The sun is finally coming up early enough to comfortably exercise before work!! Gear: Salomon GTX Wings 2009 Cutoff Ascent Pants 2009 CoreZip Solid Jetstream Vest New 2010 Ascent 8

42 degrees

Sunrise

Apparently the dog wanted to do some circuit laps on the final downhill.

We also saw about 60 turkeys, a few good Toms, smart enough to stay away from me and the dog, and a couple horny Jakes who weren't sure what was going on who came within 15yds of me and the dog calling off a slate standing right in the open.

I hope everyone is getting the cobwebs off and getting in shape for 2010.

Cheers P.K.

A lot of you are probably gearing up to get into the high country for an upcoming hunt in Colorado or somewhere else in the Rockies.  I figured you might like a non-scientific, yet first hand report of what's going on with the animals and the weather.

We just got our second cold snap of the season yesterday and last night.  This morning we woke to an inch of snow above 9,000 feet.  Temperatures were in the 20s in Carbondale in the Roaring Fork Valley and it was reportedly 17 degrees on top of Monarch Pass near Gunnison, Colorado.  Let's just say it was darn cold in the woods this morning before sun up.  Don't forget to pack all your best and warmest hunting gear.

If you are driving through the mountains, make sure to check the Colorado Department of Transportation website for pass closures.  We only have a little snow now, but that can also change quickly.  There's nothing worse than having to turn around to drive all the way around a pass.  Usually the passes don't close until closer to the end of October or start of November.

The leaves are mostly still on the trees, but that will change soon with our next big windstorm.

The rut was slow to start with all the warm weather we had, but I'd say it's in full swing now. Last week my husband and I called in a group of hot and horny bulls.  I had my bow drawn on one just 15 feet in front of me, but never got a shot through the dark timber.  That's hunting.

Best of luck to everyone and safe travels.

Every so often we get emails with  testimonials from hunts on which the hunters wore Sitka gear. Reading the stories and seeing the pictures is always exciting.  Anyone who has shared a hunt with a parent or child can attest to the significance of a the hunt.  This story was submitted by Fairbanks, Alaska guide Lynn Thompson. Congrats to Keegan!

My three daughters have always enjoyed the annual family moose hunts in Alaska.  From an early age they have enjoyed hunting adventures and I have always encouraged them stay involved.

My oldest daughter, Keegan,  age 15, decided that she wanted to hunt a big game animal.  I agreed that when she completed the Hunter Education class, I would take her on a hunt of her choice.  She completed the class and decided that she wanted to hunt a black bear.

We researched areas and decided on a five day fly-in drop off hunt.
We flew in and set up camp and soon afterwards started spotting bears in the berry patches.  One bear worked within 80 yards of us, but Keegan knew we couldn't fly and shoot the same day, so we watched it able off.

The next day, we spotted five bears and stalked one large bear. But were unable to get within 100 yards, the distance from which Keegan was comfortable shooting. Keegan and I hiked back to camp a little bummed out.

Day two found us stalking a nice bear after lunch.  We got caught in the open when the bear reappeared closer than I had anticipated. Keegan and I sat down in the open and the bear slowly worked its way towards us grazing on berries.  When the bear was 54 yards away, I told Keegan to shoot when it turned broadside.  One shot from her 30.06 dropped the bear without it ever knowing we were there.  I was a very proud dad and neither one of us could stop smiling.

I am convinced that the Sitka Gear clothing gave us the added advantage
that we needed when stalking the bear.

Earlier this week I wrote about improving your hunts with physical conditioning. This post is about improving your game with mental conditioning.

I've been shooting a lot of skeet and shooting my bow more recently.  My skeet "coach" told me about the book, With Winning In Mind, by Lanny Bassham.  Bassham is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion shooter who developed his Mental Management System to master his sport.

Bassham explains in laymens terms how anyone can use his simple mental training tools to improve his or her performance in sports and in business.  His system teaches how to focus on the positive and balance the conscious, subconscious, and the self-image to succeed at anything you want.

I highly recommend this book.  It's a quick read and can help you reach your goals whether it be on your next hunt, on the shooting range or in your business ventures.

Sitka Athlete Tom Foss beginning his Optifade Sheep Slam, next stop Carmen Island for deserts..oh yeah,why not a Mountain Caribou while he is at it:

Sitka's Core Zip-T was recently tested by BackPackGearTest.org. Back Pack Gear Test does an impressive job at putting a product through the paces. It was impressive to see how the Zip-T handled the 6 months of abuse with glowing praise, for both the hunter and recreational outdoorsperson. Read the review here.

Thought I would share just a few of the review's on Cabela's website, where the Ascent Pants are seeing an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. Got to love it.

5 out of 5 Surprisingly Tough, March 23, 2009 By IdahoMW from Idaho

"Thought that the ascent pants may not be tough for high country abuse, but to the contrary, they have withstood abuse well. Very light, and the stretchable fabric moves well with you. Suspenders are a nice touch, and they wick moisture better than any technical hunting pant I have owned. Built to hunt very hard and mobile, especially during early hunt seasons." Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

5 out of 5 Sitka Ascent Pants, February 23, 2009 By BlackBearKilla from New York

"These are the most comfortable hunting pants I have owned and I've had a lot. Very soft, stretchy material. I highly recommend this product." Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

5 out of 5 My new favorite pair of pants, December 15, 2008 By cajunshooter from South La

"After purchasing the Sitka 90% jacket and loving it, I decided to give the Ascent pants a try. These are by far the most comfortable, quiet pants I own. I've been a fan of North Face and Mountain Hardware softshell for a while, and the Sitka is every bit as good, if not better in my opinion. These do fit a bit snug, and not intended for very cold temperatures, but they are great for their designed use." Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

5 out of 5 Great Pair of Pants, November 7, 2008 By Holleywood from Birmingham, Alabama

"I hunt mostly in Alabama where the bow season temps can range from 40 degrees to 70 degrees. These are the best pair of early season pants I've ever had. Not only are they lightweight, they are quiet and extremely comfortable. I liked them so much I bought the matching 3/4 zip pullover. I highly recommend the lightweight Sitka line to anyone that hunts early season in the southeast." Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

GORE's new Optifade camo disappears here in this high alpine setting in Nevada...prime time Mule Deer country. Shot at 1:1, this is Optifade at 50 yards.



For this difficult shot, David Brinker sat absolutely motionless. It was incredible to see male modeling like this in person. Not quit "ready position", but very close. The comfort his Sitka Gear provided in the 10 degree temperatures allowed him to hold this position for hours.

Here is a small chunk of a fouled up stalk from a couple weeks ago, at least the 2009 gear was exceptional!

Music By Eddie Vedder-"From Into Wild" Soundtrack

Sitka is rounding out it's line this year with the addition of new insulation pieces to keep your core warm.  The Kelvin Jacket and Vest incorporate lightweight and packable PrimaLoft One insulation for an extreme heat-to-weight ratio.

The Kelvin pieces are designed to be layered under one of Sitka's soft or hard shell pieces.  PrimaLoft insulation is a superior synthetic loft  material that holds in maximum heat with minimal weight.  This is what you want for hunting in the coldest temperature or stand hunting.

Kelvin will be available to consumers in June 2009 in Mothwing Mountain Mimicry camouflage pattern and the new Gore OPTIFADE Concealment Technology, the only pattern designed according to how deer and other big game animal vision works. Available in sizes S-3XL.

The Kelvin Jacket features two chest pockets, articulated arms and an internal waist cinch to trap core heat. Retail camo $199, retail solid $179.

The Kelvin Vest features two hand pockets, a cinched neckline and internal waist cinch.  Retail camo $149, retail solid $129.

Where Can I buy Sitka Gear?

See the Dealer Locator on our website to find a Sitka dealer nearest you.  If you cannot find a dealer, two of our largest online dealers are Cabela's and Schnee's. The new products for 2009 will be available in June.