Late-season Colorado elk

In late October, three of us set out to get to know a piece of country near Carbondale, Colorado known as the Thompson Divide. The goal was two-fold: One, spend a few days traipsing around to get a feel for the place and two, fill a couple of elk tags.

Miles down and two steep descents through some of the hariest undergrowth in the west, one in the light and one in the dark, guess which goal was accomplished. Whoever said there were elk peering from behind every tree in Colorado clearly never hunted elk.

Aaron Kindle and Shane Cross look at a map of the Thompason Divide area.Packing in gear.Snow rolling in.Beers after work.A patch of blue, but not for long.Walking into camp.Bear prints.Old aspen groves and conifers dominate the Thompson Divide area.Hidden waterfall.