What I meant was to find high ground outside of the area you plan or suspect elk are in. Snow is loud but honestly elk aren’t quiet either. If they’re in the area you’re hiking, I’d turn to hunting mode rather than hiking mode myself.
If you mean cold camping near the elk, that’s fine I guess. So many different scenarios it’d be hard to say. If you can camp near where you expect to see elk so you can get on them first thing at daylight, I’d take the chance.
