Middle Fork Salmon River Deer Hunt 2012

My best man Jacob Reinecker and his father, my friend and coworker Scott, returned to the Middle Fork Salmon River-Mormon Ranch for our annual mule deer hunt.

Even before we reached camp, Jacob spotted a deer legal to harvest and so success followed his stock. While Scott and Jacob took care of the deer, I finished shuttling gear from the airstrip, 1.5 miles away, to camp. 

Day 2

Jacob learned his deer spotting skills from his father.

There, somewhere is a deer that Jacob and Scott spot.

But I miss!

 They are very patient with me. 

 This ram never seemed bothered by us. He must have known we only have deer tags. 

 And so day two we returned to camp empty. 

Day 2

 Day 3 starts a little whiter and a little cooler

but we climbed and climbed and walked and walked and kept warm

 After some more fine scouting by the team of Scott-Jacob, I was finally able to hit my target. 

 Day 4 begins

clear and cool

 Now it is Scott's turn and he thinks he knows where he can find his deer. 

 He patiently searches the hillside

There, a deer...more deer. and they are big! 

 Proud son and happy dad. 

 Taking a needed break after retrieving the deer and before the 5 mile hike back to camp. 

 Jacob and Scott load half a deer each on their backs for the trek home. 

 Hiking the main Middle Fork trail.

 A much needed break 1/2 way there. 

Day four's travels.

 Our three deer, and meat for the freezers. 

Day 5

We pack our gear back to the landing strip....and wait. 

All that gear and the three of us have to fit in one Cessna 206!

 Jacob giving dad some advice. 

 Like father, like son. 

And finally our plane turns base for final....

landing upstream.

 Walt is our pilot...one of the best and assures us we can make it home, but we have to hurry. 

A last look at the Mormon Ranch.

 Walt says the weather is closing in, but the flight back to Cascade is far less exciting than the bumpy flight in last Thursday. 

And Jacob looks much better as we prepare to land in Cascade than he did landing in the backcountry...and there is actually a little more color to him than before. 

Another great year with great friends, providing more great memories. 

Urban Wildlife

The local deer at the fish and game feel safe

Little toad or frog in our backyard. Makes the wildlife mitigation fee worth it

And finally who could ask for a better office window view

Borah Peak Sept 2012

Borah is Idaho's Highest Peak at 12,662'. The climb starts at a trailhead campsite at 7,200'

It has been smokey and hot for so long. However the skies and air cleared and with just enough rain Friday night to give us a bright nearly full moon to try and sleep  through.

 There were five in the party. Rhonda and I, plus our friend and trainer, Mark L. with two of his friends, Mark and Jeff. We left the trailhead around 7:30 AM.

 The first 1000' or so is a steep switch back laden trail or path through the trees.

After an hour on the trail we break for rest at tree line. 

the trail/route now follows a ridge line over looking the Lost River Range.

Approaching Chicken Out Ridge

The beginning of chicken out ridge.

Rhonda is a real trooper. She says she has never done this sort of thing before

there is just enough new snow to make it a little trickier it looks

Borah is a Class III climb. 

coming off Chicken Out Ridge makes you wonder why it isn't a IV

The final push starts after Chicken Out with about another 1000' to go

Mark L making the final few steps to the summit

Here we are on the summit by 11:30. 

The old banner is still there and the year has been updated

This was me, alone, two years ago. What a difference two years makes. 

The Two Marks

RonJon. What a difference two years makes!

Time to descend. It was a beautiful summit experience Very little wind

The snow is beginning to melt

Return to Chicken out

Mark checking on our progress to get back on the Ridge. 

We helped a young couple through the ridge. The moves are enhanced by exposure. But after we got back on the lower ridge, the couple thought it was fun but scary. Early, they skirted a lower route through the loose scree and snow. 

Coming down was a constant descent. Hard on the knees

Somewhere around 10,500 with the summit behind me

A look back down to camp. 

A series of small switch backs through the scree. 

A band of wild sheep are in the trees below the ridge.

It's fall. The Aspen marks a close end of the trail and we are back in camp by 3:15.