Winter Ski & Shoot - Alaska

[Yukon Cornelius]

I boiled water to fill both my bottles, then threw them in the foot box of my quilt. Helped warm my feet and dry my boot liners, and keep the water from freezing.

As it was warm weather, I just brought my Soto Windmaster and Fire Maple pot, even so, the flame was small with long boil times. The pot heat exchanger holds onto the stove well, and picking the whole thing up and holding the canister on my knee works well and got normal flame (balance a lit stove with a pot of boiling water on your knee at your own risk).

From shooting it, a little snow melted to the Tikka action and froze, everything still worked as it should.
View attachment 804094

At night, I found the illumination on the Maven to be perfect on the first setting. Under moonlight on snow (so not that dark), the scope works well and could be used on an animal.

I also rather like the Exo rifle carrier, this was my first time us it. @Mark at EXO @ExoMtnGear nice design, I appreciate it compared to just putting the rifle under the pack straps.

May I ask what quilt you used? And was it sufficient?

 

[Marty]

First, it was great to get out with some dedicated serious hunters and shooters like @Marbles and @B_Reynolds_AK . There’s much to learn from others and I appreciated the time spent together.

I’ll cover a few noteworthy observations from my perspective.

Skis vs snowshoes: One is far more efficient for travel. One has a lower barrier of entry with respect to training. I’m an intermediate downhill skier but would love to try backcountry touring!

Physical Training: No earth-shattering revelations here. For me, post hunting season is about tapering off the maintenance workouts that maintain strength and endurance during the season, address nagging issues, then rebuild. In the last six weeks leading up to this trip, I’ve been primarily conducting strength training 5-6 days a week with running workouts on the tail end of those strength sessions. Along with the workouts, weekly trips to the physical therapist address issues that I fought through during the season. The exertion put forth was about the same as when I’m peaked with sport specific training in late July/early August for sheep season. However, this trip’s pack was notably lighter albeit heavy boots, snow shoes, and trudging through snow require additional effort.

Floorless shelter in the snow: When I do it again, I’ll chose a floorless. I enjoy the ability to “walk into” the shelter with all the cold weather gear on. Likewise, you can shape the snow to your liking inside the shelter. A snow wall around the perimeter provided a noticeable break from wind. While you can fieldcraft your way out of the problem, I packed in a half dozen snow stakes using them for anchors along with snow shoes for a total of eight tie down points. With the winds we had, no need to guy out the additional points on this Ultamid 2P.

Isobutane & Cold Weather: This isn’t the first trip I’d had to coax canister pressure. While there are probably better tactics, I tended to default to putting my hands on the canister to transfer body heat. Melting snow is a chore and the larger pot size of the MSR Reactor was just the ticket. If it was much colder, I’d switch to a liquid gas stove. With lows in the 20s (F), @Marbles and I made do with isobutane, it’s convenience, and it’s drawbacks.

Rangefinder with ballistics: I’ve worked my way through dumb to smart rangefinders, and smart rangefinders with ballistics. My last monocular RF was the Revic BR4. I really loved the simplicity of ranging and it spitting back the shooting solution. This trip, I took out my newly acquired Revic BLR10Bs. I’m willing to compromise and not have the alpha glass and get in return the ability to glass, range and get a shooting solution rapidly. In a careless moment, I dropped the BLR10Bs in the snow. I blew off the snow from the lenses, allowed the external fog to clear, and they were back to work. No issues with “cold soaking” albeit it wasn’t that cold, nor was it days on end. I found my go to bino harness, the SG skyline, a bit small for BLR10Bs. I’ll likely be looking for another more optimal solution.

Clothing: Without going into every bit of gear worn, I’ll cover a few standouts. Sitka Dewpoint pants and jacket blocked the wind, kept me dry while laying in snow and could mechanically vent while on the move. No complaints there. Sitka ambient hoody- for me, the activity level, etc, I just wished for a bit less insulation. I warmed up too quick but wasn’t convinced the base layer alone would suffice (SG merino if you’re curious). SG Gruman pants and jacket- they’re my security blanket, warm and dependable. It the temps were 20 degrees colder, I would have to add more insulation for my body though.

Shooting Bags: A small, lightweight bag can really steady a shot. I chose the mini ultralight from LS Wild (www.lswild.com) at 1.4 ounces. I love the bag but found for some positions and angles, I need to fill in a bit more deadspace. The 2-5 Ultralight bag at 2.5 ounces might be worth a look. @Marbles s carries one and uses it well. @B_Reynolds_AK graciously packed out the infamous Molinator (THE MOLINATOR SHOOTING BAG - Rokslide) for me to try out. I found it marginally better, if any, compared to just using the pack. In retrospect, I think probably should have accepted the additional once ounce, carried a lightweight plastic straw so I could suck up the extra weight, and get the extra utility from the 2-5 UL bag’s size.

Happy to chat here or via PM if you’d like to deep dive into a particular topic. The most critical take away is to get out, get to know your gear, and go with some fellow Roksliders to make each other better. There’s a special enjoyment when @B_Reynolds_AK or @Marbles smack a rock a couple hundred yards away, while shooting from improvised rests in field conditions. Impact!

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Navigating, not Roksliding @Marty lol

 

[Marty]

@B_Reynolds_AK do you practice that wistful gaze in the mirror?

Joking aside, those look like tough conditions for rangefinding. Any issues there?

At times, I couldn't get more than ~350 yards with the BLR10Bs due to the blowing snow. I'm doubtful any other RF or RF bino would have done any better in those conditions.

 

[Macintosh]

For the skiers & snowboarders, here are a couple shots of me riding some lines not far from where we were shooting, when it starts to fill in.
View attachment 804276View attachment 804277

Is that in the talkeetnas? Ive done a few ski trips in the chugach, had customers in girdwood and valdez that I “visited” a couple times. Talkeetnas are just N of there, correct? Have not been north at all that time of year. How do the talkeetnas feel different?

 

[kswaterfowl]

Looks kind of cold, but it looks like a lot of fun. @Marbles it's ok to smile every once in a while.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Is that in the talkeetnas? Ive done a few ski trips in the chugach, had customers in girdwood and valdez that I “visited” a couple times. Talkeetnas are just N of there, correct? Have not been north at all that time of year. How do the talkeetnas feel different?

It is the Talkeetna’s.
They are further inland, so generally a more continental snowpack, atleast compared to the more coastal Chugach.
Much more rocky, that the Chugach as well.

Closer to the coast, in Turnagain Pass and Thompson Pass, you get more spines & flutes as well. That is where I spend most of my time Feb-April.

 

[Macintosh]

@B_Reynolds_AK great pics!

 

[Marbles]

May I ask what quilt you used? And was it sufficient?

The Katabatic Alsek 22. It worked well, though as I hate putting on cold clothes in then morning and wanted to dry everything out, so I slept with everything on. I got hot enough I unzipped my puffy jacket and mid layer, but did not have to take them off nor open the quilt to vent.

I was using a Therm-a-Rest X-therm for my pad.

Much colder and I would have added a 40 degree Enlightened Equipment synthetic quilt on top (I have used that combination down to 5 degrees so far).

 

[OXN939]

It is the Talkeetna’s.
They are further inland, so generally a more continental snowpack, atleast compared to the more coastal Chugach.
Much more rocky, that the Chugach as well.

Closer to the coast, in Turnagain Pass and Thompson Pass, you get more spines & flutes as well. That is where I spend most of my time Feb-April.

View attachment 804384
View attachment 804385View attachment 804386View attachment 804388

What a sick trip, hope you guys make this an annual thing and accept guest applications in '27! Flew the Talkeetnas a ton this summer but never got to explore much on the ground. Big time jealous

 

[mahonsr]

@Marbles no issues with getting the butt of the rifle into the holder on the Exo rifle carrier? Was wondering how the rokstok would work with that. I ask because I fought it a little more than I thought I would on a stockys VG. But I liked the overall concept,functionality. My Kimber hunter was no big deal

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

The Katabatic Alsek 22. It worked well, though as I hate putting on cold clothes in then morning and wanted to dry everything out, so I slept with everything on. I got hot enough I unzipped my puffy jacket and mid layer, but did not have to take them off nor open the quilt to vent.

I was using a Therm-a-Rest X-therm for my pad.

Much colder and I would have added a 40 degree Enlightened Equipment synthetic quilt on top (I have used that combination down to 5 degrees so far).

Thanks! I got a Thermarest versus 20 and bought some liners for sleeping bags that I haven’t tried yet.

My pad I haven’t decided on yet either but I do have a Etherm and a few exped mats.

I just haven’t had the quilt out less than 20 yet. So this is comforting to know. And I feel ya. I like to sleep with my layers on usually.

 

[V2Pnutrition]

It is the Talkeetna’s.
They are further inland, so generally a more continental snowpack, atleast compared to the more coastal Chugach.
Much more rocky, that the Chugach as well.

Love the split board action, Ben!

There’s an excellent book by James Greiner called Wager with the Wind. It’s about a bush pilot named Don Sheldon who was based in the Talkeetna’s. If you don’t already have an appetite for AK and adventure, you will after reading that book. Excellent winter read.

Very cool trip report, guys. Thanks for sharing the story and photos. @Marty @Marbles @B_Reynolds_AK

 

[Antares]

There’s an excellent book by James Greiner called Wager with the Wind.

That's a great read!

 

[Marbles]

@Marbles no issues with getting the butt of the rifle into the holder on the Exo rifle carrier? Was wondering how the rokstok would work with that. I ask because I fought it a little more than I thought I would on a stockys VG. But I liked the overall concept,functionality. My Kimber hunter was no big deal

None. I picked it up less than a month ago, don't know if the made the looser or not. I expected it to be tighter from everything I've read.

 

[Winternews]

Let’s hear about those Bunny Boot mukluk looking things! It looks like the upper from some of the old military mukluks glued onto a bunny boot with a different sole? Are they lighter than the new Airframes boots?