The sun had settled behind the mountains as the last minutes of light faded away.  I stood up, threw on my pack, grabbed my rifle, and started the hour hike back to my truck in silence.  As I weaved through fallen logs and still standing fire kill I reflected on the past four days.  They went fast, but every sunrise brought a new sense of optimism. I had confidence I’d harvest an elk…turns out I wouldn’t.  I failed.