High Mountain Hunting Supply

Fall is approaching faster than many of us would like to believe.  The kids are heading back to school, swimsuits and water skis are on clearance, and Christmas displays will soon show up at Wal-Mart and Costco.  For the hunting and outdoor community, this is “Prime Time”.  Bear season is already open, followed closely by grouse and some select tags for elk.  Scouting is already in full bloom as hunters everywhere are starting to review maps, purchase gear, and hone skills for the key shot that could mean the difference between a full freezer and another year of living vicariously through Eastman’s Journal.  With all of the excitement beginning to stir, it is often easy to lose sight of some of the hazards we sometimes take for granted in our outdoor Mecca.

One of the most dangerous things we nature lovers fail to anticipate each autumn is nature itself.  Being in central Washington and having front door access to the Cascade Mountains is one of the greatest assets we have. Mountain splendor, however, means that the weather of North Central Washington is anything but predictable.  In the cool of the late evening, you can already begin to feel the icy fingers of winter preparing to make a permanent grab to reclaim the cascades for another 6 months.   I have heard it said, if you don’t like the fall weather in Wenatchee, just wait 15 minutes.  In the high country, circumstances can change just that quickly.

With these waning days of summer, it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security about the stability of our local weather patterns.  In our excitement to capture the moment (and the trophy) we can loose sight of how delicate the balance between life and death really is.   By failing to recognize the need to maintain proper gear for every weather condition, we outdoorsmen put ourselves at great risk as we advance into the wild.  While the days may be warm, temperatures at night can drop 30 degrees in just a matter of hours.  Shorter days mean longer nights resulting in less radiant heat from the ground.  A short rainstorm can soak a person to the skin making a 90 degree day a predecessor to very chilly and even potentially life-threatening night.

Such extreme scenarios are also easily preventable if we just take the time to recognize the volatility of nature and prepare ourselves accordingly.  Cotton clothing is comfortable and lightweight and a staple of summer wear, but fails to protect the hunter/outdoorsman if the weather should turn ugly.   It may be hard to consider when the temperature at river level is closer to triple digits than it is to single digits, but a wool sweater in a fanny pack takes little space and weight but provides key warmth and protection when things don’t go according to plan.

The threat of being caught by weather surprises increases as we grow closer to winter and the outdoorsman should prepare accordingly with increasingly protective gear.  Don’t allow the warm days to diminish your caution. This is not to rain on anyone’s parade, but is just a friendly reminder to keep your senses when heading into the potential ravages of nature.  Remember, above all, HAVE FUN and be safe.  It’s Prime Time! Now go outside and play.