On Top Of The World

A few weeks ago Val called Corban and asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said he wanted Uncle Jeff to take him up on the real mountains and hunt an elk. So, Aunt Val made Corbans birthday wish come true!! Heather, the boys and myself flew into Utah last Saturday and on Sunday morning Uncle Jeff, Aunt Val, Dakota, Delaney, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim, Brock, Great Ramma & Rampa "Ranch", Aunt Laurie and Uncle Jonas (that was all, I hope) and us all went up above East Carbon to Bruins where Jeff has his hunting camp.

On the way up, Corban got to see several herds of antelope which made the beginning of the hunt awesome!! We then took the switch backs (lots of them) and a steep, steep climb to get to the top of Bruins. Jeff stopped at a view point so we could look down (way down) to the valley below. It was so beautiful!! Words cannot describe the beauty of God's creation!!

We arrived at "Camp Hilton" where the scenery was just as beautiful. Uncle Jeff has camp set up so nice!! We ate lunch and then Corban wanted to "hunt" so Uncle Jeff had Jonas, Brock and Dakota place a recording of a hurt bunny on the hillside and after about 5 minutes he had successfully called in a pack of coyote. We just sat, watched and listened to the coyotes try to find the bunny. Dakota forgot to put the recording on continue replay so after about 30 minutes the coyotes began to rock out on Val's ipod music!!

Then Uncle Jeff took a few "chosen hunters" which did not include me, Jayce, the Ram-parents, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim or Aunt Laurie (something about us being noisy) out to bugle in some elk. So this is how the story I heard goes.

Uncle Jeff took the "chosen" to a "secret location" and after Jonas carried Corban up and down a hill side, Brock stepping in a fresh cow pie and sliding a bit, Heather & Delaney trying to keep up and be quiet and Dakota and Brock chit, chatting in "whispers", they arrived at a spot and Jeff began his call. It wasn't long that a big elk came in........within 30 yards. Corban was so quiet and just watched as the elk just looked at them. After a few minutes it ran off and the chosen moved to another location. Unlce Jeff worked his magic once again and bugled in lots of big elk!! Corban kept telling Uncle Jonas to go back to the truck and get his pump gun so he could shoot the elk. He was a little upset when he was told they could only watch the elk and not shoot them but he was so excited to see "real elk" in the "real forest" that it was ok.

The chosen said they could hear other elk bugling and running through the trees and some were even hitting horns. Corban was so quiet and amazed and he said that "this was the best day ever!!"

When he got back to camp he told the rest of us the whole story and showed us how each elk looked at him and how they were bugling back at Uncle Jeff!! It was so fun to see the total excitment in his eyes and hear him tell us everything!

We then started our ride back down the switch backs and off the steep, steep mountain to home where we tucked a sleeping Corban into bed where I am sure he was dreaming of "the best day ever" with elk, coyotes, antelope and Uncle Jeff!

Thanks Uncle Jeff for making his birthday wish come true!!!

On top of Bruins looking down on creation!
Corban getting ready to go find the big elk!!!

The hunting began................poor Corban was the elk that Brock & Dakota shot!!

Sweet Baby Jayce, he couldn't go out to call in the elk so he stayed back at camp and cut firewood!

Jonas & I spending quality time together in the mountains!