pahncho2121

Good morning, years back I hiked into Chevelon Canyon Lake with an inflatable tube and had a great time fishing. I'm trying to plan a trip to go back with my two young children and camp there. I have a canoe that I am trying to get to the water and I know there is a width restriction at the gate. Yesterday I called the Black Mesa Rangers office to ask and the very nice range thought it was about 56" wide and said anything that will fit is allowed through. I have an old kawasaki mule that is measuring 57"....missed it by that much. Anyways, I have never been through that opening or even walked down that road that goes to the dam and I'm hoping someone might have a little more information? I am about six hours away or I'd drive up and check it out (maybe thats what I should do) but the ranger wasn't real positive on the size is the only reason I am asking. Thanks for your help!

I am trying to get more into back country hunting so I needed ton drop some weight. I put together a simple video that shows some simple changes that allowed me to drop over 75 lbs https://youtu.be/00XOtEJ-ZxQ

I went to Colorado recently after years of not drawing an Arizona elk tag. This was my first time hunting elk and all things considered, I think it went ok. https://youtu.be/rMqONXi8EiU

I spent more time hunting and less time filming, but it was a lot of fun! Hope you enjoy my quick little video! https://youtu.be/7RZjc5sv9Vw

Thank you

That is on my list

Thank you!

Thank you and thanks for watching!

Thank you!

Thank you! It can be a pain to remember to film, especially when you have deer in the optics and the adrenaline is flowing. Thanks for watching!

I am switching my ammo this year away from solid copper and back to lead core. I leave Thursday for a coues hunt so I am hoping for an opportunity. I had an issue with the lack of expansion. I was curious though to see if I could get a factory inexpensive lead core ammo to shoot as good as the more expensive solid copper ammo. I filmed my results, just in case anyone else wondered the same thing. https://youtu.be/Y_CxNhQ9AXw

Thank you very much!

Thanks everyone! I am still in disbelief that things actually worked out! This was the best picture I got. I forgot my little phone clip at the truck so I just wedged my phone in between my back frame and bag and took some pics.

Thank you

Haha, it was a tough pack out.

Thank you everyone! Can't wait to try again next year!

The sous vide in general is an amazing tool! I bought the $99 Anova model on amazon and use it at least 4 days per week if not more. Makes it simple to prepare in the morning, my wife tosses it in the water that afternoon that way when I get home from work we're just a quick sear away from an amazing dinner every night. Try vegetables in it, you won't be sorry!

As for your blood work and foods that don't make since as long as you are below your TOTAL DAILY ENRGY EXPENDITURES (TDEE) which you are with 2300 calories your body will use the fats for energy and doesn't store any because you are burning up more then you take in. Even if you eat lots of sugars and fats and you are below TDEE your blood work will get better. Different story happens once you are on a calorie surplus which you already know since you know what its like to be at 284lbs. Beside all this stuff good for you and keeping at it and getting down the weight I couldn't agree more, I heard Mark Bell on a podcast say the perfect diet is the one you are going to stick with. I have tried multiple and for me personally, the keto has been the most fun with wholesome delicious foods. I don't know the long term plan, but the added health benefits of a ketogenic type diet has me intrigued. My father and father in law are having great success controlling their type 2 diabetes with this program. From what I understand, there are many health benefits from this type of diet, but like everything, I am sure there are drawbacks too. I think the fact that we are all cognizant of our health, that is a step in the right direction.

I hate to start up an old thread but my personal experience has been that my caloric intake has remained steady around 2300 calories daily, but the food portions I now consume have gone down. Studies I have read show that fat contains 9 cal/gram and carbohydrates contain 4 cal/gram. I can keep my calories up by eating nutrient dense red meats and pork and adding in moderate vegetables. I started actually weighing my food as my protein to fat ratio was off with too much meat, so now I portion it out. I started January 2016 at 284 lbs and got down to around 220 with just watching what I ate and staying in a calorie deficit but I hit a wall. I tried all of last year to get below 220 and could not. I was getting depressed and wanted to go back to junk food. I started a nutritional Keto plan 6 weeks ago and was honest with myself when it came to tracking foods. Since then I am down three pants sizes and averaged last week at 197 pounds. I feel satiated constantly thanks to increased fat intake and thoroughly love the meals I cook for my family. Most meals are simple with 6ish oz's of meat and 1 to 2 cups of some type of veggie. I have taken daily photos and compiled it into a time lapse and I can now watch my "spare tire" melt away. Sometimes this program doesn't make sense with the foods that we eat, but results keep coming and my blood work has never looked better.

So I am currently running the Vortex Kiabab 15x56 and although can be slightly uncomfortable, I can glass for long days without a problem. I did notice on a recent hunt that one guy was picking up much more detail with his Swaro SLC 15x56 at greater distances. It might be in our eyes, but I am hoping it is in the equipment. I was looking for thoughts on upgrading on keeping my current binos and adding a spotter for detail at distance or just upgrading to the swaros? I backpack often so weight is a concern. Carrying three sets of optics (counting the pair on my chest) doesn't excite me. I did look through a 65mm STS and was impressed by the clarity. I spoke with the guys at Outdoorsmans about the BTX and they suggested that it made for a great accent piece to the binos but wasn't sufficient as a sole optic for closer distances. Any thoughts on my "dilemma"?

I had this very spotter once and it turned me off from spotting scopes. It wasn't until I looked through the swaro that convinced me that spotters aren't all bad. You said you had a Vortex Viper spotting scope, his is a Vortex Razor. Big difference in clarity, in my opinion. You're absolutely right. I have not looked through the razor, only my viper. However after looking through an STS 65, I get the swaro hype. Seems like the 12's might be a good choice, If I could get down to one go to pair of binos that would cut some weight down big time!

I had this very spotter once and it turned me off from spotting scopes. It wasn't until I looked through the swaro that convinced me that spotters aren't all bad.

I hadn't considered the 12's. I was worried since I have been using my 15's for the past couple years that I might miss the little extra power. To the ones carrying the 12's, are you also carrying a spotter or just the 12's?My hunting partner carries the spotting scope it’s a Lica , I bought it he packs it ... good deal for sure ... LOL That is exactly how I had my first experience with an STS 65. Seems like the only thing better than having your own is having a friend who packs one...

I think I will have to get one now then save and get the other. I feel like the binos will be the most versatile for the way I hunt. For now at least!

I appreciate everyone's feedback, I am going to have to look through some 12's real soon!