The West Elk Wilderness north of Blue Mesa Reservoir is where I chased my elk around for a few years. We had horses, but they couldn't go straight up those mountains like the mules that I saw. Some rugged, high country back there to be sure. I remember one day hiking cross country between roads up there and I heard an elk coming and I said to myself, please don't be a bull because I'd never be able to get you out of here. We were having a beer at the Cattleman's in Gunnison and overheard some elk guides lamenting that there were 10,000 elk standing around in Soap Creek Canyon and they couldn't get to them. There is just so much that a horse or a mule can do. Beautiful country, but too high for this flat lander.
