I had no idea they had this big of a group. Even if it was 5,000 people, that's too many in my opinion to inhabit one trailhead system. I ran into a group of them in 2017 at a TH in northern CO. I had been to this TH and scouted for the archery elk opener. When I got there I found people walking up the road and cars parked anywhere they could find room. It was a small trailhead and I would guess there was 20 cars/vans/pickups and 2 busses. I stopped along the road and asked a young lady what was going on? She said it was a rainbow gathering. I asked whats that? She explained they are just a bunch of friendly people that all support each other and live on the road. I reluctantly spent the night at the TH in the back of my truck, under the tonneau cover with one eye open and one hand on my pistol. The next day I visited with some of them and they assured me that they were just there to hang out and have fun and that my new 2016 truck would be fine while I was gone hunting. oh boy was I nervous. I returned to my truck 3 days later with a load of cow elk to put in my coolers. I slept in the truck again and went back for 3 more trips of meat and camp. I overheard them talking about going to the homeless shelter in town and getting some food to share with everyone. They also told me that they had a bad reputation but they were correcting that and the TH would look the same when they left as when they got there. I noticed in the garbage sacks by the TH signs there were Hostess cupcake wrappers, Mt. Dew bottles, beer cans, etc. etc. - so they weren't starving or living off the land. On my way out with all of my camp, meat, gear and truck I stopped by a couple old boys that were playing chess by their van. I offered them a big elk roast and they were thrilled beyond words. I figured well, they didn't wreck my hunt, they didn't break into my truck, the least I could do was show my gratitude and wish them well. I'm sure they are like many other groups of people, some bad, some good, most in-between. I hope they don't destroy the steamboat area with a huge gathering. Best wishes!
www.steamboatpilot.com
Strange group indeed!
