Hello all,
I'm a 28 year old high school teacher from Grand Junction, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can before my first hunting season this fall. I have a cow tag for unit 421 and I couldn't be more excited.
I won't have much to contribute in terms of hunting knowledge, but I've been backpacking, climbing, and skiing since I was a kid. I'm fascinated by outdoor gear, especially packs. As much as I can be a gear nerd, my gear choices are pretty typical. I've been using an Osprey Aether for a while (before that a Kelty external frame), and it's great for normal backpacking. I wouldn't want to use it for hauling over fifty pounds, though. My shelter of choice has always been either a silnylon flat tarp or a traditional backpacking tent - for over ten years, a cheap, heavy Eureka dome tent. I've been searching for a new shelter, though, and I've bought and returned so many tents that my wife has lost count. My favorite piece of gear is my ten year old Marmot Pinnacle 15 that has kept me warm on many frosty Colorado nights.
No one can call me a gear snob, even though I've always valued gear that worked and have been willing to pay for it. Few would call me an ultralight backpacker either, but I do try to have a minimalist approach. In general, though, I'd rather spend my money on gas to get up to the mountains than on a sleeping pad or tent or pack that is two ounces lighter than my old one.
I love Colorado, and I love the mountains. Grew up on the Front Range, so I'm still finding new places to hike and camp and explore. I love the Western Slope, and I definitely don't miss the crowds of the Denver area, but I do find myself missing special (and unfortunately crowded) places back home like the Indian Peaks, Golden Gate Canyon, and mountains down by Bailey and Pine Junction. I even miss boy scout training hikes up and down Green Mountain in Lakewood.
I'm looking forward to learning more!
I'm a 28 year old high school teacher from Grand Junction, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can before my first hunting season this fall. I have a cow tag for unit 421 and I couldn't be more excited.
I won't have much to contribute in terms of hunting knowledge, but I've been backpacking, climbing, and skiing since I was a kid. I'm fascinated by outdoor gear, especially packs. As much as I can be a gear nerd, my gear choices are pretty typical. I've been using an Osprey Aether for a while (before that a Kelty external frame), and it's great for normal backpacking. I wouldn't want to use it for hauling over fifty pounds, though. My shelter of choice has always been either a silnylon flat tarp or a traditional backpacking tent - for over ten years, a cheap, heavy Eureka dome tent. I've been searching for a new shelter, though, and I've bought and returned so many tents that my wife has lost count. My favorite piece of gear is my ten year old Marmot Pinnacle 15 that has kept me warm on many frosty Colorado nights.
No one can call me a gear snob, even though I've always valued gear that worked and have been willing to pay for it. Few would call me an ultralight backpacker either, but I do try to have a minimalist approach. In general, though, I'd rather spend my money on gas to get up to the mountains than on a sleeping pad or tent or pack that is two ounces lighter than my old one.
I love Colorado, and I love the mountains. Grew up on the Front Range, so I'm still finding new places to hike and camp and explore. I love the Western Slope, and I definitely don't miss the crowds of the Denver area, but I do find myself missing special (and unfortunately crowded) places back home like the Indian Peaks, Golden Gate Canyon, and mountains down by Bailey and Pine Junction. I even miss boy scout training hikes up and down Green Mountain in Lakewood.
I'm looking forward to learning more!
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