOVE* to come in at a lower weight. I've done 6-mile hikes with more weight (45+ pounds total not including water) but those were fairly flat, though done under time constraints (under 2 hrs). Fortunately we generally won't have time constraints for this. We could easily hike in starting early one morning and take 5-7 hours to get there if we want. Maybe even more. I gotcha, I figured your daughter would be carrying the rifle which was why her pack is lighter. What’s the water situation in the area? Unless there’s a drought I’m imagining streams everywhere. If there’s a lot I wouldn’t carry any water, but rather a Katadyn BeFree or Platypus QuickDraw(?) and an empty water bottle each. Keep it empty in a pocket, filter and drink when you get thirsty. At the last water source before camp filter, drink, then fill the empty bottles and filter bottles. That’ll give 2l of water each for overnight and morning. Don’t bring clean clothes to change into, other than an extra pair of socks. It’s only 3 days and if the temps are mild you shouldn’t stink too badly. Depending on overnight lows a lightweight baselayer set just for sleeping might not be too bad. Lights seem to be a place you can save some weight, too. A headlamp each, preferably rechargeable, and 2 air pumps with built-in lanterns. Maybe a single small flashlight. Don’t forget a power bank. If you’re not absolutely dead-set on a 2-3P tent I have 2 1P tents for sale that’ll come in right around 4lb total. Definitely buy packs last, after you have all your gear. We’ve got all the lights we need except a red light for mornings. I have one but it’s a cheapo I don’t trust. I’m pretty set on a 2-3 man tent. We should have water available everywhere unless there’s a drought. We’ll start with no more than 3L each, likely less. I’ll hike the rifle in/out. She’ll tote it hunting. She had a bad day hiking last week and I ended up toting her pack for a while. With proper load bearing I think I’d be fine at 60+ pounds but I really want to hug 40. |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: We're going to buy because I genuinely hope it becomes a recurring thing. We are already making some plans for next year, but it's too soon to really talk about those. I'll look at the Platypus. I have good quality boots and a second pair in case it snows, but I will have to put a lot of faith in forecasts there - I don't want to lug spare boots into the backcountry. I am very aware that my daughter needs high quality footwear and if you have any suggestions for good, light, waterproof-ish 8" or so hiking boots, I'm all ears, as they are a priority right now over almost everything else. We've both been to 10,000 or more and I think we will do OK at altitude. We intend to be there several days in advance as that seems to be the biggest factor in how people handle altitude. Also, I understand that hydration is tied closely to handling altitudes. We'll have a StB/IFAK kit and both of us have done StB classes and I hope to do a refresher before we leave. Originally Posted By arowneragain: Originally Posted By Mach: Since this is a 1 time thing I suggest you look into renting the gear like bags, tent, pads,packs, stove, etc. REI used to rent gear, I don't know if they still do. Other smaller outfits probably rent gear too. Also I would get a Platypus Gravity Works for water filtration. very light and small and for 2 people will filter 4 Liters of water in 4 minutes. Get the 4 liter one not the 2 liter one. Buy your boots months out to break them in or you will regret not doing so. Read up on altitude sickness like HAPE and HACE. Know the symptoms and have a plan to get down asap or have a sat device like an inreach mini. People do get altitude sickness at those altitudes. Have a good first aid kit, one you put together yourself. If something bad happens, 10 miles or 1 mile will feel the same if you do not have good supplies and a small medical book to reference. We're going to buy because I genuinely hope it becomes a recurring thing. We are already making some plans for next year, but it's too soon to really talk about those. I'll look at the Platypus. I have good quality boots and a second pair in case it snows, but I will have to put a lot of faith in forecasts there - I don't want to lug spare boots into the backcountry. I am very aware that my daughter needs high quality footwear and if you have any suggestions for good, light, waterproof-ish 8" or so hiking boots, I'm all ears, as they are a priority right now over almost everything else. We've both been to 10,000 or more and I think we will do OK at altitude. We intend to be there several days in advance as that seems to be the biggest factor in how people handle altitude. Also, I understand that hydration is tied closely to handling altitudes. We'll have a StB/IFAK kit and both of us have done StB classes and I hope to do a refresher before we leave. |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: With a stove with us and the ability to build a fire if the temps drop I'm not terribly worried about ice. I mean, it oculd happen, but it doesn't honestly scare me that much. If I see any reason to expect temps below maybe 25 I'm much less likely to stay on the mountain overnight. Originally Posted By arowneragain: Originally Posted By DVCER: I know the weather then can be anything. I'm not sure a gravity filter would be a great choice? I'm used to September when it rarely freezes. The tube would definitely freeze, but mid day temps should keep it flowing. With a stove with us and the ability to build a fire if the temps drop I'm not terribly worried about ice. I mean, it oculd happen, but it doesn't honestly scare me that much. If I see any reason to expect temps below maybe 25 I'm much less likely to stay on the mountain overnight. |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
.
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Originally Posted By DVCER: You know, we are pretty careless with food around camp, and have yet to have a bear come in. It sucks apparently, they will trash a camp. Nothing wrong with being bear aware for sure. I see them on the hunt every year, they are there, just never around my camp. They have usually run the other way once they spot or smell me. We even spent a few watching a big ass bear tearing fat off our elk hide one year, about 30 yards from the quarters. Once he started heading towards the quarters I said "hey bear". He hauled ass. Originally Posted By DVCER: Originally Posted By voyager3: Bear canister or have some other plan to keep food out of reach of critters. Ideally, don't eat where you sleep. Have layers of clothing and more layers than you think you'll need. It's one thing to be moving, another thing being stationary at night. Oh, and keep the filters like Sawyer close to your body so they don't freeze: the water expands as it turns into ice and destroys the filter structure. You know, we are pretty careless with food around camp, and have yet to have a bear come in. It sucks apparently, they will trash a camp. Nothing wrong with being bear aware for sure. I see them on the hunt every year, they are there, just never around my camp. They have usually run the other way once they spot or smell me. We even spent a few watching a big ass bear tearing fat off our elk hide one year, about 30 yards from the quarters. Once he started heading towards the quarters I said "hey bear". He hauled ass. |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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Oh, I see 3 days. For some reason I was thinking a week. Yeah 3 days if you pack smart, you should be able to keep it under 45 pounds depending on the pack, the bag, and the tent and not taking stuff you don't need like camp chairs and stuff including anything larger than a 1 quart pot for boiling water. I think keeping it under 45 pounds will be more challenging than you think though. A 10 pound rifle leaves you 35 pounds. a 70L pack unless you spend big bucks is going to be 4.5 pounds. A 3 season 20 degree down bag is going to be 3 pounds unless you spend more money on better down. Syn will be 4 pounds. A 2-3 person tent under $400 is going to be 5 pounds. Now you are down to 14 pounds for everything else. Doable, but it will not include a solar panel, crocks, and other luxuries. Of course the more money you spend on a bag, tent, and pack, the lighter they will be. I spent a life time going supper light weight, but to do that requires buying light gear which is usually less durable and doing without things like extra clothes, footwear, and tents. My typical 3-4 day trip was a 15 pound pack. I also did a week in glacier and I carried all the food for 4 people and a 2 person tent and it topped out at 50 pounds including 2 liters of water. Experience shows you what you can leave behind. I suggest you start accumulating gear with a list of absolute essentials and a list of wants and start packing to see how everything adds up well ahead of time. Also I am assuming the gun elk season is in September / October which is not july or august, so you will be on the cusp of winter above 9000 feet in the western part of the US. ETA: I re-read the OP. Out west in October in mountains at the altitudes you are talking about is winter conditions. It may not be winter conditions all the time, but if you put on a pack and walk away from the truck, IMO, you need to be fully prepared for winter conditions. No way you do that under 45 pounds. I don't consider 9000 feet and above out west in October to be 3 season. |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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Op what is the elevation your are currently training at? Realize if its lower elevation and your only doing flat ground hiking, elevation gain chasing elk is a killer, decent shape probably won't cut it. I ruck with 50 pounds twice a week between 5-8 miles per, with an EXO K4 pack, which makes packing weight a dream. I am doing 14 minute miles and sometimes I even break into 13:30 range. Last year we did 32 miles in less than 48 hours with something like 10k elevation gain, elevation range was 7.2k to 11.4 k EXo mountain gear has some really good videos on this very subject. I find first time backpack hunters carry way to much shit. I'm old and have financial resources at my disposal so I try and get quality lightweight gear. |
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Originally Posted By CaliContractor: Op what is the elevation your are currently training at?. lol. I'm around 640 feet. It's all I have. We did one hike in the smokies that was maybe 2000'. I've been to higher elevations before and realize the difference. If you say that decent shape 'won't cut it' I'll just have to say that I am in better than decent shape and leave it at that because you're not telling me anything I don't know there. |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: lol. I'm around 640 feet. It's all I have. We did one hike in the smokies that was maybe 2000'. I've been to higher elevations before and realize the difference. If you say that decent shape 'won't cut it' I'll just have to say that I am in better than decent shape and leave it at that because you're not telling me anything I don't know there. I hope you guys find success. Might want to familiarize yourself with the gutless method, it's super easy. Can find the videos on youtube. |
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Originally Posted By CaliContractor: I hope you guys find success. Might want to familiarize yourself with the gutless method, it's super easy. Can find the videos on youtube. Originally Posted By CaliContractor: Originally Posted By arowneragain: lol. I'm around 640 feet. It's all I have. We did one hike in the smokies that was maybe 2000'. I've been to higher elevations before and realize the difference. If you say that decent shape 'won't cut it' I'll just have to say that I am in better than decent shape and leave it at that because you're not telling me anything I don't know there. I hope you guys find success. Might want to familiarize yourself with the gutless method, it's super easy. Can find the videos on youtube. We’ll definitely do gutless if we shoot sonething. Also, we’re going several days early for shorter hikes at 8000 to 10,000. I tried to get my daughter to do an easier hunt. She wants this. It’ll kick both our butts but it’ll be a memory. |
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Originally Posted By CaliContractor: I find first time backpack hunters carry way to much shit. We have trimmed our current list down to something close to 62# for two of us. If I can keep her close to 20-22 pounds and I can stay at 40 I think we will be ok. We will go lighter if we don't plan on more than 2 nights overall. Again, this isn't a trip where plan A is to hike deep into the wilderness and stay there. I haven't even completely ruled out a truck-based camp or a cabin rental nearby. I actually have a cabin already for a couple of our nights when we first get there, to allow us to clean up and sleep as well as possible while acclimating before season starts, while we're doing our little short (short being a relative term) scouting hikes. ETA: 62# doesn't count our clothing. I plan to wear our clothing in, if we do a long hike, but I also recognize that in the typical dry CO fall air, we might start a hike in one morning at 25 degrees and both of us be wearing shorts by 10AM. So we'll have shorts, t-shirts, and the ability to swap clothing or layer as needed. I've seen a ton of CO hiking videos where people wear shorts in October even at higher elevation and I've been out there enough to know that in dry air temperature hits you very differently than here in the east. |
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If you haven’t yet, you might want to check out “Justin Outdoors” on YouTube. He backpacks in the Canadian Rockies and tests a LOT of budget gear for warmth and durability. I’d take a good, hard look at sleeping pads because a good pad will make a so-so sleeping bag perform better. You can lay the bag flat and shift down from the bottom to the top where it’ll help you. The Thermarest Xtherm is the gold standard, but it’s crazy expensive. I’ve found the NEMO Tensor All-Season to be more comfortable and warm enough almost down to 0F. This is where checking out Justin’s channel might help. If you’re interested, I’ll let you have one of my current spare/loaner sleeping bags for the $100 I paid for it a few years ago. It’s a Feathered Friends Raven10F, it’s close to 20 years old and I bought it from a guy who used it about 200 nights/year while working for USFS and guiding. It’s crazy warm, I last used it in March and was almost uncomfortably warm in the upper teens. I put on some weight and it’s tighter than I like now, I bought a Western Mountaineering 10F bag that fits better and sent the Raven back to FF for laundering before I stored it (uncompressed in a tote.) I also seam-sealed all the seams that had evidence of down leakage. It looks like hell but if I was 20lb lighter I’d still be using it. I can’t get anyone to come winter camping with me so who knows when it’ll get used. FF has changed their sleeping bag sizing recently, but this one has the following internal circumferences: 64” at shoulders, 58” at hips, and 40” at the feet. Max height is 6’. They’re more expensive than you were planning on, but depending on her height either of these would be ideal for your daughter. If you are planning to do more backpacking you’ll end up spending the money anyway. FF Petrel UL WM UltraLite |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: *adds crazy glue next to duct tape, to list. Also, TP and paper towel roll. I had forgot those in my previous list-making.  Originally Posted By arowneragain: Originally Posted By DVCER: Little single use crazy glue can save the trip from a leaky bladder or air Mattress. *adds crazy glue next to duct tape, to list. Also, TP and paper towel roll. I had forgot those in my previous list-making. https://www.vitalitymedical.com/smith-nephew-66000041-opsite-flexifix-roll-4-x-11.html Several orders of magnitude better than most other wound dressings I know of. I suspect it might also be great under the socks on the back of your heel or whatnot. It flexes with your skin, lets your sweat out, and keeps liquids out. |
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Originally Posted By trails-end: You will need rest. What are the specs on the "cheap" air mattress? Other than for insulation, your daughter will be OK, but over 40yo you need some cushioning. So, it’s highly reviewed on Amazon. Made in China, but so are the expensive ones I’ve seen elsewhere. I actually laid on it for half an hour. Not bad at all. I still need a pillow though. https://a.co/d/6wQDriF |
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Originally Posted By CaliContractor: How is your gear collection and training going? Both are processes. We have new boots and we are putting miles on them in addition to upper body weightlifting. I have a sleep pad and bag, tent, backpack, water filtration, knee pillow, butane stove, knife sharpener, paracord, and a dozen smaller things. Long way to go on both fronts. |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: Both are processes. We have new boots and we are putting miles on them in addition to upper body weightlifting. I have a sleep pad and bag, tent, backpack, water filtration, knee pillow, butane stove, knife sharpener, paracord, and a dozen smaller things. Long way to go on both fronts. Originally Posted By arowneragain: Originally Posted By CaliContractor: How is your gear collection and training going? Both are processes. We have new boots and we are putting miles on them in addition to upper body weightlifting. I have a sleep pad and bag, tent, backpack, water filtration, knee pillow, butane stove, knife sharpener, paracord, and a dozen smaller things. Long way to go on both fronts. Cool, keep at it. Everyday is a day to make gains. Honestly I wouldn't worry to much about upper body at this point, core and post chain is where the magic happens carrying weight. I'm probably 80/20 on weight at hips versus shoulders, about every 5 miles I will load my shoulders and take the weight off the hips for a mile or so and then readjust back to hips. I busted out 7 miles Sunday morning with 50 pounds and managed 14:41 pace per mile. The previous week my neuroma was being a real bitch and I only managed 6 but the pace was way off as every left foot drop was like stepping on a tack. I'm rucking and hunting out a an Exo K4 which is a pretty expensive pack |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: Also, we’re going several days early for shorter hikes at 8000 to 10,000. This is crucial. Get acclimated to the altitude a bit before the big physical activity. I find the Elk challenging enough... Trying to sleep out there with them in October is not near the top of my list of things to do. Where I hunt, the weather forecast can do a 180 with more speed than I can check my phone, due to spotty reception. I've seen it go from summer to winter up there, several times, in 2-4 hours. At 9,000+ feet, I would plan to be stuck out over a 0 degree, high wind, 14" blizzard kind of night. It might not happen. If it does you can probably forecast and plan around it. Murphy's law says if you aren't ready for it, that's what will happen. |
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Originally Posted By arowneragain: So, it’s highly reviewed on Amazon. Made in China, but so are the expensive ones I’ve seen elsewhere. I actually laid on it for half an hour. Not bad at all. I still need a pillow though. https://a.co/d/6wQDriF Originally Posted By arowneragain: Originally Posted By trails-end: You will need rest. What are the specs on the "cheap" air mattress? Other than for insulation, your daughter will be OK, but over 40yo you need some cushioning. So, it’s highly reviewed on Amazon. Made in China, but so are the expensive ones I’ve seen elsewhere. I actually laid on it for half an hour. Not bad at all. I still need a pillow though. https://a.co/d/6wQDriF Lay it on the floor and sleep on it one night. Check out some of these self inflating pads. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=self+inflating+backpacking+pad |
I love a good double entendre.
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Originally Posted By Missilegeek: This is crucial. Get acclimated to the altitude a bit before the big physical activity. I find the Elk challenging enough... Trying to sleep out there with them in October is not near the top of my list of things to do. Where I hunt, the weather forecast can do a 180 with more speed than I can check my phone, due to spotty reception. I've seen it go from summer to winter up there, several times, in 2-4 hours. At 9,000+ feet, I would plan to be stuck out over a 0 degree, high wind, 14" blizzard kind of night. It might not happen. If it does you can probably forecast and plan around it. Murphy's law says if you aren't ready for it, that's what will happen. About that: I would far and away prefer private land hunting. I want to hunt elk, not compete with every other Chad out there at the same time. Having said that, I also sort of want to push my daughter to 'do hard things' and experience either success or failure that way. But at this point if you're going to hunt public land you'll either sleep in a tent on the mountain or you'll sleep in a cabin you have to leave at 3AM and get back to at 7PM every night. In a way the tent hunting is easier, assuming you have a decent camp and can sleep decently there. We are going first season. I've been in CO during that first season timeframe a few times and I've seen tshirt weather then woke up at 2am the next morning to snow sliding off the tent and we ended up stuck in a foot of snow 6+ miles from the gravel road. I've also seen tshirt weather for days on end. I know both can happen. I also know that I need to watch the wx as closely as grandma watched Days of Our Lives and if they call for two inches of snow down in town in the valley I need to expect two feet up on the mountain and either get out of there in advance or be prepared for the worst. Or both. We'll have snow clothes including waterproof boots and snow gaiters. We'll have a snow-resistant camp. We'll have the capability to live three days (or seven) on the mountain without resupply or needing to be rescued until the snow melts (October snow *usually* melts) and we can leave. We'll have emergency comms. In short, we are doing exactly what you said....we are planning to be stuck at zero degrees. I don't want that, but I also recognize that it might get the elk up and moving.  Also - we are looking at campsites and hunt strategies anywhere from roadside to 7+ miles in. Weather between now and then - not only in terms of summer rains and water availability for the elk and for us, and also in terms of what we see and expect in the days leading up to our hunt - will dictate a lot. I'm watching weather daily out there already. I have already budgeted that this hunt will cost me more than my 2023 private land hunt, when all is added up, but a great deal of that is tied up in gear that should last for several seasons. We are tentatively planning either a cabin hunt or a 'truck camp' hunt next year at lower elevation, for deer, or antelope, depending on what tags we can draw, and the whole family will likely tag along. But this year is going to be tough and it will be a learning experience and a test of mental/physical strength much moreso than the last 3 elk hunts I've done on private land. |
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Start in your back yard. Test out your gear. Then do a lot of 1 or 2 overnight hikes to test your gear more. We had some boys training for philmont and they would head out Friday night with a goal of 3-6 miles. Saturday they would break camp and do 5-8 miles out then turn around and usually camp in the same area. They found out quick what didnt work. Btw. Add some emergency thermal blankets. Super light weight and two people in one stay quite warm. |
I dont think this is a brains type of operation.
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Originally Posted By Mach: well shit, hope he is ok Last Login Date 8/14/2025 2:18:25 PM EST @arowneragain ETA: In an archived thread from Sep, somebody that has his contact info heard from him and said he was fine, just busy. Leaving the peanut gallery hanging I am so disapoint |
Originally Posted By nickforney
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
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Originally Posted By Mach: well shit, hope he is ok Last Login Date 8/14/2025 2:18:25 PM EST @arowneragain ETA: In an archived thread from Sep, somebody that has his contact info heard from him and said he was fine, just busy. |