Memories of a Bear Hunter 



Franc's Creek and ascended the mountainside, the 

 slope being gradual until we had come within a 

 quarter of a mile of the rim-rock. From that point 

 the ascent was up along an elk trail full of boulders 

 to the top of the rim-rock, where the country 

 opened out into rolling open mountain benches that 

 could be traversed on horseback. The rim-rock, 

 seen about many of these mountains, was from 

 fifty to a hundred feet in vertical face and at an 

 elevation of about 8,500 feet above tide. It could 

 be surmounted by horses only at a, few points, this 

 elk trail being one. From the plateau the trail 

 dropped down into the valley of Willow Creek. We 

 followed the trail nearly to the stream's head, and 

 camped at a spring. The horses had had a hard 

 climb and we needed meat. We therefore camped 

 early, thinking that We would get our meat that 

 afternoon, and the following day would examine 

 the mountains for a permanent camp. It was now 

 August 23, and storms might be expected at any 

 time. Corey and I went hunting in the afternoon, 

 I to look for sheep in the mountains east of the 

 camp, while he went to the southward for elk. I 

 saw two fat rams, but had no opportunity for a 

 sure shot; but Corey had stumbled on a band of 

 elk about two miles above camp, and had killed a 

 fat bull with a splendid set of horns. 



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