Jason Berkley is a 33-year-old mailman from Iowa who has been through more in his young life than many twice his age. He got married at 21, had his first son Luke at 22, then two years later had daughter Madison and another two years later, daughter Jamie. A year after Jamie was born they found out she had severe medical conditions – a genetic disorder called Angelman’s Syndrome – that required brain surgery and a life of special care. 

When Jamie was 5-years-old, Jason and Cindy decided that they would chart a course to adopt another child with Angelman’s Syndrome and started taking adoption classes. It took two years, but they finally received their license. Tragically, the day before their adoption license came in the mail in September 2006, Jamie, 7-years-old at the time, died from meningitis – a freak thing that had nothing to do with her genetic condition. 

Devestated and heart-broken, the Berkely family carried on and decided to follow through with their adoption plans. They are currently in the process of adopting two Angelman Syndrome girls into their ‘forever home’. “It has been a very long and hard six and a half months. But these girls need a special home because people don’t know how to take care of them,” Jason said. “We’re a family that’s been through all the trials and know how to give the special care that they need.”
“We have both decided that we have plenty of love and experience to help these two little girls live happy and healthy lives in a ‘forever’ home with a loving family,” Cindy said. “We plan to expose them to the same outdoor experiences as Luke and Maddie have had and that Jamie enjoyed so much when she was with us.” 

Cindy wrote the “Escape to the Wild” application as a surprise to Jason. “He is a very outgoing and charismatic man so I know he would do well on camera,” she said. “The last seven years have been very difficult for our family. Between doctors, surgeries and medical bills this (EW:Colorado Elk Hunt) is something he would never be able to do on his own.” 

Even before their tragic loss, Jason was focused on family involvement with the outdoors. As a family, they participate in 3-D bow & arrow target shooting competitions. Jason’s hunted the last 13 years and loves taking Luke (12) and Madison (10) out hunting. Jason passes down the lessons he’s learned on conservation and animal behaviors and thoroughly enjoys learning new things with the kids every time they head out into the woods. Every year they’ll hunt for turkey, duck, goose, pheasant, quail and deer. “I like to recharge in the morning when I’m in the woods – just watching the sun rise and the forest wake up,” Jason said. “I enjoy that quiet time because the real world is always ‘go, go, go.’ It’s nice to get outdoors with the kids and the wife. We go camping, fishing and hunting together.” 

“Our family loves to do things outdoors – whether it’s hunting, fishing, camping or just walking in the woods – we love to go out into the wilderness and see what kind of animals we will see,” wrote Cindy in the application. “We like to teach the children how to respect the outdoors and teach them about conservation”

Jason’s dream hunting adventure would be venturing into the Rocky Mountains in search of elk. “Whenever I see elk hunting on TV, it’s just the coolest thing,” Jason said. “You can call the bulls so in a way it reminds me of turkey hunting. Just the thrill of getting the elk to come to you would be amazing. They’re just huge, massive and majestic – the coolest animal I’ve ever seen.”
He said he’s always trying to do things for other people as much as possible – taking his dad, who’s getting older and on his last legs, hunting and setting him up in a good location; bringing his wheelchair-bound father-in-law on hunts and putting him in a honey hole; guiding his kids so they’ll always see a deer; prompting his mother and wife to get involved with bow-hunting. “I don’t think of myself first when I do things and it’s rewarding to me and good things happen when I do that. I have stronger bond with my kids and family because I do outdoor activities together with them. Hunting helps me unwind and rejuvenate – I don’t have bad days when I go hunting.”
For work, Jason is a City Letter Carrier with the United States Postal Service. He says that everyone on the job has been very supportive of him and his family. He’s served as a steward for his union and feels very strongly about it and the benefits it provides. “The union helped us out when we needed time off for medical appointments,” Jason said. “They helped out a lot when my daughter passed away. Union brothers and sisters would watch the kids so me and Cindy could be together. Everything I had saved up went to burial expenses and a tombstone. And the union helped pay for some things too.” 

Jason thinks he would react well to a surprise, although he doesn’t get surprised much. And Cindy concluded the application with, “He has been very strong and supportive for all of us through it all. He has kept the kids busy with deer hunting and target shooting. He does realize that everything happens for a reason although we are not sure why. We know that God has a plan for us all.”

JASON'S BLOG
SEPTEMBER 28TH 2007
 
I WOKE UP ABOUT 4:00 THIS MORNING, ALTHOUGH TO BE TRUTHFUL I DON'T THINK I ACTUALLY SLEPT VERY MUCH. TODAY WAS THE DAY I WAS TO GO ON A NEW EXCITING ADVENTURE,HUNTING ELK IN COLORADO. IT IS STILL SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS DREAM IS COMING TRUE. WHAT IS EVEN HARDER TO BELIEVE IS THAT MY WIFE CINDY PULLED THIS WHOLE OFF WITHOUT ME KNOWING. IT DIDN'T KNOW SHE COULD BE SO SLY. I LOADED A VERY OVERSTUFFED SUITCASE INTO MY TRUCK AND HEADED FOR THE AIRPORT. IT WAS ONLY A SHORT DRIVE TO THE AIRPORT, BUT I HAD A VERY IMPORTANT STOP TO MAKE ALONG THE WAY. I HAD TO STOP AND VISIT WITH JAMIE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AT THE CEMETERY,TODAY MARKED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY FAMILY LAYING JAMIE TO REST. I DIDN'T STAY REAL LONG, JUST ENOUGH TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND TO PRAY. I MISS HER DEARLY.........CHECKING IN AT THE AIRPORT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY, AND I WAS SOON ON MY WAY TO DENVER. AFTER WHAT SEEMED A VERY SHORT FLIGHT I MET UP WITH MY CAMERAMAN JESSE JOHNSON. HE AND I WENT TO HAVE LUNCH WHILE WE WAITED FOR TOM ACKERMAN'S FLIGHT TO COME IN. JESSE AND I GOT TO KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT WHILE WE ATE,AND I WAS ABLE TO TELL HIM MY STORY. WE MET TOM AFTER HIS FLIGHT LANDED AND WERE SOON ON WAY TO CRAIG COLORADO. ON OR "ROAD TRIP" TOM, JESSE, AND I SHARED A LITTLE OF OUR LIFE EXPERIENCES, AND TOLD EACH OTHER ABOUT OUR FAMILIES, MOSTLY I WAS JUST IN AWE OF THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAINS AND A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT MY HUNT. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN CRAIG WE MET UP WITH MARV DOHERTY FROM CROSS MOUNTAIN RANCH. WE FOLLOWED MARV TO THE RANCH, AND ALONG THE WAY MARV WOULD POINT OUT DIFFERENT WILDLIFE TO US BY RADIO. WE SAW MANY PRONGHORN ANTELOPE AND MULE DEER, A COUPLE WHICH WERE VERY NICE BUCKS. SEEING THESE ANIMALS REALLY PUMPED ME UP FOR THE HUNT I WAS GOING TO EMBARK ON. WE  ARRIVED IN SHORT TIME TO THE RANCH AND WERE INTRODUCED TO THE GUIDES AND OTHER HUNTERS IN CAMP. THE HEAD GUIDE AT THE CAMP WAS CLAY OWENS A RETIRED PRO BULL RIDER WHO SEEMED VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ELK WE WOULD BE HUNTING, BUT EVEN MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT BE SAFE WITH YOUR GUN AND LISTENING TO YOUR GUIDE. IT IS ALWAYS KIND OF RELAXING TO KNOW THAT OTHE PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT SAFETY AS MUCH ASI DO. WE SAT DOWN TO A HUGE DINNER BUT TO BE TRUTHFUL MY STOMACH WAS IN KNOTS AND I REALLY COULN'T EAT TO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE EXCITEMENT OF THE HUNT OR THE FACT, THAT THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME AWAY FROM HOME WITHOU CINDY OR ONE OF THE KIDS  SINCE WE LOST JAMIE, OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. AFTER DINNER JESSE, TOM , AND I WENT TO OUR CABIN TO RELAX AND UNPACK. TOM ASKED TO LOOK AT MY GEAR THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME, TO MY SURPRISE TOM HAD A "BIG" BAG OF NEW GEAR FOR ME .THE BAG CONSISTED OF NEW BERETTA PANTS, SHIRT, POLAR FLEECE JACKET , SWEATSHIRT,AND GORETEX RAINCOAT. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT .....THIS STUFF IS AWESOME. HE ALSO PULLED A SET BERETTA  OF KNIVES WHICH WERE BEUTIFUL AND SEEMED TO FIT MY HAND LIKE THEY WERE CUSTOM MADE FOR ME. TOM THEN WENT TO HIS BEDROOM AND PRESENTED ME WITH AN ABSOLUTELT UNBELIEVABLE GIFT.... A NEW SAKO 85 IN 300 SHORT MAG TOPPED WITH A BURRIS SCOPE I WAS ALMOST SPEECHLESS. I FELT LIKE A 6 YEAR OLD KID ON CHRISTMAS DAY. I COULD NOT THANK TOM ENOUGH. AFTER UNPACKING THE THREE OF US DECIDED TO TURN IN FOR THE NIGHT TO TRY TO GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. I DON'T THINK I WILL SLEEP WINK.
 
 
 SEPTEMBER 29 TH  2007           ELK HUNT DAY 1
 
TOM , JESSE, AND I WERE WERE WOKE UP BY MARV AT 4:30, MAN IT WAS EARLY. I LEARNED THAT MORNING THAT MARV WAS GOING TO BE MY GUIDE. SINCE HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I MET FROM CROSS MOUNTAIN RANCH THAT SEEMED TO SETTLE MY NERVES FOR MY FIRST HUNT. WE ATE A VERY BIG BREAKFAST AND BEFORE WE NEW IT WERE ON OUR WAY. IT WAS SHORT DRIVE TO THE AREA WE WERE GOING TO HUNTING THIS MORNING. THE SUN WAS JUST BARELY STARTING TO GLOW ON THE RIDGES OF THE MOUNTAINS WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR HUNTING AREA. AFTER A SHORT WALK THE SUN WAS STARTING TO RISE , MARV BEGAN TO ELK CALL AS WE WAITED FOR A RESPONSE WE HEARD A DISTANT BUGLE. THIS  IS THE FIRST ELK BUGLE I HAD EVER HEARD IN PERSON. I THINK I NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS FOR REAL.  WE MOVED TO TRY TO GET TO A CLOSER POSITION, BUT THE WIND WAS BLOWING PRETTY HARD AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TRY TO LOCATE THE BULL. WE MADE OUR WAY UP TO A PLATEAU  AREA AND GLASSED FOR A WHILE, WE SAW A FEW ELK MOVING INTO THE ASPENS SO WE MADE OUR WAY ACROSS THE PLATEAU BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE BULL HAD PUSHED COWS ONTO A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY. I DIDN'T CARE , IT WAS JUST SO AWESOME BEING OUT IN SUCH A "BIG" PLACE AND I WAS ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. WE SPENT THE REST OF THE MORNING TRYING TO LOCATE MORE ELK BUT THE WIND WAS PLAYING HAVOC WITH OUR HUNT. MARV HAD DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK TO CAMP AND RELAX AND HAVE LUNCH . NONE OF US DISAGREED, SO WE LEFT FOR CAMP IN SHORT ORDER. AFTER A LITTLE RELAXING A GREAT LUNCH THE FOUR OF US WERE ON OUR WAY TO A NEW AREA WERE MARV HAD SEEN SOME GOOD BULLS EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BUT TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WE GOT DRENCHED, WELL AT LEAST I THINK EVERYONE ELSE DID "I HAD MY NEW GORETEX ON". THAT HAD TO BE THE MOST COMFORTABLE I HAVE EVER BEEN IN THE RAIN , I STAYED BONE DRY. WE DID HAVE ONE BULLS COME IN  BUT , BETWEEN THE RAIN AND THE  COVER WE  NEVER SAW HIM. WE ALL DECIDED TO RETURN TO CAMP AND DRY OUT OUR GEAR. WE RETURNED TO CAMP TO THE PLEASANT SURPRISE THAT FOUR OF THE HUNTERS IN CAMP HAD TAGGED SOME PRETTY NICE BULLS. SEEING THE BULLS WAS A REAL SPIRIT LIFTER. I WAS SO HAPPY FOR THE GUYS THAT HAD TAGGED OUT,THERE WERE LOTS OF CONGRATULATIONS AND HANDSHAKES TO GO AROUND. AFTER DINNER THE ONLY THING ON MY MIND WAS CALLING CINDY AND THE KIDS TO SEE HOW THEY WERE DOING.  IT WAS REFRESHING TO HEAR MY WIFES VOICE ON THE PHONE, I HAD ONLY BEEN AWAY FROM THE HOUSE FOR TWO DAYS BUT I MISSED HER AND THE KIDS SO MUCH ALREADY. I TALKED TO MY SON LUKE AND MY DAUGHTER MADISON FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND TOLD THE BOTH OF THEM AND CINDY HOW MUCH I MISSED THEM AND LOVED THEM. IT WAS NOW TIME FOR SOME MUCH NEEDED SLEEP. I THINK I WILL SLEEP ALITTLE BETTER TONIGHT.
 
SEPTEMBER 30TH 2007           ELK HUNT DAY 2
 
THIS MORNING WE WOKE UP TO 2-3 INCHES OF FRESH SNOW ON THE GROUND. THIS MORNING PRETTY MUCH WENT THE SAME AS YESTERDAY MORNING. WE ATE BREAKFAST THEN EMBARKED ON OUR HUNT. WE WENT BACK CLOSE TO THE SAME AREA WE WERE LAST NIGHT. HOWEVER THIS MORNING EVERYTHING WAS BLANKETED IN A FRESH LAYER OF SNOW, IT WAS TRULY BREATHTAKING,AND VERY HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS HOW SPECTACULAR THE VIEWS WERE . WE MADE A SHORT HIKE UP THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND BEGAN TO CALL. UNBELIEVABLE AN ELK ANSWERED NOT TO FAR FROM WERE WE STARTED OUR CLIMB. MARV BEGAN BUGLING AND COW CALLING TO THE BULL, HE WAS COMING CLOSER. WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR THE BULL TO SHOW HIMSELF WE WERE GRACED BY THE PRESENCE OF A COUPLE  DOE MULE DEER   FEEDING IN THE VALLEY BELOW US. BEFORE LONG WE BEGAN TO SEE MOVEMENT ACROSS THE VALLEY , IT WAS SEVERAL COW ELK. WE COULD STILL HERE THE BULL CLOSING THE DISTANCE TO US, AND MARV WAS GETTING HIM CLOSER AND CLOSER WITH HIS CALLING. IT SEEMED MARV NEW EXACTLY WHEN TO CALL AND HOW AGGRESIVE  TO BE WITH HIS CALLS. IT WAS SO COOL TO BE GUIDED BY A PERSON WITH SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE OF THE ELK AND OF THE AREA WE WERE HINTING. MARV WAS ALSO REALLY GOOD ABOUT TELLING ME HOW THE ELK WOULD REACT TO DIFFERNT SITUATION DURING THE HUNT. MARV KEPT CALLING TO THE BULL AND AFTER WHAT SEEMED TO BE AN ETERNITY THE BULL FINALLY SHOWED HIMSELF. HE PRESENTED ME WITH ABOUT A 350 YARD SHOT,BUT BEING A BOY FROM IOWA THAT SEEMED LIKE A MILE. I JUST COULD NEVER GET STEADY ENOUGH OR COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE WHAT THOUGHT A GOOD CLEAN SHOT. THE BULL ENDED UP PUSHING HIS COWS UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VALLEY AND WAS GONE. I REALLY FELT LIKE I BLEW IT, BUT MARV AND TOM BOTH TOLD ME THAT IF THE SHOTS NOT RIGHT IT WAS GOOD NOT TO FORCE IT. THERE KIND WORDS RELIEVED MY STRESS JUST A LITTLE. MARV THEN DECIDED WE SHOULD MAKE OUR WAY FARTHER UP THE MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS ANOTHER BULL WAY OFF BUGLING. THE HIKE SEEMED TO BE A REAL LONG ONE,A HALF OUR OR SO INTO THE HIKE TOM TOLD MARV  "JASON AND I NEED TO STRIP OF SOME LAYERS". I THINK TOM KNEW I WAS GETTING GASSED, I HAVE NEVER STAINED TO  BREATH SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. MARV JOKINGLY SAID "THAT IS A GOOD IDEA, WERE ABOUT HALF WAY TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE". I ALMOST FELL OVER, THANK GOD HE WAS KIDDING. MARV KEPT CALLING AROUND THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN ,BUT THE BILL WE HAD HEARD EARKIER HAVE MOVED UP AND OVER THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE FOUR OF US SLOWLY MADE OUR DESCENT BACK DOWN USING A DIFFERTENT PATH.HALF WAY DIWN THE MOUNTAIN, THE WOODS ERUPTED IN ELK BUGLES AND COW CALLS. WE HAD SLIPPED TO WITHIN 150 YARDS OF A HEARD OF COWS. THERE WAS ONE VERY GOOD BULL IN THE GROUP. THE BULL WAS BUGLING AND CARRYING IN THE GOLD LEAFED ASPENS WITH WHAT HAD TO BE 15 OR MOE COWS AND AT LEAST 2 OTHER SATELITE BULLS. THIS WAS PROBABLY THE PICTURE THAT EVERY ELK HUNTER DREAMS OF , I KNOW I DID. THE BIG BULL KEPT MOVING UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TRYING TO HEARD UP HIS COWS WITH NO IDEA THAT WE WERE THERE. MARV KEPT BUGLING TO THE BULL WHICH SEEMED TO PUT THE  NICE 6X6 IN A REAL FOWL MOOD. FOR JUST A BRIEF MOMENT I HAD THE BULL IN MY CROSSHAIRS AT ABOUT 100 YARDS, BUT THE SHOT WAS NEVER PERFECT, THE BULL EVENTUALLY ROUNDED UP HIS COWS AND HEADED UP THE SIDE OF THE HILL. MARV THOUGHT IT BEST THAT WE LEAVE THE BULL ALONE UNTIL THE AFTER NOON." IF WE TAKE THE CHANCE AND GO AFTER HIM,  WE MIGHT JUST PUSH HIM FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY. IF WE BACK OUT HE'LL PROBABLY SETTLE DOWN AND WE'LL GO AFTER HIM AGAIN LATER" EXPLAINED MARV. WHEN THE BIG BULL WAS FINALLY OUT OF SIGHT I TOLD MARV AND JESSE AND TOM "THAT WAS PROBABLY THE COOLEST THING I HAVE WITNESSED IN THE WOODS IN MY LIFE". THAT "MADE" THE HUNT FOR ME RIGHT THEN AND THERE.  WE WERE ALL PRETTY TIRED AND HUNGRY SO WE RETURNED TO CAMP FOR LUNCH AND A QUICK NAP. I USED THE TIME TO CALL CINDY AND TELL HER ABOUT ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS MORNINGS HUNT. I WAS REALLY GREAT TO HERE HER VOICE AGAIN, AND TO HERE HER EXCITEMENT FOR ME. FOLLWING LUNCH WE RETURNED TO AN AREA NEAR WHERE WE WERE THIS MORNING. THIS PLACE WAS NICKNAMED "MARVINS GARDENS" A FAVORITE SPOT THAT MARV LIKES TO GO TO. ON THIS AFTERNOONS HUNT WE WERE ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY HEAD GUIDE CLAY OWENS. IT SEEMED LIKE RIGHT OFF THE BAT CLAY AND MARV (WHO I  HAVE NICK NAMED THE ELK WHISPERER) HAD TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT BULLS RESPONDING. THE HILLSIDE WAS ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF BUGLES AND MEWS. THERE WAS ONE BULL IN PARTICULER THAT SEEMED TO HAVE ALMOST A GROWL TO HIS BUGLE. THE SOUNDS OF THE BUGLE AT TIMES ALMOST SEEMED TO GO RIGHT TO YOUR SOUL. WHILE WORKING ONE BULL CLAY AND MARV AGREED THAT WE HAD TO MAKE A QUIK MOVE. THE BELIEVED THE BULLS WERE MAKING THER WAT TO PLACE THEY HAD NICK NAMED OKLAHOMA( FROM THE OPPOSITE MOUNTAIN THE ASPENS AND BRUSH WERE IN THE SHAPE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA), SO WE MOVED VERY QUIKLY TO TRY TO CUT THEM OFF. WHEN MARV AND I MADE OUR WAY UP A SMALL TRAIL, MARV POSITIONED HIS SHOOTING STICKS IN FRONT OF ME AND SAID "HERE THEY COME". ON THE HILLSIDE TO OUR RIGHT THERE WAS A GOOD BULL PUSHING HIS COWS . THE BULL HIS COWS OUT OF SIGHT , BUT SOME UNKNOWN REASON WALKED RIGHT BACK OUT INT THE OPEN HILLSIDE TO BUGLE ONE MORE TIME, I PUT MY SAKO ON THE STICKS AND TOOK AIM. MARV WHISPERED TO ME THAT THE BULL WAS 205 YARDS AWAY AND THAT I "CAN" MAKE THAT SHOT EASILY. WITH THOSE WORDS EVERYTHING SEEMED TO GO INTO E VERY PEACEFUL QUIET SLOW MOTION, I DIDN'T GET PSYCHED OUT OR RUSH I JUST TOOK MY TIME , AIMED , AND SQUEEZED THE TRIGGER.......THE BULL DROPPED RIGHT WHERE HE HAD STOOD. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. FOR THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS  JAMIE .........AND THE  REASON WHY I WAS CHOSEN FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL GIFT. IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO CONVINCE ME THAT AT THAT VERY MOMENT THAT WAS THERE WITH ME. BACK AT CAMP I WAS  I WAS CONGRATULATED OVER AND OVER, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE OTHER HUNTER KNEW WHY  I WAS THERE AND THE STORY THAT WENT ALONG WITH IT. THE ONE PERSON I COULD NOT WAIT TO TELL WAS LUCAS (HE IS MY HUNTING BUDDY ) AND I WANTED HIM TO BE ABLE TO RELIVE IT WITH ME . I THINK HE WAS PRETTY PROUD OF HIS OLD MAN. TONIGHT ENDED MUCH LIKE THE PREVIOUS TWO HAD BUT, I KNOW I AM GOING TO SLEEP LIKE A BABY TONIGHT.
 
OCTOBER 1 2007  ELK HUNT DAY 3
 
THERE WAS NO GETTING UP EARLY THIS MORNING TOM AND I DECIDED TO SLEEP IN........WHEN WE DID FINALLY DRAG OURSELVES OUT OF BED WE SPENT A BIG PART OF THE DAY JUST VISITING SOME MORE WITH EACH OTHER. TOM IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PERSON THAN I FEEL TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE SHARED THIS EXPERIENCE WITH. I COULD TELL FROM DAY 1 WHEN HE HEARD MY STORY TOM KNEW THE PAIN THAT CINDY AND THE KIDS AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH. THANKFULLY HE DID LITTLE TO HIDE HIS SORROW HE FELT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. YOU DO NOT OFTEN MEET PEOPLE THAT WILL BE SO OPEN AND HONEST WITH THERE EMOTIONS AND I COULD NOT IMAGINE SHARING THIS HUNT WITH ANYONE ELSE. THAT NIGHT WE ALL HUNG OUT TOGETHER IN THE MAIN LODGE SWAPPING HUNTING STORIES AND I GOT TO VISIT WITH SOME VERY INTERESTING  HUNTERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. A COUPLE OF THE GUYS ACTUALLY LIVE NOT TOO FAR FROM WHERE I GREW UP IN PENNSYLVANIA. WE LATER MADE PLANS FOR THE NEXT DAY WITH CLAY . BACK AT OUR CABIN THAT NIGHT TOM AND SPENT ALOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, MUCH TO MY ENJOYMENT I FOUND OUT WE ARE VERY MUCH ALIKE IN MORE WAYS THAN I CAN COUNT,FROM SPIRITUAL BELIEFS TO POLITICAL BELIEFS.
 
OCTOBER 2 2007  ELK HUNT DAY 4
 
WE HAD MADE PLANS WITH CLAY THE NIGHT BEFORE TO GO TROUT FISHING THIS MORNING........SADLY THIS WAS ALSO GOING TO OUR LAST DAY ON THE RANCH. TOM , JESSE AND I PACKED UP ALL OF OUR GEAR EARLY THAT MORNING AND HEADED TO THE MAIN LODGE TO MEET CLAY. WE SAID OUR GOODBYES TO THE OTHER HUNTERS AND SADLY TO MARV, HE WAS ANOTHER AWESOME PERSON THAT IF NOT FOR THIS EXPERIENCE I  WOULD HAVE EVER MET.  CLAY TOOK US TO THIS LITTLE SPRING FED POND TO FISH FOR TROUT. THE THREE OF US SPENT SEVERAL HOURS AT THE POND . I CAUGHT 5-6  VERY NICE RAINBOW TROUT, I HAD NOT EVEN SEEN A TROUT IN OVER 15 YEARS, IT WAS A REAL BONUS TO AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE TOM AND I EVEN HAD OUR CAMERAMAN JESSE FISHING , AND HE CAUGHT A VERY NICE TROUT ,. HE SAID IT WAS HIS FIRST FISH IN THE 21ST CENTURY. SOONER OR LATER THE HUNT I KNEW HAD TO END AND WE HAD TO HEAD BACK TO DENVER. ON THE RIDE BACK TO DENVER I THOUGHT OF THE GREAT EXPERIENCES I HAD AND ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE I HAD MET , AND I WAS THANKFUL FOR ALL OF IT . I WAS EXTREMELY THANKFUL TO HAVE HAD JAMIE IN MY LIFE FOR THE SHORT TIME I DID. I TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING SHE TRULY CHANGED MY LIFE AND MADE ME A BETTER PERSON AS ONLY SOMEONE SO SPECIAL AND PRECIOUS CAN........


IMAGES FROM THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

           Escape to the Wild winner, Jason Berkley.         Cameraman Jesse Johnson filming the hunt.
  Guide Marv Doherty from the Cross Mountain Ranch               Jason and Marv listen for the Elk Bugle.
                           A view from the plateau.    Marv shows Jason where the Elk may be roaming.
    Jesse setting up his camera in case they see Elk.                       Another shot of Jesse in action.
             Everyone follows the sound of the Elk.     Tom and Jason show their pride with a perfect Bull.
                    Congratulations are in order. Another look at Jasons Bull with Jason (L), Marv (M) and Tom (R).
    Last day on the ranch. Trout fishing was a must.                                 The end to a good time.


EQUIPMENT LOG

Firearm/bow: Sako .300 WSM www.berettausa.com
Ammunition/Arrows: Winchester .300 WSM Ammunition www.winchester.com
Optics: Burris Optics www.burrisoptics.com
Outerwear: Beretta Clothes www.berettausa.com
Underwear: Beretta Clothes www.berettausa.com
Location: Cross Mountain Ranch http://www.crossmountainranch.com/
Airport: Denver International