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 sausage, egg, and cheese 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 some solid brown and rainbow trout. Despite a bit of rain the night before making for less-than-ideal conditions, the boys managed to land some nice fish during our first outing.
We wrapped up fishing before 4 p.m., still needing to prep for dinner and organize food for the backcountry. Instead of heading straight back, we decided to take the scenic route through Rocky Mountain National Park on Trail Ridge Road. We drove up to about 12,000 feet, took in some stunning views, snapped a quick group photo at the top, and then everyone sprinted back to the van for warmth. Dinner back at camp was French dip sandwiches over the campfire—a meal that will be hard to top—and s’mores for dessert. Afterward, we packed all our food into bear cans in preparation for the big hike the next morning.
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 first campsite, Sunrise, was only about 3.5 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 chicken Alfredo—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 4.5 miles to cover and about 1,400 feet of elevation to climb, carrying food and water filters since they planned to fish well into the evening. Their hard work paid off: they were rewarded with gorgeous Colorado River cutthroat trout, some in the 17–18” range. On the way back, they encountered a group of moose blocking the trail and had to wait patiently before the animals finally moved on.
The Tonahutu Creek group had a great day as well, catching tons 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 buffalo mac and cheese 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 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.
We’re now settled in at Sun Outdoors, where the boys took full advantage of showers, laundry, and the pool. Tonight, we’ll cap things off with pizza, s’mores, and campfire stories before getting some much-needed rest.
Tomorrow, we’re off to the Colorado River for more fishing. We’ve got a service project and some self-guided fishing coming up, followed by our float with Cutthroat Anglers and our banquet dinner. The trip is flying by, but we still have a lot to look forward to!
Tight lines,
Hunter, Travis, and Kitchel
