I have hunted in 16 and 17 and did some hiking in 18 while on a vacation in Steamboat. Obviously, you need to be in shape or anywhere in Colorado is going to suck, but that area in particular was infested with pine beetles back in the '90s and early 2000's so expect a maze of fallen timber. Hiking in that stuff is hard on the knees. I would look for a one or two year old burned area in the most remote area you think you can get into and go from there. There are definitely elk to be found. The fire season is going to be bad this year, so any advance planning should include alternatives. If a fire starts in those deadfall areas it will all burn.