Five days and twenty miles in the saddle. Twelve miles on foot with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain/loss. Up before the sun and hiking back to camp in the dark every day. Blistered feet, stiff legs, aching back, hurting shoulders, saddle sore and pushing to the absolute limit of physical exhirtion was worth every bit of effort when slowly peaking up over the brush at full drawn and sending a perfectly placed arrow into the vitals of completely unaware elk feeding at 18 yards. Pure adrenaline pumping through my veins, hands physically shaking afterwards and a high I've never felt before. My first elk with a bow, and a hunt that will be engrained in my mind forever. Not a trophy for some, but definitely for me!
