Hi families,
We made it out of the backcountry today! I'd say we had a pretty darn good time fishing Tonahutu Creek and Haynach Lakes over the past two days. The boys have pushed themselves hard, and they've been rewarded with great fishing and incredible views. For a group with a lot of first-time backpackers and fly fishermen, they've accomplished so much already. The group clicked almost immediately, right from the first van ride, and we've grown even closer after spending the last four days with no phones and nothing to do but fish and hang out.
Here's a recap of the past few days:
July 17
We kicked off our first morning with fried egg breakfast sandwiches to fuel up for the adventure ahead. After a quick stop at the fly shop to grab some extra flies, we headed to our first fishing spot: Willow Creek. This little stream is always a crowd-pleaser—scenic, easy to wade, close to camp, and home to an abundance of trout. The boys all managed to get a few fish in the net at Willow Creek, which was awesome!
We wrapped up fishing before 4 p.m., still needing to prepare for dinner and organize food for the backcountry. Once back at Stillwater campground, we organized backcountry gear/food and did all necessary preparations for the nights ahead. Afterward, we packed all our food into bear cans in preparation for the big hike the next morning. We enjoyed chicken stir fry for dinner and also got to do a little bit of fishing alongside a beautiful sunset.
July 18
We got an early start to fuel up with a big breakfast scramble—sausage, eggs, hash browns, and cheese—before breaking down camp and loading up our backpacks. Our hike started from Green Mountain Trailhead, just up the road in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trek to our campsite, Big Meadows, was only about 2.5 miles, but the steep uphill section at the start was no joke, especially with full packs. Everyone powered through that tough stretch, but the last mile and a half definitely dragged as fatigue set in.
When we finally rolled into camp, we set up tents, grabbed some snacks, and hit Tonahutu Creek, which runs right below the campsite. The boys caught plenty of little brook trout out of the crystal-clear, rushing water. Dinner that night was Buffalo Mac and Cheese—always a backcountry favorite. Something about carrying everything on your back makes it taste even better.
July 19
Today, we split into two groups. One crew opted for the big hike up to Haynach Lake, while the rest stayed behind to keep fishing Tonahutu Creek. The Haynach group got an early start—they had 7 miles to cover and about 2,000 feet of elevation to climb, carrying food and water filters since they planned to fish well into the afternoon. Their hard work paid off: they were rewarded with gorgeous Colorado River cutthroat trout, some in the 16-17" range. On the way back, they encountered a group of bull moose blocking the trail, which was super cool for everyone to see.
The Tonahutu Creek group had a great day as well, catching hundreds of colorful little brook trout and exploring more of the area. We all regrouped later at Big Meadow Campground, swapped stories from the day, and devoured a hearty dinner of Chicken Alfredo before crashing for the night.
July 20
This morning, we let everyone sleep in a bit to recover from yesterday's big hikes. After a quick oatmeal breakfast, we packed up camp and hiked the easy two and half miles back to the van. Spirits were high—everyone was excited to be back in civilization after two days of nonstop hiking and fishing. A celebratory gas station snack stop was mandatory. Showers and laundry were a must too, so we took a few hours in the afternoon to get clean at Sun Outdoors.
We are now heading to the banks of the Colorado River to camp at Pumphouse campground. We are planning to clean up from our backcountry adventure, followed by chicken quesadillas for dinner. After dinner, we will do a little bit of fishing on the Colorado River, right around Pumphouse.
Tomorrow, the boys have their float with Cutthroat Anglers, followed by a service project in the afternoon, and another night of camping at Pumphouse. The trip is flying by, but we still have a lot to look forward to!
Tight lines,
Kitchel, Jack, Max, and the fellas
