Good post, you got my blood up a little. I live in MT, but spent 12 days backpacking through the Weminuche in July '93. I rode in on the Silverton train, and wondered all through that country. I climbed into every little off the trail basin I could find, and saw lots of elk.

I would say have quality binoculars for sure. Also, I would say a good morning plan is to actually be clear up at the edge of timberline already at the first crack of daylight. That may involve a good headlamp and and alarm clock set for 3 AM, but I imagine those elk are going to be diving into the timber early once they figure out a hunting season is on. Just my thoughts.