2026 Chugach Dall Sheep

[Gstew1930]

I'm headed to the Alaska in August for my Dall sheep hunt. i was lucky enough to draw the only non resident tag for 14C, my hunt # is DS231. I'm making this to document my experience the best i can. My grammar isn't the best so work with me lol. The outfitter I'm using is John Rydeen. I'll take any advice i can get. I do have a couple of initial questions hopefully someone can help with. I wear the vivo ESC's & I'm told I need a set of gaiters, I don't love the idea of a strap under my foot all day or is this a non issue? If so is there an alternative solution? I dont think i need a ton of gear. Trekking poles for sure. Headlamp. Thank for you help guys

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Congrats! You’re going to have a phenomenal hunt. @PNWGATOR messaged me about your tag.

Firstly, since you are hunting with John Rydeen, I would reach out to him first with all the specific questions you have. Then, you can run by the info he’s provided with us here on Rokslide. It would be a better idea than going to him with what others have told you and trying to make it fit with what he already knows to work for his area and this specific hunt. If he’s provided you a gear list, post it here and we could give thoughts on specific items.

Re. Vivo’s, I also wear the Forest Tracker ESC’s a lot and have used them for deer hunting here in Alaska. I’ve considered them for sheep, but most definitely would not consider them in 14c.
If you havnt spent time in the Western Chugach, I suggest watching some hunt videos from there to get an idea of the terrain. The ability to use your boots to edge into no fall terrain while carrying a heavy pack is vital.

 

[Gstew1930]

Congrats! You’re going to have a phenomenal hunt. @PNWGATOR messaged me about your tag.

Firstly, since you are hunting with John Rydeen, I would reach out to him first with all the specific questions you have. Then, you can run by the info he’s provided with us here on Rokslide. It would be a better idea than going to him with what others have told you and trying to make it fit with what he already knows to work for his area and this specific hunt. If he’s provided you a gear list, post it here and we could give thoughts on specific items.

Re. Vivo’s, I also wear the Forest Tracker ESC’s a lot and have used them for deer hunting here in Alaska. I’ve considered them for sheep, but most definitely would not consider them in 14c.
If you havnt spent time in the Western Chugach, I suggest watching some hunt videos from there to get an idea of the terrain. The ability to use your boots to edge into no fall terrain while carrying a heavy pack is vital.

Thank you very much for your reply. I've been talking to John quite a bit but more about travel info so far & rain gear. I don't think switching out of a barefoot boot is possible right now. I need to look into this & see if i can find an alternative. if i go straight into a regular boot it will wreck my feet. In the last week I think I've watched everything on youtube about the chugach lol. Its pretty intimidating to say the least

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Thank you very much for your reply. I've been talking to John quite a bit but more about travel info so far & rain gear. I don't think switching out of a barefoot boot is possible right now. I need to look into this & see if i can find an alternative. if i go straight into a regular boot it will wreck my feet. In the last week I think I've watched everything on youtube about the chugach lol. Its pretty intimidating to say the least

Where do you live? If you have steep terrain nearby, put on 60 lbs and spend a lot of time side hilling, climbing and descending. There are boot options that have plenty of forefoot room and easy to walk in, yet have more lateral stability than the Vivos, that require your foot to conform to the terrain, which isn’t an option with heavy weight and on very steep alpine grass or concrete like dirt. Ie. Crispi Lapponia Pro’s, Hanwag boots with their Alpine Wide Last, Lowa Mangart etc.

Basically, if you insist on using Vivo’s, you might be able to pull it off, but you will be severely limited on the terrain you’ll be able to navigate.

 

[Gstew1930]

im an hour east of Houston. One of the flattest spots in the country. i plan on making a drive to the mountains 4-5 times before the trip. closest are about 6 hours from here. Until then its weighted step up & bleachers ect.. Im looking at new boots right lol. im not dead set on anything. i'd rather not gamble

 

[CHL]

You’ll have a phenomenal hunt/time with big John!!! He, Lance, and the whole crew are first class and awesome guys to be around and hunt with. Only bad thing about him is he’s a Vikings fan.

 

[dgfavor]

I wear the vivo ESC's & I'm told I need a set of gaiters, I don't love the idea of a strap under my foot all day or is this a non issue?

I totally dig the Kahtoola gaiters with my minimal footwear - I wear the scree gaiters all the time and never feel the strap at all. Non issue. IME, the strap on these far outlasts the ones on Kenetreks, Sitkas, etc. I had a pair that went 3 years plus hunting sheep, chukar, elk, deer, rucking, etc. and finally the zipper tore out. I'm wearing 'em in my avatar photo with some Topos.

I'd feel totally comfortable in the wilds with these, no matter which boot I was wearing:

My biggest concern with Vivos in that country is the Vivos surviving that country. Certainly, conditioned for it, we don't need much of anything on our feet/ankles to navigate earth - just something to protect us from sharp, poky stuff. We're not as fragile as the hunting community and boot manufacturers will have you believe! People run and race thru it in their sneakers and underwear for hellsakes! You don't want to be posted up on a ridge top in your Crispi Extreme Herman Munsters, sporting SG puffies huddled over your JetBoil making a MtnHouse and have these folks come jogging past!!?

 

[rickyw]

There is a difference between running up and down a mountain in running shoes vs sidehilling 30 plus degree slopes for miles and days on end, at times hopping from boulder to boulder, or scrambling in scree, with 60-120 lbs on your back. A stiff soled boot that digs into the side of the mountain and supports you in precarious moments really makes a difference in performance and injury prevention

 

[Gstew1930]

There is a difference between running up and down a mountain in running shoes vs sidehilling 30 plus degree slopes for miles and days on end, at times hopping from boulder to boulder, or scrambling in scree, with 60-120 lbs on your back. A stiff soled boot that digs into the side of the mountain and supports you in precarious moments really makes a difference in performance and injury prevention

That makes sense to me

 

[chasewild]

Congrats on the tag. My wife had it in 2023 as a resident.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

There is a difference between running up and down a mountain in running shoes vs sidehilling 30 plus degree slopes for miles and days on end, at times hopping from boulder to boulder, or scrambling in scree, with 60-120 lbs on your back. A stiff soled boot that digs into the side of the mountain and supports you in precarious moments really makes a difference in performance and injury prevention

Absolutely, though there are some boots that bridge the gap from Vivo’s to Koflach plastics better than most. Here’s an IG reel of mine showing the hunt area, running up and down it in running shoes with @Marty.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Gstew1930]

Absolutely. Here’s an IG reel of mine showing the hunt area, running up and down it, in running shoes with @Marty.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Thats a bad ass video

 

[Gstew1930]

You’ll have a phenomenal hunt/time with big John!!! He, Lance, and the whole crew are first class and awesome guys to be around and hunt with. Only bad thing about him is he’s a Vikings fan.

Oh thats awesome! Im glad to hear someone knows him & has good things to say

 

[dgfavor]

Absolutely, though there are some boots that bridge the gap from Vivo’s to Koflach plastics better than most. Here’s an IG reel of mine showing the hunt area, running up and down it in running shoes with @Marty.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Luv it!!
Freakin' envy. I hate it...so painful.

I think we can all agree somewhere between naked and whole body bubble wrap is going to be the sweet spot for you! For a OIL type adventure no shame favoring the bubble wrap side.

 

[tstowater]

Congratulations on the great tag. Obviously there are guys on this thread that have been in that terrain and know what kind of footwear it demands. The key is finding a boot that fits and gives you more support than you ever think you would need while sidehilling. Terry Stone wore ankle high duck shoes on my Stone sheep hunt with him. He never wore anything else. I just can't imagine how tough his feet were. Unfortunately, my boots didn't fit as well as they needed to and I about wrecked my feet on the way off the mountain on the successful 3rd day of a 14 day hunt. Gave up chasing a mountain goat because my feet weren't going to recover in time to go hunting. I think that the trophy fee for a mountain goat at that time was around $3k at Stone Mountain Safaris. Good luck with your training and the hunt.

 

[rickyw]

Absolutely, though there are some boots that bridge the gap from Vivo’s to Koflach plastics better than most. Here’s an IG reel of mine showing the hunt area, running up and down it in running shoes

Nice, I’ll have to look into those! Great hike too

 

[AKarchery]

Got some recce for ya.

 

[skipper907]

Couple things gators are kind of a non issue with any interference ( as long as you put them on correctly ) buckles on the outside and straps snug.
Not being close to mountains I would strongly recommend looking into Up-Hill athlete programs, they did just come out with a hunter specific program. They have a long history of working with mountain athletes that do not have mountains to train. Cliff Gray just did a podcast with them that is very informative.
This is the first thing I would start going on now in order to be ready for your hunt in august
hopefully this is helpful good luck

 

[BRWNBR]

Being in shape will mean more than your gear. I know guides that work in tennis shoes. I guided in hip boots for sheep for years!

Find a boot that feels good and is quality. Don’t overthink this.
Be able to shoot.
Water is scarce in a lot of that country.
Be in shape for climbing.

One more thing that will make or break your entire investment. Be. In. Shape. Spend your time hiking and not scrolling…

 

[Gstew1930]

Being in shape will mean more than your gear. I know guides that work in tennis shoes. I guided in hip boots for sheep for years!

Find a boot that feels good and is quality. Don’t overthink this.
Be able to shoot.
Water is scarce in a lot of that country.
Be in shape for climbing.

One more thing that will make or break your entire investment. Be. In. Shape. Spend your time hiking and not scrolling…

Fitness is by far my number one priority, i appreciate you're response & the advice! I'll take all I can get