Backpacking in Colorado - Flat Tops Wilderness - Day 1 

I did two years of wilderness guard duty for the forest service in the Flat Tops Wilderness back in the 1960's before it ever became a RARE II protected wilderness. I knew every square foot of it by heart. My folks owned a ranch on the South Fork of the White River back then, and also another up Marvine Creek. Those are at the opposite end of the wilderness area from the part this video covers, but I knew this area well too. All of it was kind of my back yard as a kid. It used to be back then that if you went hiking, backpacking, or horseback riding up there any season except hunting season, you could go for weeks without seeing anyone else. That Williams Fork drainage where they're at in this video was a real gem. It used to be that you could catch some pretty big wild Brook trout out of some of the little streams which flow through there. I used to catch them by hand when I was hiking and camping there if I felt like fish for dinner. I'm sure with all the people running around there you couldn't do that now. I last went up there the year before the big fire. I was hit by a drunk driver. The accident left me paralyzed from the shoulders down, and that means there's no way for me to get up there again. Still, I'm glad it's protected wilderness, and I hope it remains that way. It does my spirit good to know that there are wild places which will remain wild for future generations to enjoy. I only hope it doesn't get too overcrowded. That would ruin what the area is about just as surely as building a super highway through it would. Wilderness forever!

Looks like an amazing area. Great video. I am planning on taking my family this August. New sub here. Thanks for taking us with you!

hello, cool stuff, ever see any elk up there?

Hope you keep making these videos!