October means many things to lots of people around the world.  With me,  the prevailing thoughts always tend to gravitate towards high mountain peaks extending as far as the eye can see, the scent of quaking aspen leaves and curing grasses, the babbling of bone chilling creeks, the wind in the pines, deep timbered canyons and the pursuit of the elk and deer that reside therein.

This year Janis and I were able to go up ahead of time (before the hunting season opened) to set up camp and spend a few days in the mountains alone as a couple.  It was a time of refreshment, a time of intimacy and closeness and a time to rejoice in our “coupleness”.  It was a chance to spend time walking together as we reveled in the scenery surrounding us.  Raising kids makes times like these a rare delight and we took full advantage of it.  I’m sure you will agree that it is a beautiful and inspiring time to be in these mountains.

October means many things to lots of people around the world. With me, the prevailing thoughts always tend to gravitate towards high mountain peaks extending as far as the eye can see, the scent of quaking aspen leaves and curing grasses, the babbling of bone chilling creeks, the wind in the pines, deep timbered canyons and the pursuit of the elk and deer that reside therein. This year Janis and I were able to go up ahead of time (before the hunting season opened) to set up camp and spend a few days in the mountains alone as a couple. It was a time of refreshment, a time of intimacy and closeness and a time to rejoice in our “coupleness”. It was a chance to spend time walking together as we reveled in the scenery surrounding us. Raising kids makes times like these a rare delight and we took full advantage of it. I’m sure you will agree that it is a beautiful and inspiring time to be in these mountains. Insert #1145 As the deer season opened, Matthew joined us at the foot of the Boulder Mountains. Matthew is not as caught up in the hunting as I and he came to enjoy some much needed solitude and take solace in the open spaces. It was a chance to soak up the mountain air, sit by the fire and read a good book and generally relax. He pretty much tended camp as Janis and I took to the hills in pursuit of deer (elk season would not open for another five days). Janis is not really interested in hunting either but she has faithfully supported me in my love of elk and deer hunting, and she readily agreed to accompany me as I took her on a vertical romp through the Boulders. There are many places there that I have not visited since I was a young buck in high school, that I have dreamed of returning to – places of solitary beauty that have beckoned to me for years. There is no one I would rather share these special places with than my beautiful wife, Janis. And she took in every one. I’m sure you will agree as you look at how steep and rugged some of my special places are, that girl is “One in a Million”! Insert “Janis and I” As the elk season opened, Tyler was able to make the 80 mile trip to join me in a strenuous hike into another very high mountain basin where we hunted at the timberline. This day turned out to be a real “killer” as we ended up hauling out an elk approximately 4.5 miles in very inhospitable, steep country, carrying the quarters on our backs with all our other gear tied to our bodies in every conceivable position. We finally reached pickup exhausted and limping several hours after dark. It had been a grueling 13 hour day. We were elated to reach camp where Janis and Matthew had a hot meal waiting. I’m sure that it will take me several weeks to fully recover from this one day. Insert 1099 The next day while I was too sore to do any walking, I sat in the meadow below camp, soaking up the sun to warm aching joints, I watched Janis and Matthew walk along a distant ridge with Maggie (Janis’ dog). It occurred to me that the first time I came to this valley (Boulder Creek) I was 13 years old. There are old ghost towns in the area I have visited over those intervening years. At all of those locations the traces of mans passing are slowly succumbing to time and weather (just like me). It occurred to me as I sat in the meadow, that while evidence of man fades, the land has remained the same. The hand of God does not fade. I felt the pain in my knees and realized that I too am fading. Our life is but a vapor. Later, I was talking with Janis about the whole hunting thing. I have always been a hunter and it has always been a driving force in my life. I dream of coming here all year long. She questioned me on the wisdom of climbing for miles in steep rugged country in search of an animal that weighs 800# only to put myself
The Boulder Mountains

As the deer season opened, Matthew joined us at the foot of the Boulder Mountains. Matthew is not as caught up in the hunting as I am and he came to enjoy some much needed solitude and take solace in the open spaces. It was a chance to soak up the mountain air, sit by the fire and read a good book and generally relax. He pretty much tended camp as Janis and I took to the hills in pursuit of deer (elk season would not open for another five days).  Janis is not really all that interested in hunting either, but she has faithfully supported me in my love of elk and deer hunting, and she readily agreed to accompany me as I took her on a vertical romp through the Boulders.  There are many places there that I have not visited since I was a young buck in high school, that I have dreamed of returning to – places of solitary beauty that have beckoned to me for years.  There is no one I would rather share these special places with than my beautiful wife, Janis.  And she took in every one.  I’m sure you will agree as you look at how steep and rugged some of my special places are, that girl is “One in a Million”!

Janis and I in front of Boulder Peak
Janis and I in front of Boulder Peak

On our second day out I was privileged to drag a deer 1.91 miles ( from 8200′ elevation to  6311′. a net elevation loss of 1889 feet).  What goes up, must come down… or… If you climb up there, you have to drag them out!

As the elk season opened, Tyler was able to make the 80 mile trip to join me in a strenuous hike into another very high mountain basin where we hunted at the timberline.  This day turned out to be a real “killer” as we ended up hauling out an elk 4.53 miles (4207′ elevation gain and then  loss)  in very inhospitable, steep country, carrying the quarters on our backs with all our other gear tied to our bodies in every conceivable position.  We finally reached pickup exhausted and limping several hours after dark.  It had been a grueling 13 hour day.  We were elated to reach camp where Janis and Matthew had a hot meal waiting. I’m sure that it will take me several weeks to fully recover from this one day.

High Country Basin
High Country Basin

The next day while I was too sore to do any walking, I sat in the meadow below camp, soaking up the sun to warm aching joints, and I watched Janis and Matthew walk along a distant hillside with Maggie (Janis’ dog).  It occurred to me that the first time I came to this valley (Boulder Creek) I was 12 years old.  Boulder City, an old ghost town dating back to the 1880 lies just five miles up in the Boulder Basin.  I have visited this site many times over those intervening years.  At Boulder City the traces of mans passing are slowly succumbing to time and weather (just like me).  It occurred to me as I sat in the meadow,  that while evidence of man fades, the land has remained the same. The hand of God does not fade.  I felt the pain in my knees and realized that I too am fading.  Our life is but a vapor.

Later, I was talking with Janis about the whole hunting thing.  I have always been a hunter and it has always been a driving force in my life.  I dream of coming here all year long.  She questioned me on the wisdom of climbing for miles in steep rugged country in search of an animal that weighs 800# plus, only to put myself through all that misery packing it out.  I think she hit the nail on the head when she said “Allen, you don’t really come up here to hunt…… you come up here to see places ”.  And she was right!  I have a propensity to always look just over the next ridge, and then the next, and the next ……  I have been going to these places, places I love, the high lonesome places where the hand of God is evident and man is not.  But they are so far  and so high,  that I need a good excuse to drive me there – like hunting!  I told her that I had learned a few things through my pain and that I should probably rethink this whole hunting thing and my methods, to which she replied – “Yea, right!  You’ll be right back up there again next year!”

Well, we’ve been back for a week or so and my knees don’t hurt quite so bad – and those are sure beautiful places in those pictures ………………….and…..

Allen

p.s.

I will share some more pictures of the High Lonesome that I’m sure you will enjoy in another post tomorrow.