Hiking with rifles

This past memorial day weekend I got a couple friends together and we went out in search for black bear. We didn't get a bear but came back with a squirrel, blisters, 27 miles on our boots and smiles on our faces. This was my first attempt at hunting any large game so I was not expecting to get anything but I can say I learned more than I thought I could in 2 1/2 days. The friends I went with were experienced hunters but new to Alaska so this was a learning event for all of us. I learned a while ago on my small game hunts that a camera is almost as important as my rifle so I will let the pictures do the talking.

We set up camp at the trail head of Resurrection Pass in Hope AK. Sunshine until midnight I love this time of year!

We hikes about 6 miles up the trail and the forest just looked amazing as a suburbanite I learned the difference between the woods, and a forest on this trip .

We got off the trail to head to some lakes that were 3 miles off the trail. We had a GPS but were not prepared for the terrain we encountered. Climbing up and down slopes like this were all too common.

After realizing we had spent ours to barely cover a mile we headed back to the trail. The 6 miles trail hike back to camp felt like a day at the spa after being defeated by creeks and forest lol.

Every once in a while we saw a large enough break in the trees to get a view like this. I love Alaska!

I think this bald eagle knew how tired we were and was circling us. I never get bored seeing these incredible birds.

Once we got back to camp, iced down our knees and had the best hotdogs and beans I have ever tasted... maybe an adult beverage or two, it was time to sleep.

The next day we were a tad beat, so we decided to stay on the trail until we got to higher grounds and had some clearings to bunker down and watch.

Some pics on the way.

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