Dave,
I'm sorry I see most aren't answering your most pressing question, and I don't have the answer either - the name of an outfitter/person for packing. I've hunted CO my whole life, but not the Flat Tops. I'd just start calling some outfitters, fish and game, dude ranches etc. As long as you don't sound like a "bad bet" - some strange wierdo, who is totally clueless on what they are getting into, you'll pretty quickly start getting referred around. The game wardens and biologists know the ranchers and outfitters. Many will be willing or know of someone who probably would be, especially if they already hunt/work the area. If you're polite, simple and to the point, and willing to pay a fair price, I'm sure you can come up with a few options without too much work. Google and networking on the phone is the way to go. You can also call a local feed store, etc. and someone will know someone. Some may not really want to do it, and will charge top dollar, others will be simple and down to earth and fit exactly what you need. I think you are barking up the right tree. Crazy to pack it out yourself that far when you don't have to - a few hundred $ will feel like the best $ you ever spent. Also agree on not hassling with the rent-a-horse thing - stranger, in strange land, with a strange horse - bad joo joo. Pack in, hunt, fill tag, get packed out - people do it all the time here, and many outfitters and ranchers are used to offering the service.
As you probably know, you may be hunting in 2 feet of snow and temps around zero, or it may be about 80 and sunny. In fact, if you are here 3 weeks, you'll probably have both temps and at least some significant snow.
Just a bit of unrequested advice that you can easily ignore, but having "been-there-done-that" I'd lay pretty good odds that if you stick to your two week prior pack in and solo Grizzly Adams adventure you'll have at least one "if I had to do it over again" thought. A one week solo DIY hunt is cool, 2 weeks solo back there in the middle of nowhere by yourself before opening day won't be near as much fun as it sounds (3 weeks total). You need to make sure you aren't burned out or demotivated before the season even begins. I may be wrong, and you may love it, but even the most hard-core, remote solo DIY guys I know agree it can drain you and get lonely and it's hard to keep that internal burn going every day. I've hunted solo many more times that I wanted. I'm a pretty driven, happy-to-be alone guy, but I have to admit that after several nights of coming back to camp when it's dark at 6pm and you sit around for hours by yourself - it isn't nearly as fun or trivial as it sounds at the PC here in July. You start realizing how much fun having a hunting buddy to shoot the breeze with is, how you actually miss the family some after a week or two, etc.
If the main goal is to acclimate - as mentioned, it may not take that long, but heck, if you have the time and money, why not. However, about anything, anywhere is CO is going to help you acclimate (it's all high, compared to FL). I'd be tempted to show up, do something in Glenwood Springs, Denver, anywhere for a couple days (hot springs, rent mountain bike, see the Royal Gorge, anything), then go hike in and spend 2,3,4 days scout around, test things out. Hike back out, take a break, go meet your outfitter who's going to pack you out, get advice from them, so visit Division of Wildlife, then maybe pack into a completely different area of the Flat Tops and see how that compares. Another option is find a forum (more likely a more CO specific, regular hunting one) and find a group hunting 1st Season, talk with them, and see if they'd mind you tagging along to watch-and-learn for a few days (you could learn their area, some tips, have some company, etc.). If not pre-arranged, you can likely bump into some folks hunting the first season while you're out there and many when they find out you're alone and not psycho, will at least chat you up, and many more will invite you to share their fire. I'd do any and all of those options before spending 3 weeks in some remote mountains by myself. I'm sure you can do it, I just think 3 weeks needlessly isolated will take a 4-5 star hunting trip down to a 2-3 star trip, just because...
Good on you though. Seize the opportunity and make some memories - hopefully all good ones
