I’ve been twice. First time we truck camped. It was awesome. Full bar, gourmet grilling every evening, a nice snack and beverage in the afternoon. The trout fishing was wonderful. I heard elk but never got on one. My buddy archery killed a 6x6 in the same area two years prior. Access was easy (relative term if you don’t have mountains where you live) and there were a few more hunters than typical from what I was told. There were nice mule deer around but it was a draw area for them.
Backpacked last year. Flew in with everything to Denver. First five days were backcountry living out of a pack. Saw elk and had a 6x6 at 12 yards. It came up a draw and ran a bench just below my buddy and I. We were separated slightly and I was waiting for a quartering away........it was just passing me when he stopped it short. Expandables don’t work on quartering to elk real well.
Got in to a couple more solo a couple days later but no shot. We went back to the place we camped the first time. No people but cattle everywhere. I didn’t bring my fly rod this trip.....I’ll never, ever do that again. From here on out it’s most likely going to be straight backcountry. I can’t describe it.
PM me if you want more details. It’s changed my life. I’m an east coast boy and the west has got me. My partner is going back again in September and I feel like I’m letting him down. I need to build a garage so I’ll wait a year. I’m going back.
