Colorado Backcountry Camping Above 10,000 Feet
Sally's first nights in a tent in over 30 years (she, of course was 9 years old then.....🏕
Read MoreSally's first nights in a tent in over 30 years (she, of course was 9 years old then.....🏕
Read MoreDriving 3 ½ hours through the colorful Colorado mountains we find the aspen color is pretty much finished, but cottonwoods are still in their full golden full glory in the creek bottoms....
Read MoreVery rare, returned to the water immediately......
Read MoreBrother Tom and sister Barbara, come to Colorado to enjoy our cabin, wildlife and fall fly fishing.........
Read MoreElk bugling, fish calling (subtle, you have to listen closely) changing aspens from green, gold, orange and red. What could be more enchanting?
Read MoreAfter leaving our friends in Durango, Sally and I drove north on the "Million Dollar Highway" over 4 mountain passes through the old mining towns of Silverton and Ouray.
Arriving at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, we managed to snag the last campsite (there are only 5), in the East Portal campground, directly on the Gunnison River. Dinner, then a lovely campfire.
Lots of fishing on tap over the next couple days 🐠
Fished all day. David caught a huge 20+ inch rainbow, which spit out the hook at his feet and another smaller brown trout. Sally got some strikes but nothing stayed on. Tomorrow, tomorrow - here fishy, fishy!
Beautiful sunny day in Mother Nature. Caught a 14" brown trout, saw a cinnamon black bear come down to the the river 50 yds away, watched a beaver building his lodge, and Sally discovered two (nonpoisonous) snakes.
Secret of the Gunnison today: Two size #22 Black Midges weighted with split shot between main and dropper midge about 12" back, bouncing on the bottom. Indicator 2' above the top fly.
This morning I cooked Sally her favorite - brown trout fried in bacon fat! 🐠
After cleaning up, we leave for Crested Butte. On the way, thunderstorms begin in Gunnison. After walking the lovely main street of Crested Butte, and a light dinner at Teocali Tomale, Sal proposes a B&B in Crested Butte, instead of wet, muddy campsite - go figure? Luckily, the 1919 B&B, "Elk Mtn Lodge" has one room for a very reasonable off-season price. As dusk falls, we relax in their lovely main room.
Sally and I drove 3 1/2 hours through the Colorado mountains to the beautiful Arkansas River, the first leg of our spring fishing trip. After setting up camp, we fished for a couple hours, catching one Brown Trout, had Campbell's tomato soup and retired early to ready ourselves for a full day of fishing on the morrow.
Fished the Arkansas morning and night. Spin cast fisherman did well with rubber grubs and crank baits. Fly fishermen did poorly today, some caught on stimulators and caddis dry flys during the midday hatch. Dinner of homemade potato salad and brats grilled on our new portable Weber. Life is good. We will be back! 🌞
Chaco Canyon. So beautiful, so serene and mystical. We took two Ranger hikes today. Chetro Ketl pueblo and Casa Bonito Pueblo. Both were great, but Ranger R. G. Cornucopia was exceptional! Facts, figures, but also created a sympathetic feeling for the ancient Puebloans. Dinner of grilled chicken souvlaki and Moscow Mules for our libation. Beautiful double rainbow as we ate. Hikes planned for tomorrow......
Rainy night, but brilliant sunny, New Mexico morning 🌞.
Driving to the trailhead we strike out on a 5 mile loop hike past ruins of Pueblo Rinconada, up on top of the Mesa to Pueblo Tsin Klitsin, 1,000 ft higher. Elk tracks everywhere, wild flowers in bloom, 65 degrees - perfect!!
Eating lunch in the ruins, we find one 800 year old pottery sherd (which, of course we leave in place).
Dinner with Seaholm High School Buddies Marcy, Steve and Dora Lee at their lovely new house.......🎨