Into the Backcountry!
Hello again, friends and family!
We’re back in civilization after an epic few days deep in the Montana backcountry — and wow, do we have stories to tell. While you were likely enjoying your AC and cozy beds, we were chasing native cutthroat trout through snow-capped valleys, dodging rainstorms, and soaking in some of the most beautiful (and wild) scenery the West has to offer. Despite the cold front and unpredictable weather, these boys showed grit, determination, and impressive resilience every step of the way.
Day 2
We kicked off the morning on the North Fork of the Blackfoot with a simple but satisfying breakfast — cereal and warm oatmeal. After a morning lesson on knot tying, fishing techniques, and reading water, we hit Monture Creek, leapfrogging holes in search of cutthroat. As the sun warmed things up, the boys cooled off with a dip in the river before heading back to camp — smiles all around.
Day 3
Some woke up earlier than others thanks to a 2 a.m. rainstorm. The sound of boys scrambling out of hammocks and cowboy camps was matched with laughter from the tent-sleepers who stayed dry. Once the sun rose, we fired up eggs and sausage and headed out to fish the confluence of the North Fork and the Blackfoot. There was tons of surface activity and excitement — everyone had chances on dry flies, but sealing the deal proved tricky! Timing the hookset was a fun challenge, and the fish often won. That night, we met our horse packers, got familiar with our four-legged campmates, and prepped gear and food for our backcountry push.
Day 4
We woke to cold temps and soaked gear — not the most inspiring start — but this crew powered through. A six-mile hike with just 400 feet of gain was no match for them. We even beat the horses to our backcountry site by 30 minutes! The sun broke through just in time to dry out gear, and we had some great laughs watching one of the wranglers ride out a rodeo moment (he didn’t quite make 8 seconds). As the pack string wandered into camp like seasoned pros, rods were already rigged, and fish were being caught just yards from the tents. We capped off the day with LFFE’s legendary backcountry Thanksgiving dinner — turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, the works — and barely a crumb left to clean.
Day 5
Another chilly morning, but that didn’t stop anyone. With a fire going early and a quick oatmeal-and-apple breakfast, the boys scattered in search of new water. Guides kept the fire stoked throughout the day as a warming refuge. The standout moment? A huge cheer from the river as Aaron finally landed the biggest cutthroat of the trip — after multiple close calls and heartbreaks, this one was earned. The whole camp celebrated with him. Dinner was chicken mac and cheese, and after a long, satisfying day, everyone crashed hard, hoping not to wake up to snow.
Day 6
Our final morning in the backcountry greeted us with blue skies and warm sun — finally! The cold had returned overnight, but clear skies lifted everyone's spirits. We fished a bit more before loading up and hitting the trail back out. We also spent 15 minutes alone in solitude for a moment of reflection on this place and the time we spent together. Despite packs weighing 30–35 lbs (which felt “SO HEAVY,” according to the crew), everyone crushed the hike. Some even found they enjoyed the challenge. After 3.5 hours on the trail, we celebrated with bocce ball and more fishing by the bridge. An awesome finish to an unforgettable leg of the trip.
Camper Highlights (as reported by them):
Oscar: Realized his tent poles weren’t lost — someone else had packed an extra! Accidentally overshot a fishing spot and ended up at the ranger station.
Ford: Loved the hike out — great weather, beautiful views, and figured out that zoning out helps make the trail fly by.
Bryce: Explored a stunning burned forest downstream, where wildflowers bloomed between blackened trees and boulders.
Hudson: Like Oscar, missed the turnoff and ended up at the ranger cabin — still had a blast.
Cade: Worked hard and finally caught his first cutthroat a half-mile upstream. Determination paid off.
Peter: Mesmerized by the river’s clarity — could see the colors of the rocks like stained glass.
John: Defended the mac and cheese from falling in the dirt and bonded with Monty the horse.
Fred: Managed to eat three full-size summer sausages. Enough said.
Liam: Caught the very first fish in the backcountry — on his third cast right in front of camp!
Gunner: Thought the hike out was absolutely breathtaking.
Sam: Enjoyed feeding the pack horses and helping with camp chores.
Aaron: Fished hard for days, finally hooked a beauty, and landed the biggest cutty of the trip.
We’re so proud of this crew. Every one of them brought something special to this section of the trip, and they’ve already made lifelong memories and friendships. We’ll check back in soon with more updates — next stop, more stories and more fish!
Tight lines,
Drew, Owen, and Adrian
