We had parked as close to Laramie Peak as we could and started headed out about 1hr before the sun came out. Everyday before we had just hunted 1/2 day and came back for lunch and then gone back for the afternoon. We hunted hard till about 11 and the front came in and we lost our landmark on the next ridge across the valley. During all of this this buck pops out and that added a new wrinkle to our problem. We took all the meat out that we could and left very little. My pack weighted 96lbs and my buddy's 67lbs. The reason I know is that when we got lost we came across a cabin that was a third generation homesteader in the middle of the national forest they also had a few hunters come up every year and they had a scale. We found their cabin at about 6:45 so we walked for about 5 1/2 hours in a blizzard(thats what this Texan called it). I walked up to the door and offered $100 for a glass of water and a ride back to my tent. We ran out of water about 2hrs into the trip. He is a the taxadermist right now. I also got a great looking antelope on public land DIY but, a bear in Trinidad,CO got in the back of the truck while we were resting in the hotel and stole the head. I still got the meat and thats what is important. All in all it was an amazing trip. I don't think I would have done it again the week I got back but, I am already pumped about next year. Hope ya'll enjoy my story.
