nothing like owning your own business. Hope it goes well for you! take some time and enjoy a little retirement though
Sept 12-17th Matt. Thought I'd be able to get by Unit 45 but I think I'll be out of time and hopefully out of tags You'll be one the first to get a pic.
Question. What are you doing to get in shape? I walked about 3 miles tonight in the woods, but its going to take ALOT more than walking to get my fat *** in shape. Do you join a gym or are you motivated enough to do it on your own? I think I would be more likely to stick with the workouts by hitting the gym before or after work. I'd like to drop 40-50lbs before I hit the mountains in September.
Since my Elk hunt last year I've put on about 12lbs(I've had a lot going on), I know I can get rid of it, but that means I have to motivate myself(not easy). This year I've taken a picture of myself in the mirror and yep the muffin top has to go, I use that picture as my motivation to get out running, rowing, press ups..... whatever it takes to be in shape for the altitude and physical strain the hunt will put me through. Joining a gym would be a great start, for me its not an option, I simply cannot afford to, so I do what I can each year and I get the results. If you can join the gym, do it.... if not, run, row, pedal your way to shape
Sore subject for me as well. I'm not over weight but I really need to up my muscle mass and cardio but like the others I'm so busy and just don't have the energy after work.
Thanks for the kind words gents. I will make this new adventure work. I thrive on discovery and challenge. Patinthehat, I'm off to Africa on May 15th. I 'll have plenty of time to relax and build friendship while there. Africa is so good for the soul. It makes a person appreciate what he/she has. I hope I can find a hippo and sable with my name on it! I want my bow to sing! Trev, as always, my family comes first. My hunting endeavors (after what has already been planned...) may need modification. We'll see, but I hope not. As you know, I am a highly motivated individual. I have lived a lifetime with, "Where there's a will, there's a way." ever present in my mind. I am doing this! Andrew, I do not know how a guy at sea level prepares for elevation. Yes, working out, running, etc. will help... but wow. The altitude has a way of kicking your hinny even when you're prepared. Have you though about slicing your leg and swimming among sharks? I mean, that may be the desired intensity your looking for! Survive in that arena and the mountains might become easier. There isn't a good workout for strenuous excercise above 10,000 feet, other than working out there. A man has to do what a man has to do! More work is better than none. It seperates the winners from the losers...and fills the freezer. Matt, you know my number!
Well the promotion fell through. They didn't want to give it to me or the other guy who applied for it due to our position being more important to the company. They actually did away with the position I was going after for the time being. Kind of relieved as I wasn't sure I wanted the job anyways. I am comfortable where I'm at and a pay cut wouldn't have been ideal but the experience gained outweighed that. I have a meeting tonight with my boss to see if I can get him to break policy and allow me to take off that week even though another guy already has it. Wish me luck! Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
BB - Anything is better than nothing. I think anyone with job and/or kids...it's hard to find the motivation most times. I found my motivation the first year I made the elk camp - I quickly realized how important my success depended on it. For me - I like to keep it simple. If I could only do one thing it would be running. Nothing works me better in a small amount of time and the cardio it provides is key with the huffing & puffing that the mountains bring on. Otherwise, hills/stairs/stairmaster would be my #2 recommendation. Then hikes with weighted pack. I try to work in some full body stuff as summer progresses to help core/back - any body weight exercise, good 'ol push ups, sit ups, planks, yoga, and simple dumbbell exercises. For me, I find starting slow and getting a habit works best. Start with 2-3 miles, even just 20 pushups/situps each day will lead to more down the road. I also progress all summer and the 2 months leading up to elk hunt I try to do something 7 days per week even if only for 20 minutes...going to more hiking with pack and boots on as it gets nearer. And don't forget to shoot the bow some! Keep it fun and don't get injured. I just like how elk hunt motivates me to work out - not sure where the motivation would come from without it. Good Luck in Africa Will! Elk camp won't be complete without a good Hippo story (I hear they like to eat people)
Until you've been once... You have no idea how much your success and even just enjoyment hinges on your physical fitness. Don't get me wrong the mountains are still awesome even if you are fat and out of shape, but you will enjoy the experience ten fold if you are more prepared to tackle those hills. My main advice is don't push it too hard the first few days and burn yourself out... You have a whole week there and if you are too sore to move on day 3 that may be all she wrote.
BB, find the steepest hill or ravine around. Go up and down it until over and over again. A stairmaster is a poor substitute but will do if nothing else. Put a bag over your head to simulate the thin air. (kidding!!) Take it from a fat flatlander that moved to the 'Life Elevated' state... You're going to get your butt kicked by the mountains... but if you can build up some leg muscles and cardio endurance you'll be better off.
I'm a flat lander and go down hill very good, side hill decent, and up hill sucks. I just take my time don't push to hard especially the first couple days as you get acclamated to the elevation. I am going to ride my bike and jog a little to help get in shape. I still play basketball and take aikido so that helps a little. Getting your legs to burn that you get from going up hill is what bothers me the most. Doing lots of calf raises and using stairs would help a lot.
Matt- Just realized we do pretty much the same exercise routine, it works for me, 2-3 mile run, but instead of going further I try to quicken my time. when I started running 2 miles would take me 23mins , now I can do it 16mins and still have more left in me. I do 3x reps of 15 press ups and repeat this 3 times, I do the same with dumbells, 3x15x3 and sit-ups. I definitely feel better for it come September. I remember my first trip to camp in 2008, day 3 myself and Will had just had an 8yd encounter with a Bull and cow Elk, when we got a radio message from Cavan that he had hit Brown and put the same Bull down. Myself and Will were directly below Cavan(around 400ft), so myself and Will set off on a straight line upto Cavan, what a climb, we had not gone 100mtrs before Will stopped and turned to me for a break, we were sucking air like our lungs had burst and Will lives in Colorado!!. By the time we got to Cavan , he had gutted, taken the quarters off and was preparing to skin LOL..... what an eye opener, till that point I thought I was mountain ready :P
My legs burn and I suck wind when going uphill... but my knees and ankles scream in pain when I go downhill. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Some very good advice, keep it streaming! The best however, keep it simple the first couple of days. Yes, give your body the time to adjust to the thin air. All too often I see flatlanders over exert the first day. Altitude sickness sets in and they're down hard in agony for the next three days. I am telling you, altitude sickness is NOT fun! Trev is spot on. Those that take the time to get in better shape tend to have better success. Camp rule: when an elk hits the ground, we all stop hunting until the meat is off the mountain. Generally, five people can handle the task. Radios are important to help rally the troops. When I see five volunteers moving towards a kill (self included) to lend a hand, the hunt is back on for everyone else. It is so inportant, at least to me, to get the meat out and chilling. I talked to Sexy Rexy. He said he wouldn't miss this hunt for the world! Thus, the man is coming back! Kodiakarcher (Rob Swanson) will be there too! I'm thinking about changing the camp site onto Homestake Road, instead of No Name Road. This would put us along Homestake Creek-which would allow close access to fishing during our down time. This would subject us to closer proximity to traffic and more dust from the dirt road. Thoughts? There are trade offs...
Glad to hear Rex and Rob are going to make it. (Hope Rob brings samon again, that was the best I ever had). I don't really have a preferance where camp is so I'll just throw out some pros and cons for people to think about and give input on. Home Stake Road....... Pros- 1. you can fish right from camp 2. Less camps (we would probably be the only one) 3. The Texas boys have a hard time waking up early and this will get them that much closer to where they like to hunt lol Cons- 1. Traffic No Name Road- Pros- 1. Tradition 2. Convience to go up the road and start hunting (not that home stake is much further) Cons- 1. Have to drive (although not far) in order to fish. Matt what are yoru thoughts? Would you camp at No name even if we were at homestake or would you guys come to home stake ? Wouldn't be camp with out ya
Glad to hear Rex is making the trip, I knew Rob was coming......... I have a Single Malt with his name on, so he had to come along. It's gonna be great getting to meet all the regulars, but also to meet the newcomers who are getting their first taste of Elk hunting. Really looking forward to hearing everybodies hunting exploits around the camp fire too. Will- You would suggest Homestake!, I like that area... Pro's Beautiful area with good Elky ground. Close proximity for hunting the west side of No Name. Big area for parking and setting up Camp. Fishing right next to Camp. Con's When I last went down there in 2010, that Homestake road was rough as hell and rattled my teeth loose. Access to No Name road for ATV users will add time to morning jourey. unfamiliar ground to some, will end up going to No Name anyway. No Name. Pro's As Colby Said, "Tradition"...... Its in the Name, Camp No Name No dustier than Homestake Close and Direct access to the No Name Rd, where I imagine most will head Con's Lots of Hunters use No name for its access to hunting ground I'm still thinking To be honest, I quite like the Idea of Homestake, its just that Road was real rough and long in a truck. If I'm ok taking an ATV up to No Name each morning, then I'm more than happy to take a change.
I'll trust Will on this one! Will might have to get the forest service to clear cut to get a spot big enough if the TX boys follow along also (We need Waid and Steve present) Only downside for me was Homestake was very rough the last couple years and about shook the windows right out my suburban (and the traffic) - but I still head up that road a couple times anyway, the other places I hunt it would add some drive time...no biggie. Fishing is the biggest upside - the two "Old Balls" in my car might like that...I'll check with them. I doubt I bring a pole. Will - any idea if the reservoir has filled back up yet? I know it has been drained the last couple years while they repaired the dam - didn't know if that meant creek levels could be down this year if they plan to let reservoir fill back up and not let much escape into Homestake Creek... About how far up HomeStake would you be talking?
1 or 2 Elk typically - which is in line with the archery average that floats around 10%. This figure is not representative of those that have elk encounters within archery range. Closing the deal is the tough part Not all guys in camp always have elk tags, some have muley, a few have bear - and few have a combination of 2 or 3 tags at times.
