Hi families,
We officially made it out of the backcountry today! The past few days have been full of hiking, fishing, and plenty of laughs. This group has continued to impress us with their positive attitudes and willingness to take on every challenge we've thrown at them. Whether it was hiking with full backpacks, fishing through changing weather, or helping around camp, everyone has done an awesome job. The boys have really started to settle into life outdoors, and it's been fun watching friendships continue to grow as the trip goes on.
Here's a recap of the past few days:
July 15
We kicked off the day by heading to Willow Creek for our first full day of fishing. Willow is always a fun place to start the trip — it's easy to wade, incredibly scenic, and holds plenty of eager trout. The boys spread out along the creek, worked on their casting and presentations, and everyone got some quality time on the water while learning the ins and outs of mountain stream fishing. The fishing was somewhat tough, so we got off the water around 1 pm.
After lunch, we shifted gears into backcountry preparation mode. We spent the afternoon organizing food, packing bear cans, adjusting backpacks, and making sure everyone was ready for the next few days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Once everything was packed away, we squeezed in one more fishing session at Lake Granby. While the fishing was a little slower than we'd hoped, it was a beautiful evening to be on the water.
Back at camp, we wrapped up the day with burgers over the campfire before getting everything ready for our early morning departure into the backcountry.
July 16
An early morning called for a hearty breakfast, so we started the day with fried egg sandwiches before loading up our packs and heading to the Onahu Trailhead. From there, we began our hike into our backcountry campsite along Onahu Creek. Everyone handled the hike extremely well, especially considering the extra weight of several days' worth of food and camping gear. Shortly after arriving at camp, afternoon storms rolled through the area, giving us a classic Rocky Mountain welcome. Once the weather cleared, we managed to sneak in a little fishing on Onahu Creek, where the boys caught plenty of feisty little brook trout while exploring the stream around camp. Dinner that night was pesto pasta, which definitely hit the spot after a full day of hiking and setting up camp. We finished the evening relaxing around camp before turning in for a well-earned night's sleep.
July 17
Today was our biggest fishing day in the backcountry. After breakfast, we made the three-mile hike over to Tonahutu Creek, one of our favorite small streams inside Rocky Mountain National Park. The fishing was outstanding. Everyone caught fish throughout the day, with colorful brook trout ranging from about 6 to 10 inches, keeping rods bent almost nonstop. It was one of those days where nearly every good-looking pocket or pool held a willing fish, making for an exciting day of sight fishing in crystal-clear water. Between the incredible scenery and nonstop action, it was a day that won't be forgotten anytime soon. After hiking back to camp, everyone was definitely ready for dinner. Buffalo mac was on the menu, and it quickly disappeared after another long day on the trail.
July 18
This morning we packed up camp, shouldered our backpacks one last time, and made the hike back to the trailhead. Everyone was excited to return to civilization after several days in the backcountry, and the group should be proud of everything they accomplished. For many of the boys, this was their first backpacking experience, and they handled it very well. Once we made it back, we headed back to camp where everyone took full advantage of hot showers and laundry — two things that are never taken for granted after a few days in the woods.
Tomorrow we'll be back on the water as all the guys will have a half day float with Cutthroat Anglers. We still have some fishing and fun ahead, and we're excited for what's to come!
Tight lines,
Kitchel, Jack, and Max
