We got back saturday from the most physically and mentally challenging hunt I have ever been on. We hunted with Max Schwab out of Healy, Ak. We fly to Anchorage on the 16th and overnighted. Woke early on the 17th to take shuttle to Healy then took turns on the super cub flying to base camp. We were concerned because the first hunters had been weathered in for 9 of 10 days and came out without ever really getting to hunt, but had a nice first night in wall tents with stoves and a nice good final full meal before setting out. We awoke to a beautiful morning and headed down the Wood River in the raft. We beached the raft around 11am and organized our gear and headed up the drainage. The game plan was to hunt the different drainages off a large mountain for the next 5 days living out of our packs and eating freeze dried meals then return to the raft and head down stream to a different camp. Over the next 5 days we saw alot of country and alot of sheep, but we were not coming across any legal rams. The hike down was probably one of the most depressing points of the hunt. The guides said it would be possible to do a 1 or 2 day hunt out of the lower camp, but after spending 5 days all in them it didn't seem like it would be enough. We made a 2 hr float down and got a good meal and a good night sleep. The next day one of our guides made a nice shower for my wife and we rested up while glassing sheep country for camp. About 2pm my wife spotted 4 rams that looked like they needed a better look with in striking distance so we ate a big meal then made a river crossing and headed up creek to spike for the night at the base of the hill. The guys determined that 2 rams looked good so we would make the climb in the morning. By the time the fog cleared it was around 11am and we figured the rams had feed over the top. We finally creasted the top @ 8 pm and after a short stalk to get in range my wife made a nice shot @ 150yrds and dispatched the only legal ram seen on the trip. After a good celabration and a ton of pictures we headed down around 10:45 pm & finally reached our spike camp @ 4am. We hunted together so I never got a chance but feel very accomplished to get my wife her ram as this hunt was her birthday present. Alaska is a complete adventure and I can't wait to get a chance to get back.
