Two Weeks Before Archery Season

  Knowing where to concentrate your efforts when the season opens is the key to success no matter which species you are after. Archery Elk season open is approximately two week with Archery Bear starting a few days after. The last two weekends have been spent on the ground looking for animals. 

   The first area, an area I hunted two year ago, was a bust. Apparently an article was published about how that drainage is a "hidden gem" for wildflower. I can't deny the bloom there is amazing, however the amount of people there all summer has really pushed the elk out of that area. 

   The second area is a bit more remote. There is a trail, it however isn't published on any maps. Thanks to our unique understanding and experience due to other activities in the area, we have stumbled upon our own little "gem". 

Having breakfast next to an elk track.

   The more I film, the better I am getting at it. It has taken a bit of trial and error to figuring out how to manage recording oneself while doing an activity that takes tons of attention. Audio, angles, dialogue are getting better each time I do it. I feel as I get into the season it will only get better. I hope you all enjoy the video below.

One Month Before Archery Elk Season

One month out until I am living out of a pack chasing the great Wapiti around Colorado's amazing mountains. The preparation for backcountry hunting is intense. All summer I and my fellow elk hunters have been preparing. Now is when we double and triple check everything is in order, then off into the wilderness.



Wilderness Hunting 2014 Episode 1: One Month Before Elk Season from Cory Arola on Vimeo.

Thanks for snapping the shutter KC.

KC 

Making final adjustments and tightening everything down.

KC's PSE Stinger, Cody's Bowtech, and my Martin Exile

Photo by Dharani Jdanov

 Based on research I found that I had been shooting the wrong spine arrow. I had that opportunity to shoot through paper and it was confirmed. The left tear indicated my arrow is too stiff. It is too near to the season to replace them, fortunately the current ones shoot pretty darn accurately from my bow. After this season I will be looking into new arrows of the correct stiffness.

Paper tuning.

So getting high in Colorado is legal?

To most natives and transplants getting high in Colorado has been legal since... well... forever. Colorado is home to 53 mountains with summits over 14,000 feet above sea level. They are referred to as 14ners. We planned to do a combo trip of; the maiden voyage of the new camper, backpack trip, alpine cutthroat fishing and Humboldt Peak (14,064'). Dharani simply crushed her first 14ner, leaving me trailing behind for much of the hike into camp and to the summit the next day. All those days she bikes to work are really helping out!

Our trek started at 8,800' in Wet Mountain Valley

Our trek started at 8,800' in Wet Mountain Valley

Our trek started at 8,800' in Wet Mountain Valley

We camped Thursday night at the lower 2wd trailhead not wanting to drive up in the dark. Friday morning we started our way up a 4wd road that based on research was pretty rough. I wasn't sure if my rig would handle it so we figured to give it the old college try. About 1.5 miles in we encountered an obstacle that had one side of the vehicle on a bank the other half in a rut with loose cantaloupe size rocks. To exit the rut was a large smooth ramp-like boulder. Being so top heavy I decided against it.

Back down to the parking lot to gear up and hike from there. This would add about 5 miles to our round trip and 1,100' to our climb. Off we went...

Colorado's state flower.

Photo by Dharani Jdanov

We reached the South Colony lake area and slowed for more photos. It was a grand sight coming up on Broken Hand Pass, Crestone Peak and Crestone Needles.

We found a great alpine camp above the lower lake. Even some distance from the lake mosquitoes were in full force! Even with theses annoying little pests it was hard not to be in awe by the surrounding beauty. After the exhausting hike up to our 11,700' camp we just wanted to lay down. With no shade that far up Dharani decided to take advantage of one of Colorado's resources, sunlight!

Can you find our tent in this photo?

Photo by Dharani Jdanov

Photo by Dharani Jdanov

Friday morning we started our hike to the upper South Colony Lake so that we could continue up the saddle beginning the approach to Humboldt Peak.

Dharani climbing switch backs up to the saddle.

Thanks to great trail work there are convenient steps up to the saddle.

From the saddle one 1 mile to the summit. One really long mile....

On the false summit of Humboldt Peak looking down the North Colony Lake drainage into Wet Mountain Valley.

The Luck Bunny!

Dharani atop her first 14ner!   Photo by Cory Arola

Here we are! High in Colorado, Nature is Our Drug! Oh I am aware the sign is wrong, we found it in the register. Humboldt Peak 14,064'

Thanks stranger for taking out photos!

Thanks stranger for taking out photos!

Whilst gazing in awe at this next photo keep in mind we started out hike down in the flat at 8,800'; now standing at 14,064'. For those math impaired we did approximately 5,350' of climbing.

South Colony Lakes drainage all the way back down to Wet Mountain Valley. Yes we did start out hike down there in the flat.

Relaxing on the summit of Humboldt Peak.   Photo by Dharani Jdanov

It was like city park at the top!

Wildlife photographer sneaking in on her subject.

Yoga on the rocks

Yoga on the rocks. A little more artist digital darkroom styling in this photo. I am expanding my journalistic style of shooting and playing with the flexibility that computers allow.

Crestone Needles and upper South Colony Lake.

Sun Dog on our way down.

Caught four beautiful cuttbows.   Photo by Dharani Jdanov

Lentils and Rice for dinner.

Enjoying a beautiful camp after making the summit.

Dharani enjoying nature.

One last look up the valley before we pack up to head home Sunday morning.

Three bucks across the lake.

Another buck near camp.

And two more bucks near camp.

Punjab eggplant and rice to fuel us for the long hike out.

The 4th of July weekend of 2014 in going to one to remember. We had a blast getting out into nature, climbing to the ceiling of our state! Being outside in our beautiful state, seeing the natural wonders creates a high that is intoxicating and hard to come down from. We are stoked on going on the next adventure. Wherever that may be...   Oh and all you transplants stop telling your friends how awesome our state is, it is getting to crowded!