Reddit reviews John Fielder's Best of Colorado (3rd Edition)

You have a great idea! Can't dispute the beauty of the Colorado mountains. If you have never done it and don't have the gear, I think wilderness backpacking might be a stretch. Also, it is best to have a partner. You can rent some gear from REI, you might want to check with them on what is available. You can absolutely tailor your adventure to your experience and desires. I would recommend Crested Butte as a town for your center point. You could get a condo or hotel there, but I would recommend car camping outside of town on some of the back roads. In the summer, I think you could find some pretty nice sites accessible with a rental car off of Kebler Pass, Gothic Rd. or Ohio Pass. From there you can access plenty of world class hiking such as West Maroon Pass, Scarp Ridge, Rustler Gulch etc. You can also make some side trips to Lake City, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Ouray, Telluride etc. Crested Butte is also a very cool town with cool restaurants, and stuff going on in the summer. I would also highly recommend this book to help you plan your trip. Also, pick up your weed in Denver. Mountain towns do not have the selection, quality, or price. Have fun and enjoy!