Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 before joining us for the final day at our elk hunting camp Arizona trip.
Resting Up at Elk Hunting Camp Arizona
I rise to my alarm. As I roll over I realize the pain in my left groin and the burning between my shoulder blades. The walking and weight of the pack have caught up to me. I move around, turn up the heater and start my morning routine. About 15 minutes in I realize that today is not going to happen for me. I am stuffy and cold, sore and tired. I bet that other guide didn’t make his guy get up so early every day.
A Slow Morning Alone
I watch out the window as Jeff and Armon load up. Jeff drives right to my door for morning pickup. I tell him that I am out for today, as my body aches. He asks if I’m sure and then gives into my wishes. I wish them the best, and they are off. Then I decide to turn the heater back down and crawl back into that comfy bed! It doesn’t take long and I am snug as a bug. Warm and happy.
I wake around 6:30. My body is stiff as I fire up the generator a second time today. The heater is warming things nicely. I fire up the coffee maker. Something I haven’t done this trip, as we are up and out so early. I bet that other guide carried coffee up the hill for his guy.
I find some pastries and warm them in the microwave, then sit and enjoy the view out the window in my nice heated space. Next I drink my coffee and eat my warm pastry and blueberry muffin. I have signal on my phone…AMAZING! So I chat with the wife via messenger app.
It is the only communication I can get to work. Good enough for me! I tell her I am staying in today and she is sad for me. No worries, my decision, and I am happy to be sitting here this morning.
Writing While I Wait
After a few back and forth on messenger, I decide on a second cup of coffee. It warms my insides nicely. I am content sitting here, so I decide to write. Something my wife will be very happy about! Usually, I just tell her my story in whole and then she writes as I go through the story again and ‘dictate’ it to her. What a great woman!
It is now 12:30 and the boys are not back for lunch yet. Hmmm…hope they got into some elk! Maybe I will go out with them this afternoon. Or maybe I will just sit here and enjoy the rest of this wonderful day.
The Guys Return
The guys got back late today. Rolled in around 1:45! They told me all the scouting they did, what they saw and what they didn’t. The biggest being that they didn’t see any elk. Same as previous days…just lots of tracks.
We decide to heat up the chicken corn chowder my wife made! It is frozen, so we sit and chat awhile while Jeff thaws and warms the soup. I also brought over a meat, cheese and cracker tray, and we enjoy that while the soup warms. They got stuck on the wrong side of the train tracks for a couple of hours. That is what put them behind. Every road they tried to take had a locked gate, so they back tracked to the original spot and just waited until the train finally moved again.
As we enjoy the delicious chowder, we talk about the afternoon plan. Armon wants to stay in, as it is already past 3pm. I’m good with that today! But Jeff is steadfast and plans on heading to an area with an open plain. They leave around 4pm.
They got back a about an hour after dark with a few stories. More tracks, talked to a Kaibab National Forest ranger that said the elk are all bedded down due to the wind and cold, and they saw hunters in that area on virtually every hill. That sucks! We will try that area in the morning anyway.
Enchiladas and Reruns
Jeff’s wife has made some enchiladas, and Jeff warms them for the evening meal. I bring over some salsa and we eat that with chips while we chat and watch some hunting channel on DirecTV. I guess if we can’t see them here, at least we can see them on tv! There was another guide joke and some laughter in there somewhere! LOL
After our delicious dinner and a couple of beers, we decide to call it a night. It is already 8:30, and the alarm will once again ring early.
That wraps up our four days at elk hunting camp Arizona style. Already looking forward to next season!