In The Rough // Dustin Roe’s SE Alaska Adventure and The Gear That Keeps Giving

If you’ve ever had the experience of hunting South East Alaska in pursuit of an archery Brown Bear, you know that it isn’t only the pursuit of these majestic animals that enthrals you, it’s the whole experience. It’s like a good western movie title, you can expect the ‘good, the bad and the down right ugly‘ when it comes to weather. You are working around tidal highs and lows, gritty beach stalks, boat rides, and traversing tidal meadows. But there is one thing it will promise you, and that is some of the most spectacular views as you hunt that pristine land.

Sunday marked the second launch of our ‘In The Rough’ video series. We had the opportunity to tag along with Dustin Roe on his throwback video footage from 2012 as he embarked on his first ever guided hunt in pursuit of archery Brown Bear in Alaska’s South East region. Teamed with laughs, and some epic stalks that parted in close encounters, he and guide Ben Wohlers were able to close in on a bruin of a bear towards the end of the hunt.

Hunting this region is a visual treat as you traverse through the coastal shores, up the tributaries and along the river banks. The high mountain ranges stand like a fortress around you as you navigate through these ancient corridors. When you are getting read for a hunt like this, forums or articles are some of the best knowledge about how to prepare yourself and your gear when it comes second to talking to friends and colleges who have been there.

Reflecting back, hunts like these truly helped change us and grow our appreciation for the diverse species we are privileged to hunt across borders. But our time pursuing these coveted game species would be a whole lot less comfortable if we first weren’t prepared for the weather and precipitation that each hunt has the potential to throw at us. This is where ideas are born, concepts are created, and companies are built around a single idea. We are fortunate to have such companies believe in our wild and rugged lifestyles, companies like SITKA Gear.

SITKA Gear has been at the forefront of innovative design in the hunting industry since the birth of the idea in 2005. The concept was simple, make gear that will keep folks warm and able to pursue their hunting aspirations.

“… it was more than obvious that discomfort like this was unnecessary. So, on that September morning, at timberline, surrounded by bugling bulls, the vision that became Sitka was realized. Drawing on strong backgrounds in the climbing, mountaineering, and general head strong assaults of the backcountry, expertise and experience were focused on bridging the gaps that existed between these endeavors. Sitka’s driving goal is to not only bridge the technology gaps that existed from a fabric, construction, and product form perspective, but to fully immerse ourselves in driving new technologies and solutions for the modern outdoorsman.”

As the last fifteen years have progress, SITKA Gear has been evolving the way we look at and utilize our clothing in the backcountry. Around the calendar, the team is always challenging themselves to take away a discomfort, to enable their customers to stay out longer, hunt harder, and be more successful. Check out their Behind the Design series that the team at Sitka gear has put together.

We trust brands like these to keep us in the field. They trust us for our honest feedback. Together, we are proud to work alongside from the beginning stages of when we were first heading out on our own guided hunts to now being able to offer world class hunting trips. If the gear works for us, it will work for you.

– The Team at Backcountry BC and Beyond