They Left a Wildlife Officer Tied to a Pine-But the Grizzly Reached for the Rope Instead of His Throat

before. Then he turned uphill.

I watched until the trees closed behind him.

At the edge of the clearing, his tracks crossed the last patch of snow beside mine. One set led down toward the road. The other climbed into the firs and disappeared.

I put the rope in my pack and followed my own tracks home.