Off Season Fitness Activity (PICS)

UWyoHunter

Its backcountry skiing/snowboarding. It can be very physically demanding and has many applications to hunting.

The necessary equipment is your first concern. As you can see we use our hunting packs. This is not for the beginner skier but if you have skied black diamond runs at resorts, you should have a great time in the backcountry.

Once you have your equipment, you have to pick out your mountain and line. Picking out and planning the right line is much like planning a stalk on a bedded muley, only you have to find your points of reverence at a much faster rate. However, many times it isn’t important to follow your line.

Then you have to get to the top. The physical demand is something rivals the demands of backcountry hunting. Packs may not run as heavy but waist deep snow can make things interesting. The only bad thing is you can loose all of the conditioning you build up during the winter over the summer. However, it does make for an easier transfer into your sometime training.

And just like hunting, backcountry skiing and snowboarding has its reward, going down the mountain. A reward is an important part of any training program. These are pictures from another trip last year. We decided it was best just to get down this mountain in one piece. Stay tuned for the reason.

You can also get some scouting in. Seeing new country or even finding rubs, even though they are often times covered by snow.

You should be aware that there is some additional danger to your general risks while in the backcountry. I’m talking about Avalanches. Ethan (Ol’ Red) and I were climbing up this face on our snowshoes. It broke off a couple feet deep. Ethan road it down nearly 50 yards while I went about 30. Neither of us was buried but I rented avalanche beacons for this last trip.

Any reason to get in the mountians is a good one.

Butts · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:31 am Post subject:

Nice photo's. How long would it take to get help to you if necessary. I have done some cross country stuff from road to road 12 miles AND LATER THOUGHT IF i HAD LOST A SKI UNDER THAT POWDER i WOULD BE SCREWED. TRIED IT AGAIN LATER AND TIED x SKI'S TO MY ANKLE , THEN SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT WAS INCORRECT BECAUSE IF i CRASHED IT WOULD HAVE BEAT THE DICKENS OUT OF ME. lOOKS LIKE A BLAST ....Caps bummer. Crying or Very sad

Not retyping this though Laughing

WillyP · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:52 am Post subject:

Where did you 2 go. Sure doesn't look like around the home front, or at least what I'm used to near there .

UWyoHunter · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:04 am Post subject:

Butts, ski areas require you to lash tele skies (cross between cross country and alpine skis) to your ankles as they don't have brakes so while it is not the best situation if you wreck, ski areas must not consider it that dangerous. My brother has never actually lost a ski in the powder, we did have to look for a quite a while after Jackson got a dumping.

WillyP · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:27 am Post subject:

UWyoHunter · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:41 pm Post subject:

WillyP · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:53 pm Post subject:

You're right ! You and the Brother need to slide up to Ferris for a look also. It's pretty quick from Laramie. Might want to do it , BLM roads permitting, early in the spring break to see what's still out in the hay fields. If it has warmed up enough watch out for the snakes though ! Really ! They were bad last fall.

Ol'Red · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:32 am Post subject:

Ya, that's some fun stuff there, and a good way to get outside and see some new country. It's too bad my spring break just ended becasue I have been wanting to check out the Ferris mountains after looking at your pictures WillyP.

falconred · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:50 am Post subject:

That photo brings back memories, my late hunting buddy, his son and myself came back across there after hunting in CO just below Encampment, Wy about 8 years ago. I have an entire roll of film i shot in that beautiful area. I have been back across a couple of times going to Saratoga, WY to visit and hunt with another friend but didn't have time to stop and enjoy the views.

Matt · 6 point Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 508 Location: Iowa

Looks kinda familure to me too!!! My wife and I were out there in 07 for a short cow elk hunt.

My Dad and I are heading back out the that place this fall for another cow elk rifle hunt. Probly in October sometime. They haven't post season dates yet plus it depends on Dads farming schedule. It will be when ever he gets done taking crops out!

2rocky · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject:

Looks like fun guys! I've only Xcountry skied once and had a one day lesson on down hill.

Reflex · 6 point Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 780 Location: Nebraska

Looks like a great time! I miss snowboarding!!

WillyP · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject:

If I lived out West I'd have telmarks and skins.

UWyoHunter · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:33 pm Post subject:

Willy, I have looked into some alpine touring, I think those would be the ticket.

Some more from the last trip of the year.......

WillyP · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:11 am Post subject:

If you are using an Android phone you might like the GoFitness app for mixing things up as far as training. It's a new app with not much feedback but offers a lot of ideas on changing thing up as far as a workout and much of it is no equipment.

Gabe · Spike Joined: 29 May 2010 Posts: 14 Location: CDA

Very nice!

UWyoHunter · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject:

Spring Skiing Medicine Bow, June 6th

WillyP · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:07 pm Post subject:

Nice !

UWyoHunter · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: