ヴァレンティン・トーマスさんのインスタグラム写真 - (ヴァレンティン・トーマスInstagram)「My first elk hunt was an incredibly demanding physical challenge. On the initial day, we embarked on a grueling 5-mile uphill hike to a vantage point, only to be greeted by a group of college kids mountaineering and blaring music. Their presence and loudness disrupted the valley, rendering our day fruitless. Elk are very smart animals, and they can hear and smell us from really far. Undeterred, on the second day, we ventured even deeper into the dense and steep forest. I fell hiking down into a drainage and my gun’s butt lodged itself in my upper rib, taking my breath away, and hurting badly when I inhale (still does 😭). Show must go on. While we saw older signs of elk activity, the abundance of bear poop suggested that the elk had vacated the area, as they tend to avoid bears. Nevertheless, we decided to hide in the bushes near a water pond where we saw relatively fresh elk (and bear) prints until dawn, hopeful that an elk might return. Unfortunately, our patience was unrewarded, and as darkness fell, we completed the final few miles of our already arduous 12-mile journey. Day three compelled us to explore yet another location, ascending to a viewpoint overlooking a vast valley. We patiently waited for hours, desperately hoping for any sign of movement emerging from the woods. Exhausted and disheartened, we concluded another day without even catching a glimpse of an elk. To be continued tomorrow! @mtn_chandler IS THE MOUNTAIN MAN. @danielf86 @ororo.wear I don’t know what I would have done without your heated stuff 🥹」10月23日 2時35分