Just a wee bit spooked

[Lefty]

My health seems to be getting better and better. Im doing physical activities I haven't done in 10 years.
Years back I had baited a lower potion of where this canyon dumps down the hill. That year I had a few nights where tremendous amounts of beef "disappeared". I found bear droppings nearly the diameter of a baseball,,,,and the pile 2/3 the size of a basket ball,,,I just dont think there were black bears in this range that could leave that size of sign


I have been looking at this high dark canyon above that runs paralleled to the length of the Mountain range for big bears, black bears,,,I have been looking at for canyon for 10 years . A rough 6 mile dead end trail,,,, 450 elevation gain in the last 900 yards
Last week I packed some high end nutrient bear feed,, The lowest quality feed was 18 lbs Angus T bone ,,, that had freezer burn on the edge, Gourmet chocolate cinnamon bears. A few varieties of nuts , dried fruits and a handful of ridiculous sophisticated fudge bars . A total of 36 lbs All stuff I could would never purchase for my own "diet"

Deep steep and dark, nearly an hour hike in. I was impressed that elk were hanging in the narrow canyons, stunted old growth fir, elk droppings everywhere.

The canon walls were steep, the type of steep you just dont walk up. The bottom was a relatively flat plane strewn with 20-100 pound granite rock. The trees so thick I had to search for a possible shooting lane up the adjoining ridge.

I scattered some cinnamon bears, nuts and fruit, then placed the rest of the feed under rocks,, Then scooped out a depression and was covering the Tbone with big flat rocks .

Now I like a little bit of Cinnamon in my apple crisp,, not much.. But the overwhelming tasty smell of these chocolate cinnamon bears .wow smelled so good

I brought a few perfectly shaped and sized flat rocks .
The thermal updraft was caring the delicious odor right up the canyon.

One last rock over the T bones. chills up and down my back... such a neat and perfect place for bear and elk. Evidently that drifting smell attracted something busted just 40 yards in front of me,,, I couldn't see the big cretter ,,,
You know! those big looud pops of branches crashing as a bull elk spins and tears off.

Heading back down the mountain I started thinking.. To me the liklyhood that it was a bear, The initial spinning of sound of breaking blanches,,,,,,,, then silence. Yep bet it was a bear.
Then the thought came,,, should have brought my gun and hunted. Then the next thought,, what were the chances I it was a grizzlie?