What tips does everyone use on their trekking poles? Carbide, or rubber feet?

Mine have both, but I have never used the carbide because they are so noisy. Deer and elk won't put up with that racket.

I was putting together some snack packs for variety. Nuts, dried fruit, etc. Some of the options for protein are a bit smelly, like dried salami or some types of jerky. I was also considering slices of hard cheese like parm or asiago. This is what I take out west, but....

With no tree to hang food in, is that an issue, or should I stick with more scent mild treats? Bears can smell even freeze dried mylar sealed food, so maybe it doesn't matter.

I'm trying to avoid premade bars. They are fine for short trips, but 12 days of them isn't appealing.

Everything else has come together and I'm shooting better than I have in a long time. Just don't want to make the mistake I made in Azerbajian. Steep down angle shot and I didn't even think about it. Of course, I shot well over the back of the tur. The one I eventually got ended up being a better animal, but missing was tough on what I consider a milestone hunt. I knew better, but didn't do better.

Jeremy

Carbide tips. The rubber will get pulled off in the tundra anyway and are to slippery on any rocks that have wet moss.

Worried about bears? Aren't you bringing a bear tag?? Hopefully you smell like a bloody sheep carcass anyway, I don't think the scent of your snack bars is gonna put the bears over the edge! Lol

Bring whatever snacks you want, we will probably have to return to a pick up lake to resupply at some point anyway.

Haha! I agree. Buy a bear tag....

I use a BR2 Rangefinder from GunWerks. Takes care of all shooting variables. Lifesaver in the mountains.

Have a great adventure!


Ski+3
Kalispell, MT

Jeremy,

This is a guided hunt. Right? If so why isn't the outfitter arranging the food? Perhaps you are hunting with a close relative?

Mark

Good advice above. As for food I always go weight to calorie ratio. Lot's of calories and as light weight as possible. So if that's lots of the same bar, or nuts, or freeze dried or whatever then deal with it. It's about staying fueled up and warm enough to keep working hard. You don't ever have to look at another bar again after the hunt.

Brett

Jake, Carbide, got it. We will hunt only the deaf animals. Kidding. Public land deer and elk in the lower 48 often won't put up with even a light tink on an aluminum bow riser. Gone to the next county. They know what nature does and does not sound like.

Not worried about bears in the daylight, worried about terrorist bears at night sneaking off with the picnic basket. Those giant raccoons can make quite a mess. I have a bear tag, but is a half price one from last December. I snuck one in while they were on sale.

Skibump: Tech is great and all, I have geovids that tell me angle, pressure etc. Problem is, they don't pull the trigger, or get excited and forget things. It wasn't my first high angle shot, but I goofed it anyway. Lesson learned. I have an english, I think, speaking guide this time to help.

Mark: Yes, guided by Jake Jefferson. Not a relation, to my knowledge. I do have some cousins up there in Seward. Stationed there in the Coast Guard, and stayed.

Brett, I hear what you are saying. However, the bars go in and come out in almost the same form minus the wrapping. I know Jake will hook me up with the right goodies, but if I don't do something it just doesn't feel like I'm going on a hunt. Not sure if that makes sense. Most of the time I am DIY and it just doesn't feel right not preparing something.

Thanks for the help. I'll go back to packing and repacking my gear every evening after work now. It entertains my dog who grabs gloves and socks to cart off to the living room. My wife just rolls her eyes and goes to do something else.

Jeremy

Forget the snacks bring more good food.
Carbide all the way
Don forget your knee pads. If you don't have them you will wish you did after a week of crawling on he rocks.
And if you get a bear tag you will hope to see a bear.
Good luck and shoot straight.

Knee pads didn't cross my mind. Those might be handy.

Thanks,

Jeremy

Well if you like the newest high dollar clothing Sitka has some with removable pads.
Or Lowes Home Improvement sponge ones less than $5.00.

I have some foam backed rubber ones with Velcro straps. They weigh nothing and keep cactus out of my legs fairly well antelope hunting. Into the pile they go.

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by BrettAKSCI:
Good advice above. As for food I always go weight to calorie ratio. Lot's of calories and as light weight as possible. So if that's lots of the same bar, or nuts, or freeze dried or whatever then deal with it. It's about staying fueled up and warm enough to keep working hard. You don't ever have to look at another bar again after the hunt.

Brett

You forgot chocolate covered macadamias for dessert.

Hope you have good weather. Bob

ME TOO!! I've got several chickens and a hog lined out for sacrifice to the weather gods. Hope that will be enough.

Frostbit, I went with chocolate covered coffee beans instead. A few of those and I'll perk right up. I'm saving a good handful for just before that last big push to get to the sheep.

Jeremy

The term "pile" on a sheep hunt give me a case of the heebie jeebies. I don't carry any heavy food on a mountain hunt. Mountain House gets old, but every pound counts.

Good luck and don't forget to take care of your feet.

Hire an extra packer. I did that and it was way worth it.

Jake Jefferson is a good hunt. I've done two with him and one day will look forward to coming back.

Don't hesitate to ask Jake any questions. I've found him to be superb at answering questions. He and I still have text-conversations about hunts and how to outfit for them so seriously, don't hesitate to ping him.

As to the hiking poles: Black Diamond Carbon Flick-Locks. There is no reason to look anywhere else. The adjustable height is perfect: run them 1-2" short going up hill and 1-2" longer going downhill.

They were an absolute lifesaver on my goat hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by farbedo:
ME TOO!! I've got several chickens and a hog lined out for sacrifice to the weather gods. Hope that will be enough.

Frostbit, I went with chocolate covered coffee beans instead. A few of those and I'll perk right up. I'm saving a good handful for just before that last big push to get to the sheep.

Jeremy

Macadamias have a very high 200 calories to ounce benefit. Making them chocolate covered is about as close to a hot fudge sundae you will get on the mountain.

That said I LOVE chocolate covered coffee beans for flavor and caffeine jolt.

Rnovi: No doubt, Jake has been very patient and helpful. I peppered him with stupid questions early on. Now I'm just filling out the little things and having a little fun with the forum.

I have cork flicklock BD poles. I agree, they are solid. Whoever put the cork on the handle was a genius.

AnotherAZWriter: Good point on the feet. I have several levels of blister prevention. My boots are older and well broke in. Even so, the hot summer here has made training in them difficult. Heavy mountain boots and 90% humidity just don't work well together. Try Armaskin liner socks. Worth their weight in gold.

Dogcat: Not this time. This is my first dall sheep hunt, and foolishly, I really do want to pack my gear. That said, I am packing exactly NO extra stuff. A few years ago on an elk hunt, I determined I had gotten fat and soft. It changed my outlook.

Frosbit: You sell the macadamia nuts well. In the brochure, Jake promises home cooked meals. I assumed that meant real ice cream or apple pie for desserts. Aren't 3 course meals standard on sheep hunts?

Jeremy

T minus 1 week for me. TMA unit. My 25 YO son has the tag and has to hunt w/ kinfolk. Flyout on the 18th with 40-mile air.

Sweet. That will be a blast to do with your son. Good luck and safe travels. Hope he tags an old warrior there. Great tag to draw.

Jeremy

Be sure to take a couple dollars----Treat Jake to a couple of energy drinks on the drive. It's one on his few vices.

quote:

Originally posted by Colorado Bob:
Be sure to take a couple dollars----Treat Jake to a couple of energy drinks on the drive. It's one on his few vices.

Won't that make him talk more?

And it might make him walk faster that first day. Maybe I'll treat him after the hunt on the way back down.

Is he a Rockstar, or Monster kind of guy?

Jeremy

Xscience guy. No sugar.
Sheep hunt number one is done. Weather sucked. Let me rephrase...weather sucked rocks. Poured every day, got snowed on twice, saw the sun once. Wet feet everyday. But a 9 year old ram died. Off to recooperate before Jeremy shows up!

Home cooked meals?? Lol not on a backpacking hunt. Those macadamia nuts sound good though...

quote:

Originally posted by Fourtyonesix

Those macadamia nuts sound good though...

Costco

I put them in two ounce ziplock packs and do one a day until a Sheep goes down. otherwise I'll eat them all

Jake shared photos of the sheep his hunter got. Super ram. 10 years old, and over full curl. Crap weather or not, the fellow looked pretty happy. He should, he, I am sure, earned it.

I buckled, and got macadamias at a local bulk food store.

After they got home, the yield loss was terrible. For every ounce that went into a ziplock, 2 walked off or were eaten on the spot.

Repacked for the 20th time. Tossed out some stuff, traded or added other stuff. Still weighs more than I want to carry, but I am running out of ounces to cut. Pack weight with rifle, is right at 32 pounds. Add food and other shared camp gear, and I am probably at 55-60 pounds. Not included are the things I am wearing as we hike in.

Not sure how this compares to others setups.

Not long now.

Jeremy

50-60
Is a nice pack weight. Wish I could get mine that low.

quote:

Originally posted by farbedo:
Jake shared photos of the sheep his hunter got. Super ram. 10 years old, and over full curl. Crap weather or not, the fellow looked pretty happy. He should, he, I am sure, earned it.

I buckled, and got macadamias at a local bulk food store.

After they got home, the yield loss was terrible. For every ounce that went into a ziplock, 2 walked off or were eaten on the spot.

Repacked for the 20th time. Tossed out some stuff, traded or added other stuff. Still weighs more than I want to carry, but I am running out of ounces to cut. Pack weight with rifle, is right at 32 pounds. Add food and other shared camp gear, and I am probably at 55-60 pounds. Not included are the things I am wearing as we hike in.

Not sure how this compares to others setups.

Not long now.

Jeremy

I was 57 pounds not counting the clothes I had on. That included all gear, 7 days food, and three liters of water in the camelback.

Coming out is a completely different story.

Gonna do my damnedest to have a heavy pack out.

I always enjoyed packing game out. No more pressure to find elk or deer, and the satisfaction of a good hunt. Lots of philosophizing with my friends on those long packs with a couple of elk shoulders on my back. Many world issues solved.

Jeremy

Best of luck and be safe!

Brett

Thanks Brett. Got everything lined out, I hope.

Jake decided we aren't taking food and will just eek out an existence off the land. Too much extra weight to pack and it will be good motivation until we hit the starvation wall.

Weather isn't looking good for a Thursday fly out, but we'll see. Friday looks better.

Good luck to anyone else getting out and about this week.

Jeremy

Good luck Jeremy!! I just finished sheep hunter number two, and will be flying out on sheep hunt number 3 about the same time you do. I anxiously look forward to hearing about your trip when I get back. Good luck and straight shooting!!!

Josh

Who you guiding for right now josh?

AK hunting adventures.

Great job on your first hunt Jake, what a beautiful ram!!

Your tarp idea to do the butchering work has me intrigued. I think I am gonna start carrying something like that with me.

It's a 12'x12' Noah's tarp. Saved my bacon more than once. Can overnight under it, use it at camp, butcher under it. Super super nice. It goes everywhere with me!!

How many sheep hunters you guys take a year over there?

Not many, luck of the draw determines whether I get to sheep hunt or not from year to year.

I would think you guys would kind if specialize after a while with an outfit. Not everyone likes sheep and not everyone really likes carrying a 130 lb moose quarter.

Tarps are great. I have a smaller one that is 20d silnylon. Many uses.

Got to Alaska today. Let the games begin!!!!! Or maybe the waiting for the cloud ceiling to get high enough.

Jeremy

Welcome to Alaska Jeremy....good luck and do your best to keep Jake in line!! lol

Jeremy,

Are you back yet? How did the hunt go? Any photos? Were the macadamia nuts worth the extra weight?
Bob

He ate all the nuts before he got here.

His finger nails are bloody and his taxidermist loves me. I'll let him fill in the blanks.