- Thread Starter
- #121
OP
Man that happened so fast!
Well it was a little over 100 yard shot verified by Leica but was pretty close to straight down. Had to crawl closer to the edge so I could get more downward angle on my rifle for the shot. It's after 9 now and gets dark about 10pm. Decision time hike back down to the Jeep tonight and leave it till morning and hike back up to work in daylight or decend the steep cliffs and hopefully beat the darkness while processing the bear and making the trip down in the total dark. Option 2 was chosen and later regretted. It was about 350 yards to twist and wind though the cliffs with a nearly vertical decent before we got to the bear. Standing in the avalanche chute we were about halfway through skinning when it got really dark really fast, not a ideal situation by any stretch. We really tried to rush and left the quarters and skull on the hide. After loading the hide plus meat in my pack I knew we would need to be extra careful. Extra caution on the climb up to not twist.sprainor worse breaking something try to find our way back up the cliffs.
It was a tough climb and all we could do to gain elevation hanging on to and pulling against anything we could grab to hold onto rocks, wire thin branches, small root balls. I slipped one time and slid about 8' straight down all the while spidermaned face first into the cliff outcropping. Doing everything I could to just try and to claw into the mountain side to stop my desent. Honestly it scared me a bunch but staying halfway up on the steep mountain side wasn't an option so I collected myself and continued to climb. Never been so happy to have covered a meet 350 yards in my life.
We still had navigate the blown down timber and make it back to the Jeep but it was a relief to make the top for sure. 4 miles down the mountain and then 2.5 back to the other trail head where we started our day and left the Jeep. Half way down in the dark we had another encounter with a bear on the trail that didn't run away when we shouted at it and took a warning shot to see we were serious about getting by it on the trail. It was pretty unnerving encounter in the total blackness under tight North Idaho canopy of thick ass trees. After that I was every twig breaking or shadow moving got my attention yep I was officially afraid of the dark haha. It was an adventure not soon to be forgotten for sure. Glad I got to share the experience with a good friend. Be plenty of smiles and smack talking around the fire for years to come.
Wore the unita pants which did take a few tears hiking down though the blow down in the dark under a heavy pack.
Got them all patched up and ready for my next adventure I'll keep everyone posted on thier continued durability. The kaibab and the kanati tops handled the downed tree jungle without issue. I did burn two very small holes in the kaibab sleeve lighting my stove but that's on me. Also after being in the rain wearing the early season hat I switched to one of my all-time favorite hats that patch hat you see in the kill pictures. I really like all the SKRE hats I've tried out.
Well it was a little over 100 yard shot verified by Leica but was pretty close to straight down. Had to crawl closer to the edge so I could get more downward angle on my rifle for the shot. It's after 9 now and gets dark about 10pm. Decision time hike back down to the Jeep tonight and leave it till morning and hike back up to work in daylight or decend the steep cliffs and hopefully beat the darkness while processing the bear and making the trip down in the total dark. Option 2 was chosen and later regretted. It was about 350 yards to twist and wind though the cliffs with a nearly vertical decent before we got to the bear. Standing in the avalanche chute we were about halfway through skinning when it got really dark really fast, not a ideal situation by any stretch. We really tried to rush and left the quarters and skull on the hide. After loading the hide plus meat in my pack I knew we would need to be extra careful. Extra caution on the climb up to not twist.sprainor worse breaking something try to find our way back up the cliffs.It was a tough climb and all we could do to gain elevation hanging on to and pulling against anything we could grab to hold onto rocks, wire thin branches, small root balls. I slipped one time and slid about 8' straight down all the while spidermaned face first into the cliff outcropping. Doing everything I could to just try and to claw into the mountain side to stop my desent. Honestly it scared me a bunch but staying halfway up on the steep mountain side wasn't an option so I collected myself and continued to climb. Never been so happy to have covered a meet 350 yards in my life.
We still had navigate the blown down timber and make it back to the Jeep but it was a relief to make the top for sure. 4 miles down the mountain and then 2.5 back to the other trail head where we started our day and left the Jeep. Half way down in the dark we had another encounter with a bear on the trail that didn't run away when we shouted at it and took a warning shot to see we were serious about getting by it on the trail. It was pretty unnerving encounter in the total blackness under tight North Idaho canopy of thick ass trees. After that I was every twig breaking or shadow moving got my attention yep I was officially afraid of the dark haha. It was an adventure not soon to be forgotten for sure. Glad I got to share the experience with a good friend. Be plenty of smiles and smack talking around the fire for years to come.
Wore the unita pants which did take a few tears hiking down though the blow down in the dark under a heavy pack.
Last edited:
