They say the top is at 10,037 feet.

Near as I can tell, the masked heeler and I made it to 9,400-9,500'. Another hour and a half of sunlight, and we might have made it to the top.

Thereupon to check an elk harvest, collect a CWD sample, register at a geocache, and log a benchmark. All within a hundred feet of each other.

But no such luck. I had told myself we would turn around at five o'clock, and at five o'clock we did (after two cell phone calls out of the wilderness). Got back to the truck less than five minutes before sunset.

The hunters weren't back to their rig, not even after the last of the sun's red rays left the clouds to the west. Having a hard time packing the rest of their bull off the mountain top, I assume.

Packing it still, for all I know.