Cedarhacker:
Thanks for the information. I took a backpacking trip -- no hunting -- in this are in the early 1980's. We rode the Durango-Silverton train about half-way from Durango to Silverton, getting off at a place called "Elk Creek Siding," I recall. We hiked up Elk creek, crossed the continental divide and came down Hunchback Pass into the Vallecito Creek drainage. This pass was about 12,200 feet, I recall. You're right -- the mountains lifting up from the creek are steep. We went down Vallicito Creek to where Johnson Creek joins, then we followed Johnson Creek up on the North side of Emerson Peak, crossing another high pass at about 12,800 feet to get into the needles mountain area, then down to the railroad where we hitched a ride back down to Durango.
So I'm generally familiar with the area. I understand the conditioning that is needed. I understand much of the gear requirements -- good solid boots that protect your feet from the beating they will get from rocks and provide stability when walking on lots of rocks -- though my visit was in late August instead of early to mid October. I've got good maps and guides for this area. On my trip I stayed on the trails. On a hunting trip I would have to get off the trails and up the sides of those mountains, I suppose.
I will look on my maps for the areas you are talking about. I had notionally planned to camp somewhere near where Johnson Creek joins Vallecito Creek: good to hear that you think this general area is a good base camp location.
I have heard on other sites that non-locals trying to do a self-guided backpacking hunt for Elk in Colorado, what I am trying to do, are headed for a failure. They didn't say this much in so many words, and they weren't trying to be mean, just to deliver a dose of reality. I can't afford a guided hunt, pretty much have to stick with this kind of self-guided, backpacking hunt to afford the hunt. While my plan may feature a low probability of success, if nothing else just getting up into the Weminuche Wilderness along Vallicito Creek will be reward enough. If I bag a cow Elk, so much the better. Sometimes you just have to jump into the water to learn to swim: maybe Elk hunting is similar. One part of this picture is not a matter of a novice -- the camping and backpacking part. I feel confident in my ability to move throught these mountains and find my way without getting lost. Now . . . getting out quick enough when a heavy snowstorm hits, that might be another story. I would tend to err on the side of wanting to get out in a hurry rather than waiting to see what is going to happen.
Thanks for the advice and information.
