After I was heading back to camp to meet Ron for lunch and discuss what we had found I made it to the trail. At this point I still had not found any fresh elk sign.
There was a large dead tree laying half across the trail so I stopped and took off my camo shirt and was down to an olive drab tee shirt.
I no sooner put my pack back on, took 3 steps and BAM! an ELK! She had just walked into view 15 yards to my left. I had seen her first but she saw me milliseconds later. She didn't know what I was but had me pegged, I couldn't move. After about a 3 minute stare off, she spun and ran, she also had a calf with her I could make glimpses of as they bounded away.
COOL, My first elk. That gave me high hopes for the rest of the trip.