Travel to Train

Utah SunriseUtah August sunrise

At just under 3 months until my November rifle hunt in the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado, I decided it was time to test my training.  Some of my favorite travel companions were headed to Utah for golf, fly-fishing and relaxation to escape the August heat so my wife and I accepted the invitation to head west.  I am currently 2 months into the MTNTOUGH fitness lab 12-week training course that is aimed at preparing the mind and body for the intensity of backcountry hunting.  This course has challenged my legs and my will almost daily and I felt like it was time to test them both at altitude.  So between golf and fishing, I headed out on two separate days on trails in the Park City area to push the body and the new equipment.

Before this trip I had spent hours reading reviews, watching youtube videos and doing everything else you can think of to decide on the best equipment for my first backcountry hunting experience.  My grandfather always told me to buy the best you can afford the first time or you will end up buying it later after you waste your money on the cheap stuff.  I took this to heart and limited my search to Kifaru, Kuiu, Mystery Ranch and Stone Glacier for pack systems.  After 1 month of research I bought the Stone Glacier XCurve frame with load cell dry bag.  I had spent the two Saturdays leading up to the trip with 40 lbs in the dry bag strapped to the frame, hiking around the neighborhood.  I found the hip belt on this bag to be extremely comfortable and without any hotspots.  I decided to go with the Evo 3300 bag as I felt like it would be adequate for 2-3 day hunts from spike camp without excessive storage that I wouldn’t use.  I bought several accessories but did not use them on this particular adventure.

The first hike was 3 miles with 500 ft elevation gain and the second was 4.2 miles with 700 ft of elevation gain, both along trails I entered at the base of Silver Lake Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah.  I thought the pack worked well and without any issues to report.  The adjustments you can make on this pack will solve any issue and the support staff at Stone Glacier is top notch if you have trouble finding a solution.  They have a video series that will address most fit issues and also make mounting bags and accessories very easy.  Needless to say, I am very happy with the purchase and I will update further after the hunt.

The workout program from MTNTOUGH is second to none.  I can’t begin to thank that group out of Bozeman enough for what they have done to prepare my mind and body.  I am in the best shape I have been in over the last 15+ years and I know with another 2 months of training I will be prepared to haul out an elk if I can find success.  These workouts are brutal and show no mercy.  Dustin, Ara and Alex have used their combined experience as hunters and soldiers to build an incredible system to prepare the legs, core and shoulders to maneuver the mountains with heavy packs.  The discomfort that each of the workouts can put you through prepares the mind for those moments when you want to quit but can’t.  I highly recommend checking them out if you aren’t sure how to prepare for this hunting season.

One last product I used for this experience was Solitude from MTNOPS, they are a supplement company geared toward the outdoors.  I have been a big fan of their products for a few years and have been using them daily in combination with the MTNTOUGH workouts.  It is hard for me to give an objective opinion since I did not do the same hikes without the supplements but I can say that any help I can get when going from 700′ to 6500′ as a starting point is welcome.  I can absolutely recommend their products in general as I have found better stamina during workouts and quick recovery post-workout using Yeti, Enduro and Magnum.

To be clear, I am not getting anything for promoting any product here, but I think its helpful to share good and bad experiences to help each other out.  I would love to hear about what packs, workouts and supplements you all have used for success in the backcountry.  As for me, I think I am on the right track for this years hunt.

PS Success with Utah Pro Fly Fishing, putting dinner on the table

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hunt2travel14

I have loved the outdoors all of my life, sometimes because of little league sports, weekends at the lake or Boy Scout campouts, but for the last 15 years it has been because of hunting. I love everything about hunting, the preparation, the gear, the sounds and smells but especially the friends and memories it has afforded me over the years. I find there is no quicker friendship than when two hunters are introduced for the first time. Despite never having met, they already share more memories and experiences than any non-hunter can possibly understand. These are the things that keep hunting in focus all year, constantly preparing my mind, body and equipment for the next adventure.

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