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 MoreAt 10,700 ft elevation, Sugarloaf is one of the highest National Forest campgrounds in the country...
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.