Summer?

I'm not sure if we are going to have a summer this year. The weather has been quite unusual for Colorado. We have been in a cloudy/raining pattern for a while now w/o much sunshine. Hopefully this passes and the sun shows back up.

I'm trying to get my remodeling done and get this house on the market. Still haven't decided if we want to stay up here in Leadville or mortgage more money than should even be permitted and buy a home in the valley (probably Gypsum). The more I look at the cost, the more I think stay in Leadville.

Once I finish up remodeling the two bathrooms, I'll be done other than some back yard work. I plan to spend the rest of the Summer fishing and camping with Heather and the kids, and hiking above treeline to look for big mule deer bucks and herds of elk. I'm desperate to get above treeline. Maybe I can get out for a weekend camp at treeline and include scouting for elk and deer along w/ fishing a couple alpine lakes for brook trout.

Remi

I've finally been able to get Remi out a little and let him enjoy open water. He hasn't been in water for a while. Winter doesn't leave any open water near Leadville.

He was so exited he was shaking, and that was before he got in the cold mountain water.

Turkey Season is over

Nebraska Merriam's

Turkey season has came and went, Isaac and Olivia have both had birthdays (now 10 and 8), and Summer is almost here in Leadville.

Isaac and I hunted in the IL 5th season, CO, and NE. CO was a bust, but I wouldn't say we put a lot into it besides driving. IL didn't go as well as planned, but I was there when Donnie Vickers killed a good bird and I managed to kill a jake on the last day. The jake wasn't supposed to be a jake, but instead his longbeard buddy.

Nebraska was a great hunt and I killed a bird the first morning. We had two more birds within range of my 12 ga, but I had not bought another tag, so it was back at the cabin. I decided to concentrate on Isaac killing a bird, but they just weren't close enough for his 20 ga set up. He had a great time anyway and I really like spending time with him hunting. The Nebraska hunt will become a family trip every Spring if we have the money. I'll buy a second tag next time though.

Donnie Vickers' bird - 24 lb - 10+" - 7/8"

My mistake jake - 17.5 lb

Nebraska Merriam's - 20 lb - 8 5/8" - 1/2"

Isaac w/ my Merriam's

Twin Lakes

We drove to Twin Lakes last weekend. The sun was shining, so it was really nice out. The wind was the only thing that kept us in our coats. After some tire repairs at home the kids were able to ride their bikes for the first time since last Fall. They also did quite a bit of running, as did Remi. I've had a few comments about me not posting enough photos of the kids and just posting hunting photos, so I've included a few more photos of the kids.


Olivia and Heather

Isaac, Boyd, and Remi headed for a giant bolder.

Isaac and Boyd on the giant bolder.

Olivia trying to start a fire w/two sticks as Heather, Boyd, and Remi watch.



Remi enjoying something other than snow.

Olivia's ski school & Ski Joring in Leadville

Olivia graduated from her SOS Vail ski class while Mom and Dad were here. The lessons have bumped her skiing up several notches.

Today was the ski joring championships in Leadville. We had never watched them before. They truck snow into the street and build jumps. The skiers are being pulled by a horse that is running (much like water skiing). The skiers fly over the jumps and have a stick (?) that they catch hanging rings with. They are timed and they have seconds added for missed rings. It is really fun to watch them. We did not get to see the guys doing the bigger jumps. We came back home because Heather wasn't feeling good.



This is one of the horses w/ a skier behind.

This horse and rider is flying , but the skier had just went down over the previous jump.

This horse isn't moving too fast because the rider had let go at the beginning several blocks back. We didn't see what had happend.

This guy is just flying off the jump. The stick w/ rings can be seen if you look closely.

This skier is just about to come off the jump. These guys are crazy.

Three future ski jorers?

Cabin Fever!!!!!!!!

2007 IL Turkey

2007 IL Doe
2008 CO Turkey

2008 CO 4x5 Bull

2008 IL Doe



2008/2009 Late Season CO Cow

Bow season has long since passed, late elk is over, turkey isn't quite here yet, and it is too early to get out scouting for anything. Besides the occasional predator hunt or fishing trip, I'm pretty restless this time of year. I've been looking through my hunting photos and thought I'd post some of them up. Most have bee shown before, but I'm showing them off anyway.

February is more than half over

It is hard to believe that March is almost here. I'll be 39 in March, so I've only got one more year in my 30's. I hope 40 to 50 doesn't fly by as fast as 30 to 40 has, but I'm sure it will.

Mom and Dad will be here to visit in less than a week (Feb. 24) for 10 days. I'm exited about them coming. I hope to get Dad out fishing a couple times on the ice and one of the rivers. Mom is hoping to see it snowing, so maybe we'll have a big storm while they are here. I should be able to show them plenty of elk. There has been several hundred of them south of town.

Turkey season will be here before too long, so the wheels are starting to turn planning out locations to hunt. I don't have any new photos worth posting, but I'll have some of my completed basement bedroom/bathroom by next weekend. If I get dad out to look at the elk, I'll try to get some of them also.