Mt H'Kusam View Lodge

Ostensibly I’m staying at the Mt H’Kusam View Lodge near Sayward, BC to go bear hunting each day. Because the bear have slept in like I have, I'm mostly driving around the glorious back country 4x4ing and taking pictures of Roosevelt Elk.
This Hostel and Wilderness Retreat owned and run by Jill Tyndale and Chris Watkiss is truly a jewel.  I’ve slept as deep as possible in the luxurious room.  There’s even a walk in shower, though I’m not old enough to appreciate that as one day I might.
This hostel sleep 20 some.  While a few rooms are like mine most are two bunks to a bed with a half dozen or more shared bathrooms and showers. There’s a professional kitchen and they once had a banquet for several hundred.  Two stories with rooms up and down and various places for meetings and relaxation.  I love the atmosphere.
 Chris taught Mathematics at university before having a family and becoming immersed in organic goat dairy.  No surprise one daughter is studying now to be a veterinary.
Right now there are tree planters here for a month.  Another time there were geologists.  They have a lot of return tourism folk who come like me for the outdoors. We were discussing nearby Mount Cheam with it’s tow rope skiing and Mount Washington resort. The winters were slack at first but have really picked up.
There’s fishing and hunting of course but mostly people come for the recreational pursuits.  There were mountain bikers out today.   It’s a photographer’s heaven.
I like the ease and wish I had a week to just hang out.  I’ve been 4x4 ing but I would gladly just walk these hills as well.  Gilbert loves it here.  He was out with the three other dogs in the fenced area out back. First they played then he barked plaintively to return to his special human status as my companion.
He probably could smell what I was up to while he was outside. I was eating a superb lamb roast and moroccan soup.  Chris and I had discussed Moosewood Cookbook and our times as vegetarians.  His stopped when they began farming and started a local 4h club for the children.  Mine stopped when I was an intern and the hospital food was so bad I was languishing because I couldn’t get out to eat.  Thankfully the East Indian restaurant opened next to the Winnipeg General. That and my return to chicken and fish brought me back to health despite the long hours and constant contact with disease.  Then I returned to hunting with Dad. There’s been no looking back.
I loved Chris’ lamb sauce.  After two nights of  remarkable meals I appreciate what a splendid chef he truly is.
"This is a long way from teaching math,” I said. “It surely is,” he said, smiling.

Departure Bay - another day hunting - journal

I'm here again. When I lived on the island I was forever here.  Departure Bay.  Waiting. The 3 o clock ferry is full so we're waiting now for the 5 pm ferry.
I just came in off Grafton Main. I had taken some logging road off the Port Alberni road only to come over this awful hill sliding and bouncing on loose rock. Another truck passed me when I was pulled off on a side road trying to figure where I was on the gps and map.  Another fool gave me confidence. Like Waiting for Godot.  I figured there was a way out.  I headed onto the trail through the power lines only to come up at a gate at Grafton Main.  I had the gps and backwoods book so had an idea of where I was. Figured I could drive up Grafton Main to find another way out.
Only trouble on the way up Grafton Main it got really steep then really muddy. I was flooring it and sluicing about on this steep overhang praying to Jesus and worrying Gilbert.  Finally got around the worst and up to a place where I could turn around. The road ahead was steeper and muddier so I was very thankful for this little widening. It was just enough to get the truck cross ways and rock her back and forth till I got around without the wheels going over the edge.  Then I was skiing down the slope and praying aloud some more.  4x4 and first gear and still braking all the way.  I took the power lines out following them till I found an exit after checking out several connectors that went nowhere. I was glad to see paved road again.
Before that I'd been up at dawn, loading the gear, and getting breakfast at MacDonalds' drive through. They're open at 7 am.  Up on the mountain again, Yellow Creek Main, I parked the truck.  I hiked up with Gilbert a mile or so then took a side road in to where I found a knoll I could climb up on and sit.  We were there for an hour or so in the rain and fog.  Gilbert was very attentive. I was fading in and out.  I couldn't see much when the fog came. It would clear then come again.  I was tired from the climb.  Spent some time playing with the gps, taking pictures of Gilbert and texting friends on the satellite phone. After I'd texted friends on the satellite phone, it was a good test, I found I had cellphone connection.  So I texted Hannah. She texted back she liked the picture of Gilbert. After that I sat for another half hour until I was getting really chilled. No deer. Nothing.
Gilbert and I walked down the hill.  I was glad again to see the truck and motorcycle and contents were safe.  We drove around there some then headed out around noon.
I'm fairly tired now. I loaded the guns and ammo better here in the parking area. I also changed from cammo to jeans and tshirt.  The weather is really mild.  Gilbert shared an ice cream cone with me.  Now he's watching other dogs being walked.  A guy who'd been off road motorcycling came by to talk.  I'd met him in the line on the way over.  I told him about 4x4ing the greasy. unintentionally.
It's Veteran's Day and Facebook has a lot of great pictures.  Laura uploaded the one of Dad and Gilbert. I remember Dad best at the epitaph here in Vancouver where he was given a seat of honour with other old guys in wheel chairs. He was walking with his walker and then sat with the other WWII vets. He was proud of his service.  Always loved to talk with other vets.  Told us kids though 'not to volunteer'.  I remember his RCAF uniform when we were young.  Then with Ron, when he was in his 90's, we'd take Dad to the air museum in Ottawa. There  he'd like to look at the old bombers.
Red poppies.  Flanders Fields.
It's been a great weekend outdoors and nice hotel and good company with Gilbert.  I'll be glad when the ferry comes and I'm that much closer to home.  Have to empty the truck at the storage lockers.It needs a wash badly but that will have to wait.  I also have to remember with gratitude, that though I didn't get a deer or grouse, I got to drive around back country, hang out with Gilbert, hike, photography, gps, 4x4, stay in a fine hotel, have a hot tub and swim, watch movies, read Tom Clancy and listen to the racy Diana Gabaldon audiobook.  Thankfully I didn't get stuck, or get maimed or die going over a cliff in the truck.
I used to live in Parksville so I was even in my own 'stomping' grounds remembering how much I loved the Island and my home here when I had it.  It was a pretty laid back existence nearly 20 years ago.  Had I stayed I'd not have had the sailing adventures or Saipan or the city practices.  It would have been different.  In the multiverses there are nodal points when consciousness seems to flow along a particular pathway but it just as easily could have gone along another.  All that was missing was a child or even a woman that shared a dream at the time I was dreaming it. With all the competition, mismatched dreams are a norm these days.  It was only decades back people didn't have the freedom to choose any dream from an ever longer list.  Two or three times now I've gone to the country and hoped to have a family only to return to the barren city.  I always thought it was a better idea to live in the country and work in the city but that was an idea years before it's time.
Now I think about retirement but don't see any hope for the future.  It will be 20 years after we see our last patient that we can escape from threats of law suits and complaints. The law always judges doctors on past deeds with rules made in the future by arts students wearing wigs. Doesn't give a scientist much confidence. Thankfully God is in charge and I'll probably work till I die.  As it is I grab these weekends of time off adding a day to make a 3 day here and there and adding a couple of days travel to a working vacation.
If I wasn't working I'd be out hunting earlier in the year until I got game for the winter larder. I'm thinking next year of taking a couple of weeks up by Fort St. John early Sept so I have time to get a moose. I still might get a deer but it's looking mighty iffy.  There's ducks to be shot and fish to be caught. I've been planning on doing more fishing and nothing like an empty freezer to motivate me.  Something about eating food you've caught yourself. I miss the gardens I've had over the years too.
I'

Rendezvous Dive Adventures - Barkley Sound, BC - June 2013

Jean Michel at Rowands Reef Scuba  dive shop http://www.rowandsreef.com suggested I join Michelle, Mike and some other divers for a weekend dive in Barkley Sound.  I'm not new to diving but I'm still getting re acquainted with cold water diving, having a new dry suit and my HUBB reconditioned.  Hannah at my office organized me for the adventure, making sure I had the ferry reservations and all my equipment ready.
Friday morning I loaded my truck at the storage locker. We were all meeting at Rowands Reef on Granville Island. The divers would be Michelle, Mike, Ariana, Kaitland, Joan, Brad, Trent, Robin, bearded Mike and myself. We loaded up gear and Joan joined me in my Ford F350 truck for the ride.
We drove first to the Ferry at Horseshoe Bay, crossing that to the town of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island before driving across the island through the magnificent old growth Cathedral forest to Port Alberni.  There Peter Mieras met us with his dive boat, Rendezvous I.  We off loaded gear from the truck to the dock and onto the boat.  It accommodated all of us with ease, each of us finding space on top in the flying bridge for the ride up the sound to Rendezvous Lodge.  Peter is quite the comedian and regaled us with Monty Python and Austin Powers imitations between showing us points of interest and discussing the scientific work they do at the lodge.  The wind was blowing 20 knots onto us making for some spray over the bow.  The sun was shining though and the sky blue with fluffy white clouds. Often there are whales and bear along the shore but not today.
Kathy met us at Rendezvous Lodge helping Peter tie up the boat.  We followed her up to the multi level hand made house on the side of the rock escarpment.  After showing us our rooms and the bathrooms we gathered on the dock for barbecue.  Most of the divers were young people, in their 20's and 30's, with stories of world travel, dives in Europe and Australia, jokes and mayhem.  I was the oldest there and simply loved to watch this show of vitality and enthusiasm.  Everyone worked and played together.
In the morning I was told I snored.  One of the Mike's does too. So I wasn't alone. I didn't notice his snoring or my own and slept rather well in this luxurious wilderness retreat.  I finally went in search of coffee.  Peter was showing films he made, quite the accomplished professional underwater photographer indeed. His videos of manta rays were superb but I most enjoyed a short clip of the area where we'd be diving that day.  His discussion of the dive sites and critters prepared us well.
Meanwhile Kathy was making a superb breakfast and we all sat down at the rustic carved wood table with the exquisite view of the bay to eat eggs, bacon, toast and jams.  Peter and Mike put peanut butter and hot sauce together claiming that both had come to appreciate this when they'd been diving in Thailand.
After breakfast we loaded onto the dive boat and drove out to an open water dive. I'm exhausted by the time I get into my gear and couldn't help but be amazed by Ariana, the 19 yo former gymnast who looks so lean and tiny, only to be dancing about the boat with the strength of Samson unencumbered by all the same gear that had me decidedly unsteady on my feat on the pitching bouncing deck.  With Michelle and Peter's kind encouragement I moved to the end of the boat and stepped into excitement.  Having broken into pairs I was fortunate to go with Michelle and Ariana, the obvious mermaids sent by Neptune to watch for the safety of an old man. I found myself wishing I was Leonard Cohen so I could have the words to immortalize the sheer wonder of this experience.
We descended the anchor chain then swam at 60 feet around a reef looking a greeling, cod, sea anemone and great underwater vegetarian. Visibility was only about 5 meters but that was enough for me to follow the two beautiful women moseying along before me. I had a new HERO 3 and naturally on this first dive didn't have it flipped up so mostly I found later it just pointed at my face. I was forever checking gauges and looking at the depth of my dive computer. There were so many things I could worry about but I actually relaxed and enjoyed the extraordinary experience of being in this alien world in really cold northern Pacific waters just kicking along looking at the amazing scenery.
When It came time to rise I did too quickly in the last 10 feet pretty well surfacing like a great whale.  Michelle was not impressed and later would go over my equipment and buoyancy issues seriously once again.  Thanks to her kind PADI refresher information I'd not make this mistake on the second dive. I keep forgetting to jettison the suit air along with BCD,needing to get my elbow over my head to get the suit air out.
We all gathered into the boat with Peter's help and off we went to tie up beside a houseboat out of the wind that had kicked up a bit. Kathy had made the best peanut and squash soup I've ever tasted. True gourmet and added to that it was hot and delicious after a spectacular dive.  Sandwiches, good cheer and many jokes, some of which were decidedly the kind that pre teen boys would die to know.  The girls were as funny as the boys and I was just thankful to be a part of the obvious conviviality of divers so enjoying their sport and adventure. Having dived myself I shared the 'high' that goes with this otherworld experience.
The next dive was back in the bay at Rendezvous Lodge.  Getting into the equipment was much easier and all round I was comfortable with gear and the dive and life in general.  Joan, having geared up and made the jump into the water started her descent only to decide to return not feeling well.    Michelle and Peter and Ariana all gave her a hand with her equipment and getting her back on the boat before the rest of us continued with our dive.  She was feeling better immediately and took off kayaking while the rest of us dove.
I just loved this one. I had the Hero 3 pointing ahead this time. It actually shows the girls (I know they're women but they could be my children or grandchildren)  ahead of me but I missed all the fish I pointed at pretty well because I was shooting over their heads.  Nonetheless I do have a record of my being down there. I can see myself at the beginning and end of the dive. It was incredible.  Still with visibility only 3 to 5 meters but more a sense of the utter aliens and otherworldliness nature of this underwater rock terrain.  There are octopus and wolf eels here but I only saw where the octopus had been feeding and never did find the eels which others saw along with the crabs and other critters. Again I'm just so happy to be in the environment, enjoying the surroundings, looking at fish looking at me.  It's a dive and it's in cold water in all this exotic gear. I feel a bit like I'm in preparation for following Chris Hatfield into outer space.  This is as close as it gets on earth.
We came up in the midst of logs though and I had very little air left.  It took a little courage to trust Michele,descend again and swim under the logs back to the open water behind the boat.  Worried about my air I lost them and they rose with still a log to dip under. I was happy as can be when Mike called out asking how was the dive.  "Terrific!" I shouted.
Last night some of the gang got into the hot tub and I'm thinking it might be a good idea for easing the tired muscles.  Kathy's cooking dinner and I just wanted to check to see that I was actually recording things with the new HERO 3.  It's working and I love it. What a great little video camera for underwater. A couple of the guys have fancy cameras with strobes but they've also coupled their main cameras with the Hero video. There's some way I can take pictures with this too but I may just have to read the instruction manual to find which button I push underwater to get a snap while doing the video. I could use my film smart nephew Graham to show me how to get the most out of the camera and maybe even get me to point at things so I capture them in the shot. I've got the camera mounted on my dive light thanks to Mike's help. That's working pretty good.
Michelle used her camera and told Peter how much she appreciated his steady buoyancy seeing how her video shots were compared to his.
Roast Beef dinner was fit for an English lord. In addition to the perfectly roasted succulent meat I loved the little baked potatoes with handsome gravy. No doubt others liked the other vegetables and salad.  The bread's Kathy served were always so tasty too..  One delightful fellow, told Kathy, "I live alone and don't cook so it's been at least a year since I've had a meal like this!"  Naturally one of the other young guys told him he should get a girlfriend who cooks.   No comment from the girls, on that one, surprisingly, given all the jolly banter this crew shared. Later Mike would show us the beautiful pictures, mostly macros,  he'd taken on the day's dives.  Kathy identified everything he had captured with his lens and told us all little tales related to the flora and fawna in the region.  I most loved the big wolf eel face poking out of it's cave despite Kathy's waxing poetic about some rare Liliputian creature Mike had captured with his macro lens.  I loved seeing and having named some of the very bits and pieces of the ocean abundance I'd just ogled at.
The hot tub was used by some while others went out kayaking. I was glad to get to bed early and wake at dawn.  What a beautiful day Sunday was with the sky clear and water barely rippled by the wind. I was first up and loved just sitting in the living room watching eagles flying by.  The night before I'd been delighted with the hummingbirds that had come to hover and flit.  The eagles did neither but rather majestically circled slowly letting the thermals lift them higher and higher.
Soon Peter and Kathy were up and hot coffee brewed while Peter set the table.  Then one after another everyone joined us grabbing coffee and tea before Peter gave us together an overview of the morning's dive sites. Another fine breakfast with lots of good cheer before we all headed for the boat and another great day of diving.
This time, Michelle, Ariana and I descended to 65 feet where a sandy channel ran between two close pinnacles. There was only room for single file swimming and fish galore.  Visibility was good and I was reminded of a similar channel I'd swun alone in the reefs off the Bahamas. Only here the fish were ling cod, greeling, perch and rock cod.  I love the fish.  When I'm swimming among them I always feel like I'm in the tropical fish tank I kept as a child.  The crab were interesting too and I was really enjoying the dive, having figured out my suit and buoyancy better when I looked up and Ariana who I'd been following had joined Michelle.  The two of them began to buddy breathe then Michelle singled to me to ascend.  I followed them up not sure what was wrong but impressed to see this buddy breathing ascent I'd practiced years past in PADI training but never having seen for 'real'.  When we got back to the boat and everyone was aboard safely Ariana explained that she'd noticed her air was out and realized she had a free flowing regulator.  That's when Michelle , our regular little mother hen, joined her and offered her air hose.  Ariana said she felt panic a bit but felt calm trusting Michelle. I was utterly impressed with both of them, and the controlled slow ascent. I've never encountered an air shortage situation at 65 feet underwater with fear of the bends if there is rapid ascent and I'm glad I've not.  I rather like my air, thank you.  I certainly was even more impressed with Michelle as a dive master watching her calmness and control under fire.  She even had the wits to look for me and  signal to me to ascend while passing her mouth piece back and forth with Ariana.  Ariana was so sweet up top apologizing for shortening my dive which I assured her was nothing given the great rescue I'd been able to witness.
After that the other pairs returned all being helped aboard by Peter.  Peter then drove us all to the "wall' and off we went again for another spectacular dive. This time I was with Robin and Mike and Michelle.  Mike had a delayed entry so it was a bit shocking to have him appear amongst us as we were floating together 85 feet below the surface looking up at this great wall.  Mike later said he was humming the underwater attack music from a movie we all knew.  This dive was really fun , with lots of flora but only a few fish but that wonderful sense of depth and space that comes with divers hovering beside a great rock face where you can look up to the surface and have a sense of otherworldliness as we floated  below.  My brother who raises coral and knows the names of all the underwater flora would have known what I was merely looking at and appreciating as beautiful like a person might view a Picasso.  I loved the colours.
All too soon, a half hour later, heavy breather that I am, I signalled to Michelle I was down to 1000 and we began to move along the wall higher before breaking off and ascending face to face with her counting off the textbook stops with her dive computer and watch.  This reminded me of all the similar controlled ascents Willy Gutowski and I did scuba diving in Saipan.  Letter perfect.  At the top I hooted and Michelle cheered. A great dive indeed. Peter came by in the boat and we grabbed the trailing rope swinging about to ascend the dive ladder with him at the top to guide us and our clumsy duck feet to a sitting place on board.
After everyone was collected and the chatter was rich with what everyone had seen and done Peter drove us back to the lodge.  We washed out gear in the fresh water barrels before restoring it for the journey home. Then we grabbed our bags and stuff from the cabin making sure to double check that we'd not left anything.  Kathy came down to the dock for a self timed group picture. We all hugged her and thanked her before gathering back aboard the boat for the 2 hour journey to Port Alberni.  Ariana laid out the lunch Kathy had packed and again the soup was incredible.  The sandwiches were wolfed down by a whole crew hungry after our two dives.
Thanking Peter profusely we loaded gear into our vehicles and headed for the Horseshoe Bay ferry.  We made one stop on the way. Everyone had to get a picture of the famous Combs goats eating the sod roof where they live.
I'd had the pleasure of having Joan come with me in the truck. She was from South Africa where she had first dived and told me tales of her and her sons motorcycling on the African plains.  She'd been on the Hornby Island dive last year with Rowand Reef tickling an amorous sea lion under the chin.  I was glad we caught the earlier ferry though we lost the rest of the group who were reserved later.  Dropping Joan off at her place I was able to drive on to where Gilbert my dog was ecstatic to see me.
We headed home and after unloading gear rinsing down and hanging my dry suit I was able to get to bed at 11 pm.  Amazing. What an action packed day and a thoroughly wonderful weekend with stirling people, fun activity, hilarious conversations and a whole lot of exercise. I suspect I'll ache but already am looking forward to the next Rowand Reef dive.  I'm even imagining sailing my own boat over to visit Peter and Kathy at their cozy warm Rendezvous lodge. What's more likely is that like Robin, on this trip, I'll sign up for another weekend.  Kathy and Peter have been running the lodge for 10 years and it's obvious that most of their clientele return time and time again.

http://www.rendezvousdiving.com

I Shot My First Elk and Rolled My ATV

In the spring I put in for British Columbia Limited Entry Hunting draw. I was lucky to win a female elk draw for North Vancouver Island by Sayward.  I'm a meat hunter so I'm not particularly interested in horns.  They make a thin soup.
Laura, Gilbert and I headed out from Vancouver on Thursday night, catching the ferry from Horseshoe Bay  to Nanaimo.  We spent the first night in Campbell River before going on to Sayward Junction  to stay at the Fisherboy Cabins and RV Park.  The Fisherboy was terrific.  Laura and I loved the cabins The owners bent over backwards to be helpful and make our stay all we wished for.
Friday I got out to Elk Creek logging road but didn't see anything. I was glad to do the drill, a little slow driving in and watching in the Ford F350 diesel truck, unloading the Polaris 500 Sportsman ATV, a bit of driving about. Then stalking quietly along a mountain trail with Gilbert at heel behind me.  Didn't see anything but shot a can with the rifle confirming all was well.
Back in Sayward we had a great pub meal at Cypress Tree, grandma's home cooking,  before early to bed so I could be up before dawn.
Filling the truck at the Sayward Junction I heard from another hunter out for the last day of deer season that he'd seen the Elk herds around Eve River. At Fisherboy they'd told me the same.  Can't argue with local knowledge.  It was snowing when I headed up the highway and found the turn off.  A logging truck pull out turned out to have a perfect split level to unload the ATV. I put the Ruger Stainless Steel 30:06 we'd named 'sexcaliber' years ago when it came shining out of the box like a great modern sword, onto the front rack.  I put my Mossberg lever action 30:30 as a back up in the Polaris Rifle holder at the back.  Gilbert was in his sweater and harness strapped in behind me.  The snow was falling great flakes and the roads were slippery. I was glad to be on the ATV with the truck parked safely.
I took the East Main and found I was riding alongside a river, maybe the Eve. The wind and flurries of snow were coming into my face muffling sound and ensuring my scent wasn't going to give us away to upwind game.  I was headed for the Adam when I found tracks and droppings. I parked the ATV at that. An exciting moment.  Gilbert was really excited to be out of the harness and beside me as we stalked along the road. I just stepped into the bush to look through to the clearing when I saw a great elk head.  I was looking at the face 50 yards away and then just as quickly it was gone.  With Gilbert at my heels I ran a ways backwards to where there was a pile of slash which I climbed to the top of trying to get elevation to see the elk.  I waited and used my binoculars to look the whole valley over  Then I back moved up the road a bit and climbed an even big pile of slash and wood to binocular the area further on.  I wouldn't have seen them without the binoculars.
But there on the other side of valley I saw the female with another one, whose gender I couldn't tell as it was standing more in the woods.  I lifted my rifle to get the female in my sights.  She was looking at me from what I figured was 300 yards away. (Later with the Bushnell RAngefinder I found it was only 200 yards)  I didn't lift the shot but aimed at the chest just below the neck. BANG. I don't know if I hit her with that shot. But she turned to follow the other into the bush.  I had a broadside shot then, bolted home another shell,  sited on the heart  and BANG.  That definitely hit. She shuddered and stood still. I remembered Bill Mewhort telling me moose hunting that they're big game so keep shooting till they're down.  I bolted home another shell. BANG.  I was shooting freehand without a rest almost tippy toe on top of the slippery mound of slash and wood.  She was staggering when I got another shot off. BANG. That one hit for sure too because she sat right down and rolled over. Down and dead.  I gave thanks in prayers.
But now the work began. I got my hatchet and rope from the ATV and had trouble just climbing down the hillside into the valley. Crossing the valley where there'd been logging and the ground was all strewn with stumps and couple of year old growth was a struggle in itself. I knew I was in for a hard day of work.
Gilbert found her before I did He was running a few yards ahead and just stopped when he saw that big body lying there in the bog.  I gave thanks then.  I'd shot an elk, my first one and it was big.  I took a picture or two before settling into field dressing. It was like doing a moose. Once I had the field dressing done I began quartering.  I was really glad for the hatchet.  I was a couple of hours  do this,  The adrenaline was gone and I was exhausted with all the cutting ahd cleaving.  I was thankful for my Bowen Island hand made knife that kept a mean edge.  Gilbert began keeping an eye on the bushes when I was almost done the quartering.  He began grunting like he was smelling something he didn't like.
I always keep my rifle handy when field dressing.  But here there are cougar and Gilbert's barks hurried me along.   It's an awkward thing to wear a rifle and haul quarters up a hill but we've all heard the stories of guys getting mauled by bear while hauling meat out.   I got meat the first hundred yards up the hill figuring if I left the offall whatever was bothering Gilbert would be less likely to bother us. The shoulders were an easy pull but the hind quarters were murder.  I missed a back board.  I'd carried a moose out a mile or so with quarters on the back board, 20 years younger,  and that was a whole lot easier than pulling these dead weights over the countless logs strewn all over.  I had to get the elk up to one ridge down through a valley then up the hill to the road. It was a bout a half mile or more but it seemed like forever.
I'm a desk jockey and I think a cowboy or logger wouldn't be so fagged by all the pulling and hauling.  I began getttin charley horses in my thighs. I had chocolate bars and a red bull but I really needed an airlift.
I finally had all the elk, my rifle, hatchet and clothes a hundred yards down from the steep incline to  road.  That's when I figured I could use the winch on the Polaris.  I figured I'd just drive it down the incline as far as I could then run the winch down to haul each quarter up.  I'd left half the ribs because I'm not a big fan of ribs in general and just half the ribs were almost as heavy as a hind quarter.  So 4 quarters and ribs to hauld.  I tied the rope together and ran the rope on the winch out.
That's when the winch didn't work. I tried to get it to come in on 'in' but it wouldn't. Instead it hauled in on "out".  Once it was in then it simply wouldn't go out and I couldn't find a release lever and promised myself for the umpteenth time that in future I'd read all the instructions.   I'd counted on using the winch to get the atv back up the slippery slope over the logs if need be.  In the mean time I hauled the rest of the meat up to the atv stopping and working out charley horses.  Then I turned the atv without any meat on it and tried to head up the slope.  I knew I was back heavy.  I just didn't know I'd catch on a log and with the trapped back wheel and that initial burst of low power speed I'd literally lift up and flip  back over , ass over tea kettle.
It all happened so fast. I just remember the ATV lifting, and me going back with the beast coming down on top of me. I was glad I had a helmut on because it hit a log and then I was just lying there trapped under the ATV.  As I'd gone over I'd felt my lower back stretching impossibly as my body was pushed forward into the saddle.  The back seat and windshield additions helped me. First thing I did was wiggle my toes.  All's well when you can feel your feet.
Gilbert was right beside me licking my face and obviously distressed.  I was so weak and in shock I couldn't get the ATV up but I could release the extra gas tank and with that off I could shimmy my body out from under the TV.  I thanked God to be free.  Then I turned off the ATV.
I didn't think to take a picture. I wish I had. It was like a sick upsight down turtle.  A sad sight.  My back was aching something fierce and my legs were cramping. It was all I could do to get myself up to the road.  Carrying my rifle I headed back towards the truck.  It was going to be a long painful walk.  Gilbert was a great companion.
I had a radio and tried calling for help on different frequencies but it's not like a phone. Someone has to be listening.
With a charley horse in my thigh, my low back killing me and miles to go I put the radio away and began praying seriously  Jesus help me.
I believe in miracles and I believe in the power of prayer.
Steve Mitchell came around the corner in his superduty truck.  I told him I'd rolled my ATV.  I think I looked a sight.  He said, "hop in" and we drove the couple of miles back to the wreck.  We walked down the hill.
"First thing we have to do is right this thing " he said. I'm used to being  around crazy people so just went right along with him.  Together we pushed. Sure enough it turned over. Steve is a strong man and I figure his pushing accounted for 90% with me adding maybe 10% to the equation.  But there was the Polaris upright.  Next thing Steve did was get the keys from me and started it up.
"Do you want me to drive this out of here for you," he asked.
"Sure," I said. "I'm a doctor so if you don't make it I can help you. It's just that I can't help myself."  He laughed and with a fair amount of cursong and wheeling about in the logs and moss he had it on track and drove it up the incline over the lip and onto the road.  Amazing.
Then we were doing more of  the 90%/ 10% thing Steve and me hauling the quarters together up to the road.  I couldn't lift them at all there but he lifted them like they were half the weight into the back of big truck. Steve is a big and strong man.
"I'll follow you back to ensure the ATV doesn't break down."  he said.
"Mind if Gilbert goes with you," I asked.  Gilbert was cold and wet and I didn't know where his harness had got to.
"Not at all."  You could tell Gilbert thought the warm truck cab was a great idea.
Off we went. Me doing 30 km for the next half hour wondering how I'd ever have walked that distance in the pain and cold. I realized alone I'd not have made my truck till sometime in the middle of the night. It was already dusk.
At the truck, I got the ramp out and Steve drove the ATV on.. Then he carried the quarters over.
I asked him what I could give him
"I just know what it is to be broken down out in the woods. I couldn't take anything."
"What about ahind quarter."
"Too much explaining if I was caught with it." he said throwing the final hind into my truck.
"It would have cost me hundreds to get a tow truck out here. That was my plan. Could I give you a few hundred for your time, at least"
"I couldn't take it," he said.  "But I'll follow you to Sayward to make sure you make it back safely."
"Then take this, " I said handing him a knife. "It's my favourite folding knife. Keep it to remember the day you saved my life."
He liked that and smiling got back in his truck to follow me back to Sayward.
I was glad for the company. I could mostly only go at 80, my back killing me and concentration hard in the snow and wet slippery road.
At Sayward he pulled along side to say "You should be okay now" before driving ahead to the restaurant.  I drove onto Fisherboy where Laura met me at the cabin.  I was seized up by then and had trouble getting out of the truck .
" I flipped the ATV and hurt my back a tad." I said hobbling into the cabin.  Gilbert was beside himself to see her, telling her all about his adventures in ecstatic barks.
She was all for taking me to hospital whereas I was intent on getting into the hot shower and then the hot tub.
"I got an elk, " I told her. "It's quartered in the truck.  Steve Mitchell, is an saint. Remember that name. I'd spent three or four hours pulling those quarters through hell when I got to the 50 yards from the road and tried to get the ATV down a bit where I could winch them up the steep incline. The winch jammed and trying to drive out I flipped the ATV. I hurt my back coming down. Nothing broken just ligaments stretched.  I was caught underneath which upset Gilbert but I got free and walking out til Steve came. He got the ATV upright. Drove it up the incline then we hauled the quarters up to take them back to my truck in his truck.  He just drove behind me all the way back here to make sure I was safe. We were 30 or 40 km up the road and some 15 km back in the bush."
"Steve Mitchell," she said.  "I wish there was some way I could thank him for getting you two back here."
"I got an elk." I said between groans.
"I think you should go to the hospital."
"They'd not do anything."
"You're in pain. I"ve never seen you in such pain"
"It will make the elk tastier for all the effort."
Much to both our surprises we didn't even have an aspirin or tylenol between us.
"I'll see if they have some ibuprofen or tylenol at the store"
I stayed in the tub trying not to move until she returned with meds.  I took three or four times the recommended dose then lay in bed watching funny Christmas movies.  Humor helps.
"Did I tell you I shot an elk," I asked Laura again.
She'd given Gilbert a bath because he was covered in mud and blood and so wanted to cuddle.
It's morning now.  I slept quite a bit.  Gilbert had me up a few times in the night growling and together we checked the elk in the truck. He's pretty proprietary when I've shot game.  Now it's time to get going.  It was a really cold night but it's going to warm up as we head south and I want to get the meat to the butcher without delay.
"Laura, did I tell you I shot an elk?"