Rokslide hiking trip

[HellsCanyon]

As some of you know MLHSN and Myself hiked up to the saddle between Schaefer and D lake friday night. Saturday morning we hiked up to the ridge line, here are a few pics from that morning!



Schaefer n the early sunrise light


A look down at D lake


I'm headed back into the high country on thursday! Had a voicemail waiting for me from Icicle Outfitters and I'll be wrangling a trip for them Thursday-Sunday!

Mike

 

[Brock A]

Surprised the pic of me drinking the "firewater" has surfaced yet, haha.

 

[slim9300]

Surprised the pic of me drinking the "firewater" has surfaced yet, haha.

No joke!

 

[fillthefreezer]

i was loading it last night and my power went out....

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Well I made it back to Oregon, took ~7hr drive one way, ~800mil RT, avg mpg 19.3 RT for the Dodge.
Awesome time guys, really appreciate you all allowing me to join ya'll.
Learned a lot... while my gear is fine for short trips, your right about the functional load lifters. Didn't really get it until trying on some of your packs......I'm sold. Probably would've made that pack in w/ the 1/2 case of IPA and 1/2 gal of fireball & Apple Pie more comfortable. When I was younger and more fit I didn't notice the shoulder straps dig'n in as bad. But this morning, the points of my shoulder sockets are a little bruised. Also learned a ton about differant UL sleep systems, pads, quilts etc and a crash course in UL shelters. Lots for fine choices. And Trevor "Little Buff" that 5 string bag w/ the Squall 2, pad & quilt was very impressive! Wish I'd snapped a pic of you holding that thing.

Anyway Very cool trip. Loved watching you guys shoot 1k. Probably should've took my turn but figured I let others who hadn't shot that far give it a whirl. Mike & Justin, it takes a lot to impress me when it come to LR rifles..... I applaud you both on your rifles. Well done.

Great time around the fire too. I think the skeeters were half lit just sucking our blood. he, he, he. I died & slept like a baby that night.
Well worth the drive!

Question: There's a lot I like about my modular Nimrod....Can the Bikini be run frameless w/ a smallish lumbar pack? I know they don't make a lumbar bag, but I'm pretty good w/ a sew'n machine. Or I'm think'n I can adapt my Nimrod Pinnacle bag to it or maybe I could use a lid as a lumbar bag....Thoughts? Remember I'm mainly a horse guy so I was thinking I could use the Highcamp bag as my clothes duffle and top pack it on the mules and wear the harness frameless w/ a butt bag or belt pouches. (gotta keep that apple pie & brandy close at hand ya know. he, he.) Also does the Bikini frame disassemble & break down? If so, I think I could slip the stays in the pannier bags or slip them in the tent bag. (we run a 14x14 Enna TT and Kni-Co collapsiable Tundra stove.)

But regardless.... man I gotta loose some weight.
Hunt'nFish

 

[fillthefreezer]

Well worth the drive!

Question: There's a lot I like about my modular Nimrod....Can the Bikini be run frameless w/ a smallish lumbar pack? I know they don't make a lumbar bag, but I'm pretty good w/ a sew'n machine. Or I'm think'n I can adapt my Nimrod Pinnacle bag to it or maybe I could use a lid as a lumbar bag....Thoughts? Remember I'm mainly a horse guy so I was thinking I could use the Highcamp bag as my clothes duffle and top pack it on the mules and wear the harness frameless w/ a butt bag or belt pouches. (gotta keep that apple pie & brandy close at hand ya know. he, he.) Also does the Bikini frame disassemble & break down? If so, I think I could slip the stays in the pannier bags or slip them in the tent bag. (we run a 14x14 Enna TT and Kni-Co collapsiable Tundra stove.)

But regardless.... man I gotta loose some weight.
Hunt'nFish

mike, you would have to use the frame to use the belt and shoulder straps but what would probably work great would be a small bag at the bottom, and a hanging meat bag at the top on a bikini frame once an animal is down. with the high camp as a duffel.

btw: weighed my double pack load, 70lb on the dot

 

[HellsCanyon]

Well I made it back to Oregon, took ~7hr drive one way, ~800mil RT, avg mpg 19.3 RT for the Dodge.
Awesome time guys, really appreciate you all allowing me to join ya'll.
Learned a lot... while my gear is fine for short trips, your right about the functional load lifters. Didn't really get it until trying on some of your packs......I'm sold. Probably would've made that pack in w/ the 1/2 case of IPA and 1/2 gal of fireball & Apple Pie more comfortable. When I was younger and more fit I didn't notice the shoulder straps dig'n in as bad. But this morning, the points of my shoulder sockets are a little bruised. Also learned a ton about differant UL sleep systems, pads, quilts etc and a crash course in UL shelters. Lots for fine choices. And Trevor "Little Buff" that 5 string bag w/ the Squall 2, pad & quilt was very impressive! Wish I'd snapped a pic of you holding that thing.

Anyway Very cool trip. Loved watching you guys shoot 1k. Probably should've took my turn but figured I let others who hadn't shot that far give it a whirl. Mike & Justin, it takes a lot to impress me when it come to LR rifles..... I applaud you both on your rifles. Well done.

Great time around the fire too. I think the skeeters were half lit just sucking our blood. he, he, he. I died & slept like a baby that night.
Well worth the drive!

Question: There's a lot I like about my modular Nimrod....Can the Bikini be run frameless w/ a smallish lumbar pack? I know they don't make a lumbar bag, but I'm pretty good w/ a sew'n machine. Or I'm think'n I can adapt my Nimrod Pinnacle bag to it or maybe I could use a lid as a lumbar bag....Thoughts? Remember I'm mainly a horse guy so I was thinking I could use the Highcamp bag as my clothes duffle and top pack it on the mules and wear the harness frameless w/ a butt bag or belt pouches. (gotta keep that apple pie & brandy close at hand ya know. he, he.) Also does the Bikini frame disassemble & break down? If so, I think I could slip the stays in the pannier bags or slip them in the tent bag. (we run a 14x14 Enna TT and Kni-Co collapsiable Tundra stove.)

But regardless.... man I gotta loose some weight.
Hunt'nFish

Mike! Glad to see you made it home alright, sure wouldn't of been the kind of trip it was without yourself... haha

When you say running the bikini "frameless" are you referring to the bikini frame without the BAG? The bikini frame is the entire harness system (shoulder straps, lumbar pad, hip belt, verticle/horizontal stays...etc) and you can swap out different bags onto the frame. You can sure run just the bikini frame with a modified smaller pack on it for use while riding a horse (I think the highcamp would be just fine loaded on a mule without the frame).

Actually my bikini frame and DT1 bag is showing up today (naturally didn't arrive in time for our trip) and I'm leaving with Icicle Outfitters on thursday for a pack trip. If you want I'll load up my gear in the DT1 bag and run it on one of our mules and plan on wearing the frame on the ride out (Or atleast try it out to see how she works while mounted)...?

Mike

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Ok, so the frame on the Bikini can NOT be seperated from the belt & harness. Damn!
For riding I really like a soft frameless design. Kinda why I like my Nimrod so much. Yeah Mike, if you don't mind, I'd be interested to hear how it rides or if its gonna just keep getting hung up on, or dig'n into, the rear of the seat..... I guess they call it the cantle. I don't like things that could tear up a good saddle. Also don't care to have a frame sticking up on my back when trying to dodge alder limbs plus it interfers w/ donning the slicker. I wear my slicker right over my Nimrod harness & Pinnacle bag.

I think I'm gonna have to accept that a Kifaru will be a backpack hunting pack only, not a horse hunter pack. I suppose that's fine but I was really dig'n the idea of being able to seperate the frame from the Bikini harness, ride soft, then re-assemble at base camp.... but no dice huh. Now I'm bummed. I wish I would've looked more closely at the Bikini frame to see how it was constructed & put together. I have a habit of modifing gear to customize it to meet my needs. I bet there's a way to modify the Bikini harness to allow it to stand on it's own frameless. I know your asking.. why Mike?? I just like a harness & butt pack when riding. Gives me a place to clip my bino's, radio, gps onto and keep it all handy w/o having to dig into a horn bag for said gear. Just the way I prefer to ride.
Hunt'nFish

 

[Hunt'nFish]

mike, you would have to use the frame to use the belt and shoulder straps but what would probably work great would be a small bag at the bottom, and a hanging meat bag at the top on a bikini frame once an animal is down. with the high camp as a duffel.

btw: weighed my double pack load, 70lb on the dot

Really?!!? Damn, I was way off.... I guess I was feeling strong when I picked up your pack.
I came out at 45lb + 9lb rifle. Scarey to think what I went in at. (yikes!)
Hunt'nFish

PS: thanks for post up pics guys. I didn't take many at all and ripped them off to my own folder to remember the trip by.
Hunt'nFish

 

[HellsCanyon]

Ok, so the frame on the Bikini can NOT be seperated from the belt & harness. Damn!
For riding I really like a soft frameless design. Kinda why I like my Nimrod so much. Yeah Mike, if you don't mind, I'd be interested to hear how it rides or if its gonna just keep getting hung up on, or dig'n into, the rear of the seat..... I guess they call it the cantle. I don't like things that could tear up a good saddle. Also don't care to have a frame sticking up on my back when trying to dodge alder limbs plus it interfers w/ donning the slicker. I wear my slicker right over my Nimrod harness & Pinnacle bag.

I think I'm gonna have to accept that a Kifaru will be a backpack hunting pack only, not a horse hunter pack. I suppose that's fine but I was really dig'n the idea of being able to seperate the frame from the Bikini harness, ride soft, then re-assemble at base camp.... but no dice huh. Now I'm bummed. I wish I would've looked more closely at the Bikini frame to see how it was constructed & put together. I have a habit of modifing gear to customize it to meet my needs. I bet there's a way to modify the Bikini harness to allow it to stand on it's own frameless. I know your asking.. why Mike?? I just like a harness & butt pack when riding. Gives me a place to clip my bino's, radio, gps onto and keep it all handy w/o having to dig into a horn bag for said gear. Just the way I prefer to ride.
Hunt'nFish

Fast forward to the 1:00 mark on this video to see what the frame looks like by itself... and you should watch the entire video if you're thinking of purchasing a Kifaru anyways!

I've worn other hunting packs in the saddle before and haven't really had a problem but I'll give the Kifaru a try this week and let you know how I think it'll work.

You might be best just ordering or using a MOLLE type combat vest or harness to wear while you're riding Mike. It'd sure be cheaper, lightweight, and you could add whatever kind of pockets or gear to it for you while riding.

Mike

 

[HellsCanyon]

Really?!!? Damn, I was way off.... I guess I was feeling strong when I picked up your pack.
I came out at 45lb + 9lb rifle. Scarey to think what I went in at. (yikes!)
Hunt'nFish


Hunt'nFish

Dang Mike that is nuts. I came in at 53-54 lbs and came out WAY lighter... Nice work!

Mike

 

[Hunt'nFish]

You might be best just ordering or using a MOLLE type combat vest or harness to wear while you're riding Mike. It'd sure be cheaper, lightweight, and you could add whatever kind of pockets or gear to it for you while riding.
Mike

Yeah that's basically what I have in my Nimrod harness. Just a good harness that can morph into larger when needed.
That is .... if your man enough roll w/o good load lifters. Man I'm still amazed at how big a differance those make.
I think if the 1606 Molle frame I have mated to my Nimrod were taller, it'd be ok. (although heavier) But it's so short a frame you really can't get any height on the load lifters, rendering them non-functioning.

I think I'm just gonna buy a BHC and play with it.
Hunt'nFish

 

[littlebuf]

Mark, start looking at the duplex instead of the bikini. it may be able to do what you want

 

[MLHSN]

Mark, start looking at the duplex instead of the bikini. it may be able to do what you want

I'm Mark, he's Mike. lol

We should have brought the name tags with screen names.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

I'm Mark, he's Mike. lol
We should have brought the name tags with screen names.

I knew what he ment. I agree, I was having a much trouble keeping names & monikers straight.
If & when I ever earn a rokslide hat, I'm going to have my name & moniker embrorded (sp) on it.
Hunt'nFish

 

[littlebuf]

its funny, I posted mike first, then edited it to mark cuz I thought I was wrong. only 2 letters off you gotta give it to me

 

[slim9300]

its funny, I posted mike first, then edited it to mark cuz I thought I was wrong. only 2 letters off you gotta give it to me

Lol. Considering my lack of memory, I'm willing to give it to you.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Lol. Considering my lack of memory, I'm willing to give it to you.

Speaking on names....slim will you please type you name out for me so I'll, once and for all, Remember it correctly.
Would help if we all did as well.


I'll start...... Hunt'nFish, Mike Knifong cell: 503-703-6248 Beaverton, OR

 

[Justin Crossley]

Mike,
Get the Timberline and you will be able to do what you want. You can just slide the stays out while you ride and stuff them into a pannier.

Justin Crossley

 

[HellsCanyon]

Well just got done playing around a bit with my new BT1... Those flat back stays really do make all the difference (had standard stays in my T1)! I already trimmed up my LH lid a bit and my total pack with frame is 5 lbs 12 oz (black frame, highlander bag)... Thinking about cutting out the sleeping bag divider but will wait for a bit to see. Got the new Gen2 meat back too which seems like it's going to work out great!

My LH lid before trimming was 15.3 oz and after trimming and leaving the chamber pocket attached is 8.6 oz.

Mike Johnson