Colorado!!!!! I don’t know what to say. The land is indescribable. We arrived in Taylor Park awe-struck. Crossing over the Great Divide at some 12,000 feet was unbelievable. The view was absolutely breathtaking. We have mountains in WV but nothing compared to what I saw when we reached the summit of the Cottonwood Pass.
The backside was a 12 mile stretch of dirt road that twisted and turned its way into the heart of Taylor Park Trading Post (our home for a week). On the way down we were greeted with a few Mule Deer and more awesome views.
The backside was a 12 mile stretch of dirt road that twisted and turned its way into the heart of Taylor Park Trading Post (our home for a week). On the way down we were greeted with a few Mule Deer and more awesome views.
I wish I could say that I tagged an Elk on this trip but it just wasn’t meant to be. It wasn’t for a lack of effort though. Each day was filled with long hikes that essentially put us 5-7 miles back into the wilderness at altitudes ranging from 10-12,500 feet.
Got oxygen? You have to remember, this was a public land Do It Yourself (DIY) hunt. It doesn’t get any tougher than that.
However, the Wilderness Athlete products (wildernessathlete.org) we brought along were a huge advantage. They kept us hydrated and energized throughout the long, leg burning, lung busting hikes. Thanks coach P!!!!!
Without question, my Lady Dream Season suit performed flawlessly. It kept me warm and comfortable the entire time. More importantly, it kept me scent free and the awesome Mossy Oak Treestand camo made me virtually invisible.
Blake did an awesome job guiding us through the rugged backcountry for a week and even though I didn’t get an opportunity to loose an arrow, Steve did manage to get a shot opportunity on the second day of the hunt. Although, a mis-judgment in yardage resulted in a clean miss. 
The bulls were unusually quiet, but on the 4th day Steve and I did manage to hear several bugles late in the evening. What an awesome sound to hear! The next day, day 5, brought an end to our long awaited trip. Honestly, I missed my 2 little boys more than words can say. I wanted to see their little smiling faces so bad.
Looking back I can honestly say I had an awesome time. Steve and I made a new friend in Blake, witnessed things we may never see again in our lifetime, and by weeks end felt that much closer to God. You can’t surround yourself with a place like Colorado and not feel something deep inside. When you leave, you leave a piece of yourself behind; amongst the tall pines and bright yellow aspens. 
No, I didn’t come home with antlers like I had envisioned for so many long months leading up to this hunt. But you know what, it doesn’t really matter. I have no regrets. Besides, I think if your goals revolve around antler size and bragging rights then you are missing out on what the whole bowhunting experience is really about. That is what matters to me…the experience. And this trip was the most awe-inspiring, breathtaking, and humbling experience ever. "Filling" a tag or "not filling" a tag will never take away from that…..ever. I just thank God for blessing Steve and I with the chance to glimpse a piece of heaven on earth……Taylor Park Colorado.
Until next time,
Jessi >>---->
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