2019 Initial Ascent Gen II pack review.

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
The country these buffalo live is flat top Mesa's with steep sides. The bison like to run the rim edge in the thick cedars so they can drop off into the bottom at the first sign of pressure.
b94e8e69551f2e48cf753560deffa4e0.jpg
0b21d72714afe1e3f89691b296381044.jpg

b71227e5f499fd6ee9b9b1fd1de6bda4.jpg
 
Last edited:

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
I had invested a bunch of time scouting this unit, always found some buffalo but not in numbers or consistently enough to give me confidence in a drainage. Basically the bison are where you find them. Surprised to find out buffalo don't have to drink water everyday and that they only will consume 1% of thier body wieght daily. Pretty amazing animal can disappear for extended periods of time.
64aaab7798921cd9d2d0acdaa75b0839.jpg


Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
Everything about these animals is huge, can't imagine breaking one down without a few extra hands. Packing one out requires multiple strong backs that's for sure.
6d04d408efa49571b6b282c309cc7276.jpg
58b0cc56c8242a0c9c4c1b9455b201c2.jpg
5f2622315166d58510191e070936d051.jpg
c86063caa356b4e3686f2b045230aa88.jpg
My hunting partner decided that the Initial Ascent belt was more comfortable than what he had been using and purchased the new IA6K to use on this pack out. I'm thankful for good equipment and good friends makes a tough pack out seem to go quickly.
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
There is a tip Dennis from Initial Ascent shared with me. When/if I encountered a extra wide load I needed to secured with the pannier load carrier system.
e88d6cf8d692eff99e2963bfa2f193ef.jpg
Take the straps that connect the lid to frame and remove them from both the frame and the lid.
1cb3e11ea047f17ce75039440bdb23a4.jpg
Remove the bottom frame connection from the pannier carrier, insert the lid straps in those same frame slots and thread the pannier on the excess end of the lid straps.
666b04bbd0a4f6141752d57590c4a5f6.jpg
Now you can adjust the bottom of the pannier load carrier so you can center it on the load and attach all the supporting straps.
e07c1ed88b3ddf7cc97770bf2b8d9be6.jpg

5927d5368d0cf62300b99d1f52f17eba.jpg
 
Last edited:

IdahoGoat

FNG
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Messages
81
Location
Twin Falls, ID
So I was in the Boise area recently and tried visiting the initial ascent shop in Middleton but couldn't find it. Tried calling and no one answered. Maybe they moved recently? Any idea if they have a storefront?
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
So I was in the Boise area recently and tried visiting the initial ascent shop in Middleton but couldn't find it. Tried calling and no one answered. Maybe they moved recently? Any idea if they have a storefront?
Joe and Dennis are hunting partners so that probably complicates things this time of year. I'd try emailing them and seeing what you can set up.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 

Team Initial Ascent

FNG
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Nov 21, 2018
Messages
46
Location
Idaho
Sorry that we missed you! We do not have a store front however, we can absolutely set up a time to meet with you. We have two location that we ship out of; one in Middleton the other in Nampa. Dennis and I were on a 7 day hunt together which is why I am sure we missed you. Please email us at [email protected] with your contact information and we will give you a call to set up a time.
Thank you,
Joe
Initial Ascent
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
Really haven't gotten out very much since my daughter's deer hunt. I have a whitetail hunt coming up in Missouri where typically I hunt pre hung stands but this year's flooding some stands are inaccessible without chest waders. This will push me into carrying a stand and ladder sticks with the IA pack.
5439a63d4b6d1fd1ed46719c5edd7ca0.jpg


Will update how it works out.
 
Last edited:

robby denning

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
14,993
Location
SE Idaho
Really haven't gotten out very much since my daughter's deer hunt. I have a whitetail hunt coming up in Missouri where typically I hunt pre hung stands but this year's flooding some stands are inaccessible without chest waders. This will push me into carrying a stand and ladder sticks with the IA pack.
5439a63d4b6d1fd1ed46719c5edd7ca0.jpg


Will update how it works out.

Cool beans


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
I have some pictures and caring a hang on stand along with some climbing sticks in the AI worked pretty good. When the weather turned super cold I didn't like having to fumble with the waders and just hunted the couple stands that were accessible. Ended up without taking a buck home so maybe I shouldn't have been so lazy.
The comfort level of caring everything was awesome but the frame was a bit much for hanging near enough to reach my daily stuff. Decided leaving the frame under the stand and detaching the lid and keeping that close was a good compromise.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,627
Location
Eastern Utah
When I got home I got a chance to trade packs with some good friends while they were packing out thier buck.
Running the old pack frame reminded of how far pack technology had come. I see a new pack in thier future.
Just getting to see this buck in person was well worth whatever sore back I got from the ol' pack board.
9143b3b3f88902368b6af7e7d7e59e14.jpg
 
Last edited:
Top