EKM: Thanks for the solace. I focused on physical conditioning, acquiring good gear, and practicing shooting. I benefited from the conditioning. My clothing performed well: warm and reasonably comfortable under tough conditions of snow and melting snow drops falling on me from trees, rapidly changing weather (it was heavy snow blowing maybe 30 MPH Tuesday morning and 10 minutes later the sun broke out and beat down brightly and then 10 minutes later the sun was hidden again and in two hours driving wet snow returned), clothes drying out quickly overnight. I didn't get to shoot, but I felt comfortable with the shots I would have had in the set-ups I established. My view is next hunt I do these three things right again . . . and add to this new things that I do better next time. I need to scout more ground. I'll be on the lookout for any inner voices that deter me from keeping fully engaged in the hunt. I won't put any creedence in weather forcasts -- either forcasts that lead me to believe I can't get out and hunt or forcasts that lead me to believe that it is going to be a super day, I'll just go out and adapt myself to what weather visits that day. I guess the elk are out there notwithstanding the weather on any given day. I'll keep my plans flexible and have more alternative plans up my sleeve. I'll learn more about elk hunting tactics. I felt I was in a good area and did see lots of indications of elk at the places I was at. I heard plenty of shooting. The issues I have are things that I feel can be addressed directly and not beyond my control.