Spring hunts bring boots to the dirt and legs back into training, but it also brings the kind of weather that makes discipline more than a choice. The snow may be melting, but that doesn't mean the mountains cut you any slack. Wind that slices through layers, rain that settles deep into your bones, and mud that turns trails into slip ’n slides, these are the conditions that test more than your gear.

We’ve all been there, hunkered beneath a pine tree as sleet rattles off our hoods, waiting on a distant ridge for movement that may never come, soaked and shivering but still scanning, still hoping. Spring hunts aren’t just about tags or trophies, they’re about showing up when the cold mornings don’t want us to. They’re a reminder that if you want to be ready when fall hits, you put in the reps now, no matter what Mother Nature decides to bring.

The right gear can turn a brutal, cold, rain-soaked hunt into the kind of story you tell for years, the kind you look back on and say, “That was bad to the bone.” 

Out here in the Northwest, the only guarantee is unpredictability. One day you’re sweating in 70 degrees under blue skies. Two days later, you’re battling through snow. Forecasting this area might be one of the hardest gigs out there. The mountains have a mind of their own, but that’s part of the love. When you're prepared, mentally and physically, with the right gear, those wild swings in weather don’t ruin the hunt, they make it.

Essential Spring Gear to Outsmart the Storm

Staying warm is important, but keeping you and your gear dry is non-negotiable. Whether you're glassing a ridgeline or hunkered down waiting out a downpour, moisture management can make or break your hunt. When your sleeping bag is soaked or your spare socks are useless, the day doesn’t just get uncomfortable, it shortens your window.
Aside from good-quality rain gear, three pieces of gear rise to the top when spring throws everything it's got at you: rain covers, dry bags, and tarps.

●    Rain covers: Your pack is your lifeline; it holds everything that keeps you in the game: food, dry layers, optics, sleeping gear, and your pack mule on the way out. One solid storm without a rain cover, and you’re dealing with soaked insulation, fogged lenses, and ruined morale.

●    Dry bags: These are your organizational insurance policy. Pre-pack food, electronics, and spare layers into dry bags so you’re not digging through soggy gear in search of something that should have stayed dry. 

●    Tarp: Lightweight, packable, and endlessly versatile. Use one as a ground barrier to keep your sleeping setup out of the mud, or rig it up as a quick shelter when storms hit mid-glass. 

Spring might not offer the glory of a Fall bull or the rush of a late-season rifle tag, but it’s where grit is built and gear is proven. It’s where the seasoned hunter separates from the fair-weather crowd. When you commit to showing up—through wind, sleet, and sideways rain—you’re not just preparing for the fall, you’re forging the mindset and muscle it takes to thrive when it matters most. At Initial Ascent, we build gear for those who show up no matter the forecast—because we’ve been there, and we’ll be there again.