Fresh Air Poisoning

"Fresh air poisoning" is a running joke in our house, and most outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all types know it well.  “The Outdoor Cleanse” or “Soul Candy” or whatever you want to call that endorphin-fueled peace you attain after being outside for sometimes just a few hours.  Playing outside isn’t for everyone.  But I believe …

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Outdoor Gear Opinions

It’s March and most of us have been cooped up for a few months dreaming of getting back outside after most of the snow clears. I don’t think I’m alone in saying I get cabin fever-ish this time of year. It seems like good medicine to go through and revisit the gear I will be …

Head over heels for elk

Colorado’s  2011 third rifle season arrived with the first real snowstorm of the winter. Saturday morning we woke up to fog and rain turning to snow at our camp. We decided we didn’t want to start off the elk season by ATVing and hiking around in the slop to places where we couldn’t see through …

Lightning, Wapiti and Bears…Oh My

(Blogger’s note:  I originally posted this on the General Big Game forum at 24hourcampfire.com  That’s an awesome site and forum for outdoors enthusiasts.  Rick, the owner, gets some real talent there.  Several regular posters there are actual professional writers.) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> November, 2006 This story gets pretty windy, so if you just want details and pix, …

Wilderness Hobos

July, 2007 Not long ago my friend Jeff invited me on a backpacking/fly-fishing trip along the Animas River.  It was to be just an overnighter, we’d take the Silverton-Durango train, get dropped off at Needleton about halfway down the route to Durango, hike in about a mile, camp, fish, then hike out and get picked …

High Mountain Turkeys

April 26th, 2010 Last Sunday consisted of hunting, fun, and panic.  The flow of the day went something like this: Drive to woods, ATV 10 miles across mud and frozen snowbanks to the backcountry. Tell myself repeatedly we must be back out of there by 11:00 or the snow will be soft, we’ll break through …

Just another elk story (2004)

(Blogger's note:  I originally posted this on the General Big Game forum at 24hourcampfire.com  That's an awesome site and forum for outdoors enthusiasts.  Rick, the owner, gets some real talent there.  Several regular posters there are actual professional writers.) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Boom…Whap! The elk’s down, hooves flailing, sliding down the slope and coming to rest against …