Hello families!
Our Colorado Rocky Mountain Expedition is officially underway!
This morning, ten high schoolers from around the country rallied for one purpose: to connect with our fly fishing team and start making memories for an unforgettable summer. Airport day was smooth, with minimal waiting before we hit the road for the longer drive to Granby, Colorado. The group meshed in record time and already seems to be getting along like old friends. This is an average group size, with 10 campers and an experienced team of 3 guides — a great ratio to help ensure the best possible trip for your kids. Before we share more, let us introduce ourselves (from left to right)!
Hello! I'm Jack Martin, a native of Richmond, Virginia and a student at CU Boulder, pursuing an economics degree. I fell in love with fly fishing when I was 12 years old, growing up fishing the small streams of the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia in search of native brook trout. These days I enjoy fishing the vast rivers of Colorado and have spent countless days exploring the Colorado backcountry, especially in Rocky Mountain National Park.
This is my first year as a guide but my fourth summer with LFFE — it all started with a Montana road trip when I was 14. I'm a certified Wilderness First Responder. One of my favorite backcountry meals is buffalo mac, an LFFE staple.
My favorite fly is a micro chubby. My favorite fishing memory is a recent one: catching countless 20-inch fish in a blizzard in the mountains of Colorado. Off the water, I love to ski, backpack, camp, and play lacrosse. I'm also a huge Boston sports fan.
Hey families! My name is Max Twito, I grew up in Seattle, Washington. I now live in Bozeman, where I moved to attend Montana State. I learned how to fly fish when I was 13 at a summer camp and have been putting those skills to use ever since. My favorite activities include fishing in Montana, cooking great food, hunting, and exploring.
This is my first year as a guide with LFFE. My favorite fly is a purple perdigon — the fish love it. My favorite fishing memory is landing a musky on a fly at sunset after a long day on the water. I'm a Wilderness First Responder and enjoy learning more about the medical field and other wilderness skills. You can often find me hiking into places people don't typically go, searching for new fishing and hunting terrain. I'm pumped about this summer — we're going to have a great time!
Hi there — my name is Kitchel Snow. I grew up in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and am currently a junior at the University of Denver, where I study Business Information and Analytics. While at DU, I helped start the university's fly fishing club, building a community of students who share a passion for getting outside and spending time on the water.
I began fly fishing around eight years ago and quickly fell in love with the sport — learning the ropes on an LFFE trip to the Wind River Range. I've spent the past two summers guiding for Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions in both Yellowstone National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, experiences that have helped me grow as both an angler and a leader in the backcountry. During the school year, I spend as much time as possible fishing rivers across Colorado, often getting out on weekends.
A few things to know about me: I'm left-handed, and my favorite fly is a Frenchie. When I'm not fishing, you can find me skiing, playing sports, or camping. This summer I'll be based in Colorado as a Trip Director and am looking forward to another great season with Lillard.
Arrival day may not be the most action-packed part of the trip, but it is an important one. Campers had a chance to get settled in, meet their guides, learn more about the adventure ahead, and start building friendships that often become one of the best parts of the experience. It never takes long for a group of anglers to find common ground (sometimes all it takes is a soccer ball!).
Tonight, we're camping on the shores of Lake Granby and kicking things off with some group activities: knot tying, casting practice, and a few games to get everyone prepped and excited for their first day of fishing here in Colorado. Tomorrow we'll get our first opportunity to put our skills to the test on Willow Creek. It will be a great warm-up and a chance for everyone to get comfortable fly fishing Colorado water before heading deeper into the mountains later in the trip. The excitement for getting on the water is definitely building.
Next up: gear and food prep for our first big adventure — a four-night backcountry trip into the famed Rocky Mountain National Park (via the Bear Lake Trailhead to Fern Lake campsites). We'll be in the backcountry from 6/27 to 6/30. The hiking won't be too strenuous, and the boys will have plenty of opportunities to target beautiful native greenback cutthroat trout, native Colorado River cutthroat trout, and brook trout amid incredible mountain scenery.
We can't wait to hit the water with this group — the stoke is high, and the next 16 days are shaping up to be something truly special. Until next time...
Tight Lines,
Kitchel, Jack, Max, and the Crew
