Epilogue....

The next morning we awoke to..ya more rain...so we had our breakie and off we went in the zodiac accross the flats and back into the "orchard"..carefully glassing for other bears feeding on the carcass...while I did a quick necropsy Tim lashed the 150 pounds of hide ,hair and head to his pack board and prepared to stand up... only with considerable help could Tim stand and for the next 45 minutes between rests and encouragment we made our way back to the boat and then camp.

I sat under a tarp and started the long methodical careful job of splitting the lips, turning the ears splitting the nose and around the eyes and removing the paws...this was started at approx 11 am and I was finished by 5 pm..stiff and sore we went for a short hike and prepared for bed by 8:30..as the next morning was to be another up the river and check out another prime area I knew...

At around 11:30 I awoke to excruciating pain down my lower right leg..as I went to rub my leg I discovered I was completely numb from my knee to my toes.. ...I rubbed and moved and wiggled and got frightened that I had thrown a clot...however I had no coldness to the limb nor was it red nor was the pulses absent???? I took 2 aspirin incase it was a clot and by this Time Tim was up..we discussed a plan of action..nothing copuld be done tonite so back to bed.

In the morning my leg was still numb and sore so we decided I should go ask to use the sat phone (GLOBALSTAR ) on the shrip boat that had pulled in during the nite..the phone didnt work AS USUAL...

So it was decided to abandon the hunt and seek medical care for my leg..I with Tims help got some stuff loaded and then went to pull the remaining crab pot while Tim loaded the zodiac with the bear hide...while moving my camera bag with several $$$$$ long lenses and my spotting scope my numb leg suddenly just gave way causing me to lose my balance ..and yes you guessed it..ALL MY EXPENSIVE CAMERA GEAR AND SPOTTING SCOPE ended up over board in 700 feet of salt water.. ..hey its only $4,500....

Soon I had landed another 8 crabs all keepers and Tim had come aboard and we headed north to Bella Coola arriving some 4 hours later as a HUGE WIND AND RAIN STORM hit with waves in the 12 FEET SIZE.. man did we time thatw ell or what. I called for an AMBULANCE dispatch recognized my name and voice and soon Paramedics were on scene and I was wisked away to the hospital where I recieved very good treatment..and the results...that having my legs bent under me for so many hours had compromised my circulation I had "compartment syndrome" potentially I could lose my leg !!

I contacted Lake City Ford with my truck problems..NO HELP..Ford canada told me.."MR RUPP please dont get emotional life is TOUGH get over it.." ass$#^#&! So with BCAA'S help my truck was put on a flat deck FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2 WEEKS and the borrowed boat was towed behind the tow truck..not bad for $1200 for towing alone!!!!

Then the CO showed up a VERY NICE AND PROFESSIONAL GENTLEMAN who had heard Tim talking with the KOREAN owner of the hotel about the grizzly gall bladder...2+2= 22 so the CO came to talk and was assured the gall was indeed still under the liver and where the bear was..I ALWAYS cut the gall sack spilling the contents BUT LEAVING the sack still attatched to the liver.

Tims young daughter arrived and we headed home to Williams Lake spotting numerous black bears en route.
At home we found out the tow truck had driven SO HARD it had knocked a set of bunk roller OFF the borrowed boat trailer..$$$$$$$ I am putting a claim in with ICBC against the tow company.

I showered and went to the hospital where the diagnosos by 2 surgeons was again Compartment syndrome and I could indeed lose my leg.So for the past 3 days I have been lounging around paying bills..

The insurance company said I should be covered for the camera and spotting scope...

i get $60 back from the tow bill fro Canadian Direct insurance...yipeee

Bcaa roadside was EXELLENT and they will cover "most" of the tow bill.

I am filing tomorrow for the damage to the boat.....

I have Tims completely boiled and cleaned , bleached grizzly skull here in my den ALREADY..THANK YOU JASON YOCHMAN..

I am waiting to see howmy leg goes..I may just get back into Kwatna..ya right after I pay $656 to Ford for a newly installed alternator..

So sports fans..I PROMISED Tim if he ever got a grizzly tag Id be ther right beside him and together we got her done..

That I submit is Grizzly hunting...a lot went wrong however the hunting part that went GREAT.

Steven Rupp