Hi Families,
We had a great first day together! We started the morning by picking up Vera and Cordy in Bozeman before making a stop at Bozeman Fly Supply to stock up on some flies and a few other essentials for the week. There is something about walking into a fly shop at the start of a trip that makes everything feel real. The girls dove right in, browsing fly selections and getting excited about what the week ahead might bring.
Next, we grabbed lunch at Cosmic Pizza, ate a giant half-cheese, half-pepperoni pizza before heading back to the airport to pick up Ness. The drive from Bozeman to Ennis is one of those stretches of road that does a lot of the talking for us — winding through the Madison River Valley with mountains on every side, it's hard not to feel pumped about what's ahead. By the time we got to Ennis and settled in at base camp, the energy in the group was already fantastic.
After everyone got their beds set up and claimed their tent, the girls spent some time journaling about what they hope to grow in during this trip, both as anglers and individuals. It was a genuinely special moment to sit in on, hearing them articulate goals like improving their casting skills, building confidence in the backcountry, and stepping outside their comfort zones more. That kind of intentionality at the start of a trip sets the tone for everything that follows, and we couldn't be more excited to help each of them reach those goals over the coming days.
We wrapped up the evening with a swim at Valley Garden in Ennis before heading back to base camp for burgers around camp. The Madison River Valley put on quite a show at sunset, and it was a perfect way to close out a long travel day. It was a fun, easy day -- new conversations, and the early stages of what is already shaping up to be a really special group dynamic. We are so excited for all the adventures ahead!
Until next time,
Brooke, Ellen, and the girls!
