Incredible! What a true adventure! Thanks I have just lived vicariously through you on one of my dreams!! Congrats, that is a beautiful blue sheep!!
Great story!This is an adventure and experience only a few will have. I'm very fortunate and humble to have been one of them. I knew I had to do this before I got any older. 65 is much different than when I was 45
Thanks for reading and sharing my adventure.
CHEERS!
Listed are some of my gear. Nothing failed.
My rifle is a Proof Research Terminus in .300WM shooting a Berger 185gr Classic Hunter bullet at 3195fps with H1000. I mount a small Harris BiPod on it.
Scope is Swarovski x5i 5-25x56mm. I have a ballistic tape strip with actual distance on the turret for quick setting after ranging.
Binoculars for this hunt were Leica 10x25 for weight reduction.
Kahles Helia LRF 7x25 worked great to give me proper angle compensation setting
Lowa boots were perfect. Trekking poles are a must have.
I'm not a big camo guy so I use Burton GoreTex shell jacket and pants. Icebreaker Merino base layers. Mountain Hardwear puffy jacket & vest. Alpaca/Merino wool socks.
Tingley EVO Airlight low boots for camp wear
Western Mountaineering Puma GWS -25F sleeping bag (Love it!) Klymit Short air mattress with short Therm-a-rest pad.
Cabela's Large Dry Duffle bag
ACETAZOLAMIDE (Diamox) for Altitude Sickness prevention with no side effects
Items taken but not used: (Weather was warm with minimal breeze but it did snow/rain the last night which melted quickly)
ZOLEO Satellite communicator for emergencies
Black Diamond crampons & ice axe
Wiggy's overboot waders
La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX boots
Oakley Ski Goggles
GoreTex down mittens
Fleece neck scarf
Suggestions:
USE MORE SUNSCREEN I'm pealing and didn't realize how intense the sun was at altitude. Didn't seem bad at the time. I use SPF lip balm all the time yet still burned.
I put all my clothes in plastic bags inside my duffle to prevent possibility of getting wet. Moisture management is very important
BE PREPARED FOR DELAYS! It took 5 days to get the rifle permits from Nepal Customs and Forestry Minister after I arrived. There might be 25 total hunters who come to Nepal in a year. There are only 18 Blue sheep permits and 14 Tahr permits issued annually. Firearms are not common coming into and exiting Nepal.
The Airport police gave us a very difficult time over the trophies after the chopper flight from Dhorpatan. I think my outfitter had to bribe them to let us go even with all proper documents. I really hated this happening. There is a large sign at the airport stating that they DO NOT ACCEPT BRIBES. Nepal has been the most Red Tape country that I have traveled to around the world.
I am a "minimalist". I am a strong proponent of the "KISS" method. "Keep it simple stupid"." I have a ballistic tape strip with actual distance on the turret for quick setting after ranging." Please elaborate. Is the DOPE on your tape developed at your US home base? How do you handle deviations in elevation, baro press, temperature at hunt location? Did the RF handle those parameter adjustments? Did you confirm zero and DOPE parameters at your Nepal base camp? Did you do a lot of glassing or did the guides do the glassing? Did you free hand hold the binos while glassing or did you have a mono/bi/tripod for steadiness? Did you take your shots from the bipod, pack, against rocks, or maybe sticks the guides carried??
This is an adventure and experience only a few will have. I'm very fortunate and humble to have been one of them. I knew I had to do this before I got any older. 65 is much different than when I was 45
Thanks for reading and sharing my adventure.
CHEERS!
Listed are some of my gear. Nothing failed.
My rifle is a Proof Research Terminus in .300WM shooting a Berger 185gr Classic Hunter bullet at 3195fps with H1000. I mount a small Harris BiPod on it.
Scope is Swarovski x5i 5-25x56mm. I have a ballistic tape strip with actual distance on the turret for quick setting after ranging.
Binoculars for this hunt were Leica 10x25 for weight reduction.
Kahles Helia LRF 7x25 worked great to give me proper angle compensation setting
Lowa boots were perfect. Trekking poles are a must have.
I'm not a big camo guy so I use Burton GoreTex shell jacket and pants. Icebreaker Merino base layers. Mountain Hardwear puffy jacket & vest. Alpaca/Merino wool socks.
Tingley EVO Airlight low boots for camp wear
Western Mountaineering Puma GWS -25F sleeping bag (Love it!) Klymit Short air mattress with short Therm-a-rest pad.
Cabela's Large Dry Duffle bag
ACETAZOLAMIDE (Diamox) for Altitude Sickness prevention with no side effects
Items taken but not used: (Weather was warm with minimal breeze but it did snow/rain the last night which melted quickly)
ZOLEO Satellite communicator for emergencies
Black Diamond crampons & ice axe
Wiggy's overboot waders
La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX boots
Oakley Ski Goggles
GoreTex down mittens
Fleece neck scarf
Suggestions:
USE MORE SUNSCREEN I'm pealing and didn't realize how intense the sun was at altitude. Didn't seem bad at the time. I use SPF lip balm all the time yet still burned.
I put all my clothes in plastic bags inside my duffle to prevent possibility of getting wet. Moisture management is very important
BE PREPARED FOR DELAYS! It took 5 days to get the rifle permits from Nepal Customs and Forestry Minister after I arrived. There might be 25 total hunters who come to Nepal in a year. There are only 18 Blue sheep permits and 14 Tahr permits issued annually. Firearms are not common coming into and exiting Nepal.
The Airport police gave us a very difficult time over the trophies after the chopper flight from Dhorpatan. I think my outfitter had to bribe them to let us go even with all proper documents. I really hated this happening. There is a large sign at the airport stating that they DO NOT ACCEPT BRIBES. Nepal has been the most Red Tape country that I have traveled to around the world.
What a great adventure. And delays are or should always be expected if your in Central Asia or East Africa. And your outfitter is there to smooth the way in and out of the country. As far as baksheh ( payoffs are concern) these folks are born survivors and will do what it takes to survive so don't sweat it. Your trip supported many many Nepalese families and what ever you paid is a good deal for all. Congrats again and thanks for the write up.This is an adventure and experience only a few will have. I'm very fortunate and humble to have been one of them. I knew I had to do this before I got any older. 65 is much different than when I was 45
Thanks for reading and sharing my adventure.
CHEERS!
Listed are some of my gear. Nothing failed.
My rifle is a Proof Research Terminus in .300WM shooting a Berger 185gr Classic Hunter bullet at 3195fps with H1000. I mount a small Harris BiPod on it.
Scope is Swarovski x5i 5-25x56mm. I have a ballistic tape strip with actual distance on the turret for quick setting after ranging.
Binoculars for this hunt were Leica 10x25 for weight reduction.
Kahles Helia LRF 7x25 worked great to give me proper angle compensation setting
Lowa boots were perfect. Trekking poles are a must have.
I'm not a big camo guy so I use Burton GoreTex shell jacket and pants. Icebreaker Merino base layers. Mountain Hardwear puffy jacket & vest. Alpaca/Merino wool socks.
Tingley EVO Airlight low boots for camp wear
Western Mountaineering Puma GWS -25F sleeping bag (Love it!) Klymit Short air mattress with short Therm-a-rest pad.
Cabela's Large Dry Duffle bag
ACETAZOLAMIDE (Diamox) for Altitude Sickness prevention with no side effects
Items taken but not used: (Weather was warm with minimal breeze but it did snow/rain the last night which melted quickly)
ZOLEO Satellite communicator for emergencies
Black Diamond crampons & ice axe
Wiggy's overboot waders
La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX boots
Oakley Ski Goggles
GoreTex down mittens
Fleece neck scarf
Suggestions:
USE MORE SUNSCREEN I'm pealing and didn't realize how intense the sun was at altitude. Didn't seem bad at the time. I use SPF lip balm all the time yet still burned.
I put all my clothes in plastic bags inside my duffle to prevent possibility of getting wet. Moisture management is very important
BE PREPARED FOR DELAYS! It took 5 days to get the rifle permits from Nepal Customs and Forestry Minister after I arrived. There might be 25 total hunters who come to Nepal in a year. There are only 18 Blue sheep permits and 14 Tahr permits issued annually. Firearms are not common coming into and exiting Nepal.
The Airport police gave us a very difficult time over the trophies after the chopper flight from Dhorpatan. I think my outfitter had to bribe them to let us go even with all proper documents. I really hated this happening. There is a large sign at the airport stating that they DO NOT ACCEPT BRIBES. Nepal has been the most Red Tape country that I have traveled to around the world.