Big Game Hunting

There are many great reasons to come to Alaska, but the one Grant likes to joke about, not ever expecting to get the chance to do, is bear hunting!  Well this fall, a friend named Mike asked "Why just hunt bear when you can come on my goat hunt and we can get both?" Grant being new to big game hunting had no answer to that question than, "You're Right!"

On the Initial climb. Halibut Cove Lagoon in background.

 It turns out Mountain Goat hunters are sightly insane.  I burned off more calories in the 6 long days hiking into the back country, than consuming two or three whole goats would provide. Goats live on very inhospitable peaks and have the advantage of being able to see you coming at them from below. Therefore, you have to hike steep ridge lines and come at them from above.

First night on top of some unnamed mountain. You can just make out the Homer Spit in the far center.

I'll give you a quick summary of our hunt in Kachemack Bay State Park. For this area south of Homer almost 300 people entered the lottery and Mike was one of the 15 drawn for a goat tag.

Day 1. Load up gear and take a 1 hour boat ride from Homer to Halibut Cove. Hike straight up hill for about 8 hours. We spot some goats on distant peaks. Set up camp before dark and spend a long night in 75 mph winds trying to keep the tent on the ground.

Day 2. After zero sleep we take down camp in 30 mph winds and search the mountain for a calm spot. We are way above tree line and can only find solace in an ice cave. We decide to settle in, eat and take a nap. We spend the afternoon surveying more of the cliffs. Find a large number of goats a few miles from camp. Spend the night in our cave.

The Ice Box.  Cold, wet and dark, but out of the wind.

Day 3. Hike back to where we saw the goats the day before. Spot a few bear along the way.  After many hours of hiking, climbing, searching for a way to get to the goats Mike spots one and hits it. The goat falls down the canyon requiring a long climb/slide down to it. By the time we reach him, it is late and we are miles from camp.  We will sleep in the valley. We did not have our tent or sleeping bags, so our night is spent in the rain/sleet huddled under a space blanket.

Spot we nicknamed "The Crown". One of the few good landmarks to help locate where we were.
Also one of the headaches to hiking these ridges, as there was not an easy way over or around this guy.

Day 4.  After another night with little sleep we pack up to make the long climb back to camp.  Needing to climb steep, slippery rock after no sleep and little food we decide to leave half the weight behind and make 2 trips.  Unfortunately, the trip took much longer than expected and we were exhausted when we make it back to camp.  We will  have to spend another night in the Ice Box and go back in the morning.

"Valley of the Goats"
If those slopes don't look that steep your wrong. You do not want to
make a bad step at any point going up or down.

Our home for 4 nights

Day 5. D-Day (D for demoralizing) We know it will be an all-day journey back down to the valley to collect our cash and get back to camp. All we can do is enjoy the scenery and nice weather. There will be no bagging a bear on this trip.

A Nanny and Kid 

Grant on "Long Slope." Eight hours of scrambling on your hands.  

Mike with the Moose river below. 

An awesome place, even when you can't feel your feet.

Back at camp for night five. We can enjoy some cooked goat meat and rest for the long hike down to the lagoon in the morning.

Mike and Grant searing goat meat on the camp stove.

Day 6. What do you expect but another full day of hiking! Wet and slippery with 100 pound packs and 'beyond sore' feet.  Grant makes it back home in time for a shower, warm dinner and a scotch (thanks to Katie), before catching a flight to Colorado.

It was a difficult trip and Mike said it was one of the hardest hunts he has been on (and he has been chased by brown bears!).  It was a great adventure and if I am lucky enough to win a draw next season I will be out there again. Hum, which poor sap am I going to find out there willing to go with me?