Witless Wanderings

30 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratings

Veering off the beaten trail. A solo backpacker gets few opportunities to share stories around the campfire. It’s been brought to my attention that there are folks out there who might enjoy those trail stories. I’ll share them here, recorded on the trail in whichever wilderness I wander. I’m no survival expert, save in that I’ve spent much time in the wild, and haven’t died yet. No instructions. Tips and tricks will be incidental to the stories. The focus here will be on the experience of life in the wild. The vast, sweeping mountains and those little adventures each day brings. Stories in scale from mouse to moose. Find visuals to match the stories on Instagram @witlsswandrer

Wilderness Sports adventure wilderness hiking hunting veteran outdoors campfire montana wildlife backpacking
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Episodes

Bear Hunt

September 29, 2021 06:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB

I get asked a lot whether I worry about running into a bear while I’m wandering the backcountry. Next person who asks will get to hear ALL about my experiences bear hunting…

Backcountry Elk Hunt, day 2

September 17, 2021 06:00 - 9 minutes - 6.62 MB

Scheduled 6 days for this hunt. However, it doesn’t take that long to identify that the elk have moved on in their migration. Good times. Good lessons. On to the bear hunts.

Backcountry Elk Hunt, day 1

September 16, 2021 06:00 - 11 minutes - 7.91 MB

Setting out into the wilderness to hunt elk. Success might truly be more painful than failure…

Car Camping, day 2

September 10, 2021 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.95 MB

Check your equipment, kids, or you too may find yourself with no way to make coffee at 5:30 am on a camping trip. A failed stove shortened the trip, but didn’t dampen spirits. Good times. A wet dog. Mountains and fall colors.

Car Camping, day 1

September 09, 2021 09:00 - 6 minutes - 4.34 MB

Hitting the back roads with a buddy who couldn’t backpack this year. Got him into the Bob. He fished. I didn’t. Brought the dog. Had a cot. What is this luxury?

Elk Scout, day 2

August 27, 2021 11:00 - 7 minutes - 5.13 MB

Wait, this was supposed to take a week? Also, strange bedfellows and late night visitors.

Elk Scout, day 1

August 26, 2021 11:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MB

Scouting for elk, in preparation for hunting season.

The Wall, the end

August 18, 2021 06:00 - 6 minutes - 4.68 MB

Short day finishes the trip. Time to start planning next time out.

The Wall, day 4

August 17, 2021 06:00 - 8 minutes - 6.04 MB

Well, that was a long day. River bottom miles with bonus blowdown to finish the hike.

The Wall, day 3

August 16, 2021 06:00 - 5 minutes - 3.99 MB

That feeling when, after days of hiking, you just hit the wall. Depending on the Wall, it can be a pretty good feeling.

The Wall, days 1 and 2

August 16, 2021 03:00 - 11 minutes - 7.85 MB

Beginning a trip to the Chinese Wall, culminating in a bear rope hang dubbed ‘the monkey and the viking’. Sometimes I hike with other people. Turns out, it’s kind of fun.

The Long Walk, day 8, the end

July 24, 2021 06:00 - 6 minutes - 4.6 MB

Don’t stand on pride when offered a ride.

The Long Walk, day 7

July 24, 2021 02:00 - 13 minutes - 9.6 MB

Wandering down the river. Turns out ricer valleys are easier hiking than mountain passes. Shocking.

The Long Walk, day 6

July 22, 2021 06:00 - 11 minutes - 8.01 MB

Rest day. Admitting I was wrong in snapping to judgment about folks I don’t know. Shocking how I could get that wrong. Blind judgments so seldom prove erroneous…

The Long Walk, day 5

July 21, 2021 06:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MB

Shortcuts make for long delays. Walked on air for a while, well, blown down timber anyway. Through a dense tangle of alders no less. Also, there was a pond. Fun crossing at mile 14, with the day’s heat fading. Side note. Lick Creek. That will make sense in wither this episode or the next. Can’t remember in which episode I forgot. Which speaks volumes to how my brain… works.

The Long Walk, day 4

July 20, 2021 06:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MB

Switchback Pass. I get high, then find out I need to get higher. Then I have to rapidly surrender all that altitude. But it’s ok because turquoise lake.

The Long Walk, day 3

July 19, 2021 06:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MB

A disagreement with dinner, a lot of climbing. Oh, so many cliffs and waterfalls.

The Long Walk, day 2

July 18, 2021 06:00 - 14 minutes - 9.78 MB

In which the long walk continues, and I reach an outhouse. It’s a big deal in the backcountry.

The Long Walk, day 1

July 18, 2021 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MB

Starting what I planned to be a fourteen-day jaunt through the Bob. A brush with tribal law, a lot of walking.

North Wall, the end

June 27, 2021 06:00 - 11 minutes - 7.69 MB

Short episode, covering a quick ten-mile day. Forgot to mention the rain.

North Wall, Packrobatics and Downed Trees

June 26, 2021 06:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MB

Packrobatics, because I can’t call it hiking when there’s climbing and contortion than actual walking. Also, got yelled at by elk, and scared off a bear by scent alone - more impressive since the bear was upwind.

North Wall, A Wrench in the Works

June 25, 2021 06:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MB

The day everything went off the rails. Also, with deadfall.

North Wall, Day 1

June 25, 2021 01:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

First episode of several from a backpacking trip which turned out nothing like I’d planned. Which was no surprise…

An Obstacle Course - in the Rain

June 10, 2021 23:00 - 14 minutes - 9.83 MB

Tried a four-day route. Didn’t happen. For those following along, it’s likely become clear how I relate to plans. Basically, By creating a solid plan, I ensure that course of action doesn’t come to pass. Greeted today’s realization with a belly laugh. And trusting my instincts prevented a pretty serious situation.