I just got back from a scout/trek on the Grand River. We covered about 40 miles over the two days. I set up a base camp and scouted from horseback up the Grand River and numerous feeder creeks and draws.
I found out a couple things - One I need to get in better shape
That 5 quarts of water is not enough in 80F weather.
That Horseback Trekking is way more fun and greater distances can be traveled than on foot.
My gear is good - a sling on a gun is helpful when getting on and off the horse - but would be better to have a slightly shorter gun.
Horses can loose lots of weight (even though he is in great shape) over two days of hard riding/climbing - abundant graze was available at night but - even though every time we forded the river (about 20 times I guess) he took big drinks of water - he still lost weight.
Game doesn't seem as spooky on horseback as when on foot.
Now the fun part
The premise of the scout was an advance scout ahead of a party looking for more ground to trap. Although, there are indians in the area they are not overtly hostile. My job was to scout out a base camp, check for type and abundance of game and beaver,
It is a beautiful area on the prairie and is the same drainage that Hugh Glass and others followed. Other than the presence of angus instead of buffler - it is likely very similiar to the country the mountain men went through on the way to the Three Forks or Upper Missouri Drainage
There was abundant beaver sign - cottonwoods fallen all over, as well as food storage - a couple dams on the feeder creeks and at least one lodge. I saw abundant whitetail and mule deer as well as tracks and sightings from lots of different critters, raccoon, possum, beaver, muskrat, antelope, turkey, deer, cougar and bobcat too.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_00302.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_00403.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_00503.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_00634.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_00552.JPG)
Dan'l Hickham
Welcome back we have missed you! Great scenerary and story -
Thats pretty cool especially with the history of the territory.
Awesome adventure KHickam thmbsup
And Lucky you avoided what happened to Hugh Glass!
I envy you quite a bit! There isn't anywhere here in Texas that you can ride for two days and not encounter a high game fence or worse, a highway. What I wouldn't do for an 80 degree day here either!
Pics were great though, thank you for posting them.
Dan- glad to have ya back, what a trip, scenery and critters on horseback, can't get any better. Thanks for sharing story and pic. Agree with Wm- 110-115 here for past month and half. 80 sounds like weather to dig the long johns out!! Again welcome back.
Oh I will be spinning a tale on this sometime soon
Quote from: KHickam on August 29, 2011, 03:26:22 PM
Oh I will be spinning a tale on this sometime soon
I know i can't wait to read it!
It looks like you travelled beautiful country.. Thanks for sharing your trek.. thmbsup
never seen such great looking country to ride in, and beaver to boot. thanks for sharing the photos.
Wow that sounds like and awesome trip, I went on a similar one for two weeks a few years back with my father and a friend of his. We were packing modern rifles though. Next time ill bring along my flinter instead and wear all my mountain man gear :D
McLean