SEAK Pack Choice

[chizelhead]

In case anyone was wondering - he's going to use a Barney's Freighter, it is an impressive piece of gear. As '+1' I'm taking an Exo K4 7200. Between this thread and PMs lots of gear questions to the community, and all the advice and experience has been very helpful.

We're both caulking boots per Ed. Originally just wanted to do microspikes but multiple people have steered that thought clear out of my mind.

I highly recommend reconsidering caulking your boots. I know someone that did that and regretted it for 2 reasons. First, you'll be on rock above treeline and caulks are really slick and noisy in that scenario. Think studded snow tires on concrete. Second, you'll likely use the boots for that trip and nothing else unless you ice fish, because there isn't much of a use case beyond that. Caulking boots come from loggers walking on wet/slippery logs which is very common in SEAK and PNW, which I believe that's Ed's background.

I recommend Petzl Leopard crampons if you need them. They're aluminum so they're light, but they don't hold up well in rocks where you don't want them anyway. For mixed ice/rock, you would just be mindful. Go steel if you don't want to worry about it.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

Out of curiosity why is that? I recently picked up a pair of Kahtoola's and only took them on one bear hunt so far. I liked them. Of course out West where I am is different than SEAK

soley due to the strong recommendations to do so, not out of personal experience.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I highly recommend reconsidering caulking your boots. I know someone that did that and regretted it for 2 reasons. First, you'll be on rock above treeline and caulks are really slick and noisy in that scenario. Think studded snow tires on concrete. Second, you'll likely use the boots for that trip and nothing else unless you ice fish, because there isn't much of a use case beyond that. Caulking boots come from loggers walking on wet/slippery logs which is very common in SEAK and PNW, which I believe that's Ed's background.

I recommend Petzl Leopard crampons if you need them. They're aluminum so they're light, but they don't hold up well in rocks where you don't want them anyway. For mixed ice/rock, you would just be mindful. Go steel if you don't want to worry about it.

Interesting - the rock thing I've been worried about, but have mostly seen vegetated tops in photos and videos from that area. Was planning on have them resoled after, I don't need caulks for anything in Montana, where microspikes are just fine.

One downside to crampons is you have to be mindful you've got them on - they can shread clothing and yourself in an instant. And I'm pretty clumsy.

 

[chizelhead]

I recommend asking Ed if you can get in touch with your guide to meet them ahead of time. Then you can ask them for their opinion when you get in touch.

I like wearing OR croc gaiters, and I find them to be pretty much bullet proof with crampons.

 

[Elk Chaser]

I recommend asking Ed if you can get in touch with your guide to meet them ahead of time. Then you can ask them for their opinion when you get in touch.

I like wearing OR croc gaiters, and I find them to be pretty much bullet proof with crampons.

Hunter here, I hunted bear last year with the guy that will be guiding me for goat as well so I had plenty of time to pick his brain on goat gear recommendations. The two things that were hammered into me by him, Ed, and another guy I've known for a very long time that guides for Ed were calk boots and rubber rain gear.

I'm sure there will be points in the hunt that neither will be ideal, and possibly cumbersome, but I'm not going to rock the boat and try to figure that stuff out on my own and on the fly. I do appreciate the revival of this thread and additional feedback though. Hoping to be flying back from Ketchikan four months from today with a big old billy in tow...can't wait!

 

[chizelhead]

Good luck

 

[Bighorse]

Petzel 6 point instep crampons
Hiking poles
Use whatever rain gear you want
Use whatever pack you want
You hired a guide, you’re supported
When it really gets foul, ya need to be in a shelter anyways.
Cheers and don’t leave home without being strong mentally. The steepness and distances can get ya.

 

[Elk Chaser]

Happy to report a very successful trip, I went with the Barney's Yukon UL bag and have no complaints. I probably could have fit more stuff in there but certainly not a ton...rubber rain gear and a big wet tent definitely ate up some space. The bag and frame carried weight very well and I'm looking forward to putting it to use more in the future. My good friend @MT_Wyatt was along with me on this hunt with an Exo K4 7200 and from what I can tell he thought pretty darn highly of that setup as well.

 

[trapperJ]

Nice goat elk chaser! Whats the length on that guy?

 

[Elk Chaser]

Nice goat elk chaser! Whats the length on that guy?

Thank you sir, 10 5/8” if I recall correctly!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Happy to report a very successful trip, I went with the Barney's Yukon UL bag and have no complaints. I probably could have fit more stuff in there but certainly not a ton...rubber rain gear and a big wet tent definitely ate up some space. The bag and frame carried weight very well and I'm looking forward to putting it to use more in the future. My good friend @MT_Wyatt was along with me on this hunt with an Exo K4 7200 and from what I can tell he thought pretty darn highly of that setup as well.

View attachment 771947

I went to look at those ultralight bags for my frame, they look awesome but 900.00 for a bag alone…holy crap.

 

[MattyIce]

Awesome! I bet I have a picture of it since I’ve been bugging him for animal pictures since August haha. I got the message loud and clear on the calks when I was up there this spring for sure. Who was your guide on your hunt? Cole was my bear guide and he was great.

Bringing this thread back to life, I just booked a hunt with Ed for early Oct this fall and Cole is my guide. I've been doing a lot of digging trying to talk myself in/out of calk boots...in your experience would you say these are a necessity? Just struggling because I have no other use for them unless i do this hunt again in the future....

 

[Elk Chaser]

Bringing this thread back to life, I just booked a hunt with Ed for early Oct this fall and Cole is my guide. I've been doing a lot of digging trying to talk myself in/out of calk boots...in your experience would you say these are a necessity? Just struggling because I have no other use for them unless i do this hunt again in the future....

Very cool! My wife and I are going bear hunting with them again this spring and Cole will be with us as well. Knowing what I know, which admittedly isn't a ton, I'd totally recommend them especially if you're going in October which should theoretically be even wetter than when I was there in mid-September. I'm sure you could get by with crampons but given the price of the hunt getting your boots calked is really a drop in the bucket. I can say that they really made some somewhat sketchy situations a lot more tolerable for me...especially on the way out with a pack full of goat.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions, otherwise Ed, Cole, and anyone else at Primo should be able to provide you with a wealth of information.

 

[MattyIce]

Very cool! My wife and I are going bear hunting with them again this spring and Cole will be with us as well. Knowing what I know, which admittedly isn't a ton, I'd totally recommend them especially if you're going in October which should theoretically be even wetter than when I was there in mid-September. I'm sure you could get by with crampons but given the price of the hunt getting your boots calked is really a drop in the bucket. I can say that they really made some somewhat sketchy situations a lot more tolerable for me...especially on the way out with a pack full of goat.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions, otherwise Ed, Cole, and anyone else at Primo should be able to provide you with a wealth of information.

Did you buy Hoffman boots or did you send your regular hunting boots in to get calked? if you sent your hunting boots what kind were they and how are they holding up being resoled?

 

[Elk Chaser]

Did you buy Hoffman boots or did you send your regular hunting boots in to get calked? if you sent your hunting boots what kind were they and how are they holding up being resoled?

I sent in some Schnee granites and they are holding up well. I’m still in the draw with Ed so I’m keeping them calked for the next few years at least.